N-CSRS 1 c49978nvcsrs.htm N-CSRS N-CSRS
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSRS
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-4269
Van Kampen Trust
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
     
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York   10036
 
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)
Edward C. Wood III
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036
 
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 212-762-4000
Date of fiscal year end: 8/31
Date of reporting period: 2/29/09
 
 

 


 

Item 1. Report to Shareholders.
 
The Fund’s semi-annual report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 is as follows:
 
Welcome, Shareholder
 
 
In this report, you’ll learn about how your investment in Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund performed during the semiannual period. The portfolio management team will provide an overview of the market conditions and discuss some of the factors that affected investment performance during the reporting period. In addition, this report includes the fund’s financial statements and a list of fund investments as of February 28, 2009.
 
 
This material must be preceded or accompanied by a Class A, B, and C share or Class I share prospectus for the fund being offered. The prospectus contains information about the fund, including the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain an additional prospectus, contact your financial advisor or download one at vankampen.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
 
Market forecasts provided in this report may not necessarily come to pass. There is no assurance that the fund will achieve its investment objective. The fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by the fund will decline and, therefore, the value of the fund shares may be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in this fund.
 
             
NOT FDIC INSURED
    OFFER NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE
NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
    NOT A DEPOSIT
             


 

Performance Summary as of 2/28/09
 
                                                                               
      A Shares
    B Shares
    C Shares
    I Shares
      since 1/26/07     since 1/26/07     since 1/26/07     since 1/26/07
          w/max
        w/max
        w/max
     
          4.75%
        4.00%
        1.00%
     
Average Annual
    w/o sales
  sales
    w/o sales
  sales
    w/o sales
  sales
    w/o sales
Total Returns     charges   charge     charges   charge     charges   charge     charges
                                                                               
Since Inception       –1.51 %       –3.78 %         –2.20 %       –3.49 %         –1.79 %       –1.79 %         –1.26 %  
                                                                               
1-year       –9.79         –14.09           –10.52         –13.98           –10.18         –11.05           –9.56    
                                                                               
6-months       –0.73         –5.43           –1.11         –4.99           –0.72         –1.70           –0.60    
 
                               
30-Day
SEC Yield
    3.26%     2.68%     3.13%       3.66%    
                                                                               
                                                                               
 
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For the most recent month-end performance figures, please visit vankampen.com or speak with your financial advisor. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate and fund shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
 
The returns shown in this report do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Performance of share classes will vary due to differences in sales charges and expenses. Average annual total return with sales charges includes payment of the maximum sales charge of 4.75 percent for Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge of 4.00 percent for Class B shares (in year one and declining to zero after year five), a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00 percent for Class C shares in year one, and combined Rule 12b-1 fees and service fees of up to 0.25 percent for Class A shares and up to 1.00 percent for Class B and C shares. Class I shares are available for purchase exclusively by investors through (i) tax-exempt retirement plans with assets of at least $1 million (including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase plans, defined benefit plans and nonqualified deferred compensation plans), (ii) feebased investment programs with assets of at least $1 million (iii) qualified state tuition plan (529 plan) accounts, (iv) institutional clients with assets of at least $1 million and (v) certain Van Kampen investment companies. Class I shares are offered without any sales charges on purchases or sales and do not include combined rule 12b-1 fees and service fees. Figures shown above assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. SEC yield is a calculation for determining the amount of portfolio income, excluding non-income items as prescribed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Yields are subject to change. The fund’s adviser has waived or reimbursed fees and expenses from time to time; absent such waivers/reimbursements, the fund’s returns would have been lower. Periods of less than one year are not annualized.
 
The Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate index, which has been shown in the Fund’s previous shareholder reports and prospectuses, changed its name to Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index as of November 3, 2008. The Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index is an unmanaged, broad-based market index that covers the U.S. dollar denominated, investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable bond market of securities registered with the SEC, which includes U.S. Treasury, government-related, corporate, mortgage-backed, asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities sectors. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index..
 
 
1


 

Fund Report
For the six-month period ended February 28, 2009
 
Market Conditions
 
The U.S. economic picture remained bleak throughout the six-month reporting period, despite the federal government’s considerable efforts to stimulate growth. The Obama administration put together a new stimulus package, hoping that government spending will be the catalyst that helps pull the economy out of its tailspin. However, the longer it takes for the program to produce positive results, the greater the challenges will likely become for both the President and Congress as they deal with growing budget deficits, any resulting currency implications, and the potential for longer-term inflationary consequences.
 
Unlike the economy, the fixed income market began to show modest signs of improvement in early 2009, most notably in the corporate credit area. In fact, yield spreads on investment-grade corporate credit declined an average of 150 basis points versus Treasuries in the first two months of the year. As February came to a close, there was an improved tone in the financial sector—the hardest hit credit sector over the past several months. Citigroup announced a series of exchange offers designed to convert a portion of preferred shares into common equity and the U.S. Treasury expressed its intention to convert its Citigroup preferred shares, boosting the government’s stake in the company to 36 percent. In addition, the Treasury announced that it will now own 78 percent of insurance company AIG, through the provision of additional capital. Although the below investment-grade segment of the corporate market also improved somewhat in the final weeks of the period, it still underperformed the higher-rated segment for the overall six-month period.
 
The performance of the Treasury market, however, began to wane in 2009, with yields on two- and 30-year Treasuries rising by 23 basis points and 104 basis points, respectively, in the first two months of the year. The mortgage market outperformed Treasuries for the overall period, although spreads still remained wider than historic averages.
 
 
2


 

Performance Analysis
 
All share classes of Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund underperformed the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index (the “Index”) for the six months ended February 28, 2009, assuming no deduction of applicable sales charges.
 
Total returns for the six-month period ended February 28, 2009
 
                                                               
                            Barclays Capital
   
    Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     U.S. Aggregate Index    
                                                               
      –0.73 %         –1.11 %         –0.72 %         –0.60 %         1.88 %      
 
 
 
 
The performance for the four share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Fund’s total return figures assume the reinvestment of all distributions, but do not reflect the deduction of any applicable sales charges. Such costs would lower performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. See Performance Summary for standardized performance information and index definition.
 
The primary detractor from the Fund’s performance relative to the Index was an allocation to non-agency mortgage securities, which are not represented in the Index. Although this position was greatly reduced by the end of 2008, the impact of price declines due to forced selling in the market, rising mortgage delinquencies and falling home prices, particularly in the fourth quarter, was a drag on performance for the overall period.
 
The Fund’s yield-curve strategy involved a neutral position with regard to interest-rate and yield-curve risk in the Treasury markets. However, we also employed a strategy that involved interest-rate swaps which was disadvantageous to performance.
 
The Fund had a small allocation to below investment-grade corporate credits, which are also not included in the Index. This position hindered relative performance as the risk-averse environment led lower-rated issues to underperform those with higher ratings. In terms of the investment-grade corporate allocation, an underweight during the majority of the period benefited relative performance as the sector continued to struggle amid poor economic conditions. This underweight was brought to a slight overweight in the first months of 2009, with a focus on those issuers with a low reliance on discretionary spending. Lastly, the Fund maintained an underweight allocation to commercial mortgage-backed securities, which was additive to relative performance for the period.
 
There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed herein or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future.
 
 
3


 

         
Asset Allocation as of 2/28/09 (Unaudited)
 
Mortgage Backed Securities
    42.9 %
United States Government Agencies & Obligations
    26.1  
Corporate Bonds
    25.5  
CMOs
    2.8  
Asset Backed Securities
    2.0  
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Backed Securities
    1.7  
Foreign Government Obligations
    0.4  
         
Total Long-Term Investments
    101.4  
Purchased Options
    0.1  
Total Short-Term Investments
    17.0  
         
Total Investments
    118.5  
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets
    (18.5 )
Written Options
    0.0 *
         
Net Assets
    100.0 %
 
 
* Amount is Less than 0.1%.
 
Subject to change daily. Provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as a recommendation to buy or sell the securities mentioned or securities in the industries shown above. Asset Allocations are a percentage of net assets. Van Kampen is a wholly owned subsidiary of a global securities firm which is engaged in a wide range of financial services including, for example, securities trading and brokerage activities, investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services.
 
 
4


 

For More Information About Portfolio Holdings
 
Each Van Kampen fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings in its semiannual and annual reports within 60 days of the end of the fund’s second and fourth fiscal quarters. The semiannual reports and the annual reports are filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSRS and Form N-CSR, respectively. Van Kampen also delivers the semiannual and annual reports to fund shareholders, and makes these reports available on its public Web site, www.vankampen.com. In addition to the semiannual and annual reports that Van Kampen delivers to shareholders and makes available through the Van Kampen public Web site, each fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the fund’s first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. Van Kampen does not deliver the reports for the first and third fiscal quarters to shareholders, nor are the reports posted to the Van Kampen public Web site. You may, however, obtain the Form N-Q filings (as well as the Form N-CSR and N-CSRS filings) by accessing the SEC’s Web site, http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s email address (publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing the Public Reference section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-0102.
 
You may obtain copies of a fund’s fiscal quarter filings by contacting Van Kampen Client Relations at (800) 847-2424.
 
 
5


 

Householding Notice
 
To reduce Fund expenses, the Fund attempts to eliminate duplicate mailings to the same address. The Fund delivers a single copy of certain shareholder documents to investors who share an address, even if the accounts are registered under different names. The Fund’s prospectuses and shareholder reports (including annual privacy notices) will be delivered to you in this manner indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. You can request multiple copies of these documents by either calling (800) 341-2911 or writing to Van Kampen Investor Services at P.O. Box 219286, Kansas City, MO 64121-9286. Once Investor Services has received your instructions, we will begin sending individual copies for each account within 30 days.
 
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
 
You may obtain a copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures without charge, upon request, by calling toll free (800) 847-2424 or by visiting our Web site at www.vankampen.com. It is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.
 
You may obtain information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 without charge by visiting our Web site at www.vankampen.com. This information is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov.
 
 
6


 

Expense Example
 
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments of Class A Shares and contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions of Class B and C Shares; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
 
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period 9/1/08 - 2/28/09.
 
Actual Expense
 
The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
 
The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
 
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your cost would have been higher.
 
                         
    Beginning
  Ending
  Expenses Paid
    Account Value   Account Value   During Period*
     
    9/1/08   2/28/09   9/1/08-2/28/09
 
Class A
                       
Actual
  $ 1,000.00     $ 992.69     $ 3.71  
Hypothetical
    1,000.00       1,021.08       3.76  
(5% annual return before expenses)
                       
                         
Class B
                       
Actual
    1,000.00       988.90       7.40  
Hypothetical
    1,000.00       1,017.36       7.50  
(5% annual return before expenses)
                       
                         
Class C
                       
Actual
    1,000.00       992.77       3.66  
Hypothetical
    1,000.00       1,021.12       3.71  
(5% annual return before expenses)
                       
                         
Class I
                       
Actual
    1,000.00       993.96       2.47  
Hypothetical
    1,000.00       1,022.32       2.51  
(5% annual return before expenses)
                       
 
* Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of 0.75%, 1.50%, 0.74% and 0.50% for Class A, B, C and I Shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). These expense ratios reflect an expense waiver. The expense ratio for Class C Shares reflects actual 12b-1 fees of less than 1%.
 
Assumes all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
 
 
7


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Mortgage Backed Securities  42.9%
$ 3,060     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     4.500 %   02/01/39   $ 3,067,957  
  6,830     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., March (a)     5.000     TBA     6,935,653  
  10,045     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     5.000     10/01/35 to 01/01/37     10,223,948  
  1,450     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., March (a)     5.500     TBA     1,485,118  
  18,401     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     5.500     04/01/37 to 11/01/37     18,866,262  
  5,550     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., March (a)     6.500     TBA     5,804,085  
  889     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     7.500     01/01/30 to 10/01/32     952,755  
  265     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     8.000     01/01/31     282,055  
  206     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     8.500     06/01/30     224,226  
  20     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     9.000     01/01/30     22,805  
  22     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     9.500     12/01/22     24,490  
  25     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     10.000     12/01/19     28,152  
  40     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     10.500     12/01/19     45,616  
  3,850     Federal National Mortgage Association, March (a)     4.500     TBA     3,918,576  
  7,440     Federal National Mortgage Association     4.500     02/01/39 to 03/01/39     7,463,707  
  3,825     Federal National Mortgage Association, March (a)     5.000     TBA     3,933,175  
  3,591     Federal National Mortgage Association     5.000     05/01/36 to 06/01/37     3,661,816  
  4,491     Federal National Mortgage Association (a)     5.500     08/01/38     4,607,262  
  12,706     Federal National Mortgage Association     6.000     05/01/38     13,138,538  
  395     Federal National Mortgage Association     6.500     12/01/31 to 10/01/32     416,083  
  10     Federal National Mortgage Association     7.000     07/01/29 to 06/01/32     10,797  
  646     Federal National Mortgage Association     7.500     03/01/21 to 08/01/32     691,127  
  422     Federal National Mortgage Association     8.000     01/01/30 to 06/01/32     450,885  
  472     Federal National Mortgage Association     8.500     06/01/30 to 01/01/31     514,849  
  12     Federal National Mortgage Association     9.000     08/01/25     13,747  
  225     Federal National Mortgage Association     9.500     07/01/16 to 04/01/30     250,804  
  83     Federal National Mortgage Association     10.000     10/01/18     92,246  
  95     Federal National Mortgage Association     10.500     03/01/18 to 03/01/21     107,557  
 
 
8
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Mortgage Backed Securities (Continued)
$ 2,875     Government National Mortgage Association, March (a)     4.500 %   TBA   $ 2,884,884  
  5,425     Government National Mortgage Association, March (a)     5.500     TBA     5,571,643  
  1,450     Government National Mortgage Association (a)     5.500     02/15/39     1,490,781  
  194     Government National Mortgage Association     8.000     01/15/26 to 11/15/29     209,991  
  21     Government National Mortgage Association     8.500     08/15/26     23,287  
  50     Government National Mortgage Association     9.000     07/15/24 to 10/15/24     54,703  
  31     Government National Mortgage Association     10.000     04/15/16     34,749  
                             
        Total Mortgage Backed Securities  42.9%     97,504,329  
                 
         
        United States Government Agencies & Obligations  26.1%
  3,625     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     4.875     06/13/18     3,917,396  
  700     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     5.125     11/17/17     769,824  
  2,740     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     5.500     08/23/17     3,110,952  
  3,000     Federal National Mortgage Association     5.000     05/11/17     3,285,945  
  9,335     United States Treasury Bond (STRIPS)     0.000     11/15/19     6,134,794  
  5,295     United States Treasury Bond (STRIPS)     0.000     05/15/21     3,203,793  
  7,015     United States Treasury Bond (STRIPS)     0.000     11/15/21     4,144,574  
  15,035     United States Treasury Bond (STRIPS)     0.000     11/15/21     8,879,611  
  3,350     United States Treasury Bond     5.500     08/15/28     4,024,191  
  3,480     United States Treasury Bond     7.125     02/15/23     4,665,921  
  314     United States Treasury Bond     8.750     05/15/17     437,196  
  769     United States Treasury Bond     8.875     08/15/17     1,083,149  
  565     United States Treasury Bond     8.875     02/15/19     818,632  
  125     United States Treasury Bond     9.125     05/15/18     182,578  
  1,732     United States Treasury Note     1.500     12/31/13     1,696,684  
  11,770     United States Treasury Note     1.750     01/31/14     11,643,979  
  1,109     United States Treasury Note     3.750     11/15/18     1,175,455  
                             
        Total United States Government Agencies & Obligations  26.1%     59,174,674  
                 
         
        Corporate Bonds  25.5%
Aerospace & Defense  0.0%
  70     Systems 2001 Asset Trust LLC (Cayman Islands) (b)     6.664     09/15/13     62,693  
                             
 
 
9
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
         
        Automotive  0.2%
$ 260     DaimlerChrysler NA Holding LLC     8.500 %   01/18/31   $ 236,067  
  170     Harley-Davidson Funding Corp. (b)     6.800     06/15/18     103,755  
  135     PACCAR, Inc.     6.875     02/15/14     137,875  
                             
                          477,697  
                             
        Banking  3.9%
  300     Bank of America Corp.     5.650     05/01/18     254,473  
  1,360     Bank of America Corp.     5.750     12/01/17     1,149,399  
  315     Bank of New York Mellon Corp.     4.500     04/01/13     308,891  
  365     Bank of New York Mellon Corp.     5.125     08/27/13     362,769  
  205     Citigroup, Inc.     5.875     05/29/37     154,912  
  330     Citigroup, Inc.     6.125     05/15/18     285,056  
  120     Credit Suisse First Boston USA, Inc.     5.125     08/15/15     108,455  
  2,120     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.     6.150     04/01/18     1,929,575  
  480     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.     6.750     10/01/37     342,158  
  360     HBOS PLC (United Kingdom) (b)     6.750     05/21/18     289,463  
  1,130     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     4.750     05/01/13     1,096,077  
  620     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     6.000     01/15/18     600,313  
  160     Nationwide Building Society (United Kingdom) (b)     4.250     02/01/10     158,145  
  200     UBS AG Stamford Branch (Switzerland)     5.875     12/20/17     177,482  
  160     Wachovia Capital Trust III (c)     5.800     03/15/42     52,818  
  215     Wachovia Corp.     5.500     05/01/13     207,216  
  1,375     Wells Fargo & Co.     5.625     12/11/17     1,307,332  
                             
                          8,784,534  
                             
        Brokerage  0.6%
  115     Bear Stearns Co., Inc.     5.550     01/22/17     102,519  
  305     Bear Stearns Co., Inc.     7.250     02/01/18     316,815  
  135     Credit Suisse New York (Switzerland)     5.000     05/15/13     130,456  
  295     Credit Suisse New York (Switzerland)     6.000     02/15/18     268,078  
  215     Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.     6.110     01/29/37     112,122  
  580     Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.     6.875     04/25/18     483,362  
                             
                          1,413,352  
                             
        Building Materials  0.1%
  420     CRH America, Inc.     6.000     09/30/16     300,249  
                             
         
        Chemicals  0.1%
  230     E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co.     6.000     07/15/18     225,710  
  105     Monsanto Co.     5.125     04/15/18     103,941  
                             
                          329,651  
                             
        Construction Machinery  0.2%
  115     Caterpillar Financial Services Corp.     4.900     08/15/13     110,426  
  270     John Deere Capital Corp.     5.750     09/10/18     256,668  
                             
                          367,094  
                             
 
 
10
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Consumer Products  0.5%
$ 385     Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands)     5.750 %   03/11/18   $ 372,182  
  555     Procter & Gamble Co.     4.700     02/15/19     543,550  
  140     Proctor & Gamble Co.     4.600     01/15/14     147,049  
                             
                          1,062,781  
                             
        Diversified Manufacturing  0.7%
  70     Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (Canada)     5.800     04/25/17     46,400  
  85     Cooper Industries, Inc.     5.250     11/15/12     86,506  
  265     Emerson Electric Co.     4.875     10/15/19     263,056  
  735     General Electric Co.     5.250     12/06/17     677,633  
  270     Honeywell International, Inc.     5.300     03/01/18     271,629  
  210     Parker Hannifin Corp.     5.500     05/15/18     201,078  
  75     Tyco Electronics Group SA (Luxembourg)     5.950     01/15/14     64,964  
                             
                          1,611,266  
                             
        Electric  1.9%
  150     Alabama Power Co.     5.800     11/15/13     160,712  
  10     Appalachian Power Co.     5.650     08/15/12     9,828  
  50     Consumers Energy Co.     4.400     08/15/09     50,017  
  35     Detroit Edison Co.     6.125     10/01/10     35,874  
  720     Electricite de France SA (France) (b)     6.500     01/26/19     732,119  
  160     Entergy Gulf States, Inc. (d)     2.602     12/01/09     156,207  
  555     E.ON International Finance BV (Netherlands) (b)     5.800     04/30/18     531,474  
  105     Georgia Power Co.     6.000     11/01/13     113,324  
  350     NiSource Finance Corp. (d)     1.821     11/23/09     335,071  
  180     NiSource Finance Corp.     6.800     01/15/19     141,387  
  75     NiSource Finance Corp.     7.875     11/15/10     73,482  
  250     Ohio Edison Co.     6.400     07/15/16     234,383  
  55     Ohio Power Co., Ser K     6.000     06/01/16     54,303  
  70     Pacificorp     5.500     01/15/19     70,695  
  200     Peco Energy Co.     5.350     03/01/18     196,255  
  190     PPL Energy Supply LLC     6.300     07/15/13     188,833  
  120     Progress Energy Carolina     5.300     01/15/19     120,468  
  195     Public Service Co. of Colorado     6.500     08/01/38     210,942  
  225     Southwestern Electric Power Co.     6.450     01/15/19     212,174  
  245     Union Electric Co.     6.700     02/01/19     241,194  
  340     Virginia Electric & Power Co.     8.875     11/15/38     423,766  
                             
                          4,292,508  
                             
        Financial  0.1%
  255     NYSE Euronext     4.800     06/28/13     245,261  
                             
         
        Food/Beverage  1.6%
  350     Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. (b)     7.200     01/15/14     363,497  
  255     Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.     5.450     03/15/18     251,160  
 
 
11
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Food/Beverage (Continued)
$ 135     ConAgra Foods, Inc.     7.000 %   10/01/28   $ 131,833  
  195     ConAgra Foods, Inc.     8.250     09/15/30     203,554  
  305     Diageo Capital PLC (United Kingdom)     5.750     10/23/17     304,338  
  475     Diageo Capital PLC (United Kingdom)     7.375     01/15/14     528,865  
  285     Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.     6.820     05/01/18     265,775  
  390     FBG Finance Ltd. (Australia) (b)     5.125     06/15/15     331,679  
  165     General Mills, Inc.     5.250     08/15/13     169,165  
  515     General Mills, Inc.     5.650     02/15/19     515,539  
  100     Kraft Foods, Inc.     6.125     02/01/18     99,519  
  340     Kraft Foods, Inc.     6.125     08/23/18     338,305  
  70     Kraft Foods, Inc.     6.750     02/19/14     74,797  
  70     Kraft Foods, Inc.     7.000     08/11/37     70,731  
                             
                          3,648,757  
                             
        Gaming  0.2%
  240     MGM Mirage, Inc.     6.000     10/01/09     177,000  
  390     MGM Mirage, Inc. (b)     13.000     11/15/13     282,750  
                             
                          459,750  
                             
        Health Care  0.5%
  110     Baxter International, Inc.     5.375     06/01/18     111,671  
  290     Covidien International Finance SA (Luxembourg)     6.000     10/15/17     292,538  
  320     Medco Health Solutions, Inc.     7.125     03/15/18     316,021  
  305     UnitedHealth Group, Inc.     6.000     02/15/18     293,464  
                             
                          1,013,694  
                             
        Independent Energy  0.4%
  235     Devon Financing Corp. ULC (Canada)     7.875     09/30/31     245,681  
  100     Gaz Capital SA (Luxembourg) (b)     6.510     03/07/22     58,880  
  380     Questar Market Resources, Inc.     6.800     04/01/18     337,192  
  320     XTO Energy, Inc.     5.500     06/15/18     293,432  
                             
                          935,185  
                             
        Integrated Energy  0.8%
  535     Chevron Corp.     4.950     03/03/19     535,208  
  370     ConocoPhillips     5.200     05/15/18     354,441  
  200     ConocoPhillips     5.750     02/01/19     196,076  
  220     Consumers Energy Co.     4.000     05/15/10     218,561  
  155     Marathon Oil Corp.     5.900     03/15/18     140,209  
  135     Marathon Oil Corp.     6.000     10/01/17     122,300  
  300     Petro-Canada (Canada)     6.050     05/15/18     247,705  
                             
                          1,814,500  
                             
        Life Insurance  0.4%
  55     American International Group, Inc. (b)     8.250     08/15/18     34,051  
  275     MetLife, Inc.     6.817     08/15/18     257,757  
  25     Platinum Underwriters Finance, Inc.     7.500     06/01/17     17,223  
 
 
12
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Life Insurance (Continued)
$ 140     Prudential Financial, Inc.     6.625 %   12/01/37   $ 98,457  
  430     Xlliac Global Funding (b)     4.800     08/10/10     391,614  
                             
                          799,102  
                             
        Lodging  0.1%
  210     Starwood Hotels & Resorts                    
        Worldwide, Inc.     6.750     05/15/18     144,069  
                             
         
        Managed Health Care  0.0%
  80     WellPoint, Inc.     7.000     02/15/19     79,906  
                             
         
        Media-Cable  1.2%
  30     Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.     7.125     06/15/13     30,922  
  710     Comcast Corp.     5.700     05/15/18     657,251  
  20     Comcast Corp.     6.500     01/15/15     19,714  
  230     COX Communications, Inc. (b)     8.375     03/01/39     221,694  
  735     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     6.750     07/01/18     698,011  
  340     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     8.750     02/14/19     363,539  
  885     Time Warner, Inc.     5.875     11/15/16     830,516  
                             
                          2,821,647  
                             
        Media-Noncable  0.6%
  225     Grupo Televisa SA (Mexico)     6.000     05/15/18     188,131  
  475     News America, Inc. (b)     6.900     03/01/19     450,520  
  130     Pearson Dollar Finance Two PLC (United Kingdom) (b)     6.250     05/06/18     112,590  
  320     Viacom, Inc.     6.875     04/30/36     237,910  
  460     Vivendi (France) (b)     6.625     04/04/18     401,697  
                             
                          1,390,848  
                             
        Metals  0.2%
  270     ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg)     6.125     06/01/18     208,220  
  265     Rio Tinto Finance USA Ltd. (Australia)     6.500     07/15/18     234,521  
                             
                          442,741  
                             
        Noncaptive-Consumer Finance  1.3%
  425     American Express Credit Corp.     7.300     08/20/13     422,021  
  35     American General Finance Corp.     4.625     05/15/09     30,086  
  1,385     General Electric Capital Corp.     5.625     05/01/18     1,188,492  
  1,040     HSBC Finance Corp.     5.500     01/19/16     910,415  
  15     HSBC Finance Corp.     6.375     10/15/11     15,252  
  115     HSBC Finance Corp.     8.000     07/15/10     116,853  
  40     SLM Corp.     4.000     01/15/10     33,806  
  150     Western Union Co.     6.500     02/26/14     150,217  
                             
                          2,867,142  
                             
 
 
13
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Oil Field Services  0.1%
$ 155     Transocean, Inc. (Cayman Islands)     6.000 %   03/15/18   $ 146,579  
  170     Weatherford International Ltd. (Switzerland)     6.000     03/15/18     141,266  
                             
                          287,845  
                             
        Pharmaceuticals  1.7%
  160     Amgen, Inc.     5.700     02/01/19     161,610  
  400     Amgen, Inc.     5.850     06/01/17     409,006  
  235     AstraZeneca PLC (United Kingdom)     5.900     09/15/17     248,068  
  430     AstraZeneca PLC (United Kingdom)     6.450     09/15/37     455,657  
  315     Biogen Idec, Inc.     6.875     03/01/18     323,700  
  335     Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.     5.450     05/01/18     342,363  
  285     GlaxoSmithKline Capital, Inc.     5.650     05/15/18     293,942  
  150     Hospira, Inc. (d)     1.947     03/30/10     143,425  
  440     Novartis Capital Corp.     4.125     02/10/14     444,571  
  795     Roche Holdings, Inc. (b)     6.000     03/01/19     804,199  
  120     Wyeth     5.450     04/01/17     122,468  
  70     Wyeth     5.500     02/15/16     71,769  
                             
                          3,820,778  
                             
        Pipelines  0.7%
  105     CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.     6.250     02/01/37     69,516  
  70     CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.     7.875     04/01/13     70,996  
  119     Colorado Interstate Gas Co.     6.800     11/15/15     109,727  
  220     Equitable Resources, Inc.     6.500     04/01/18     189,811  
  300     Kinder Morgan Finance Co. (Canada)     5.700     01/05/16     262,500  
  440     Plains All American Pipeline LP     6.700     05/15/36     320,133  
  205     Texas Eastern Transmission LP     7.000     07/15/32     201,393  
  275     TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. (Canada)     6.500     08/15/18     273,686  
                             
                          1,497,762  
                             
        Property & Casualty Insurance  0.7%
  180     Ace INA Holdings, Inc.     5.600     05/15/15     165,811  
  730     AIG SunAmerica Global Financing VI (b)     6.300     05/10/11     591,781  
  480     Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp.     5.400     05/15/18     476,826  
  60     Chubb Corp.     5.750     05/15/18     57,803  
  100     Farmers Exchange Capital (b)     7.050     07/15/28     53,476  
  185     Travelers Cos., Inc.     5.800     05/15/18     179,385  
                             
                          1,525,082  
                             
        Railroads  0.6%
  440     Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.     6.125     03/15/09     440,269  
  115     Canadian National Railway Co. (Canada)     5.550     05/15/18     114,434  
  105     Canadian National Railway Co. (Canada)     5.550     03/01/19     101,540  
  190     Norfolk Southern Corp. (b)     5.750     01/15/16     184,805  
 
 
14
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Railroads (Continued)
$ 330     Union Pacific Corp.     6.125 %   02/15/20   $ 318,928  
  220     Union Pacific Corp.     7.875     01/15/19     241,497  
                             
                          1,401,473  
                             
        Restaurants  0.4%
  115     McDonald’s Corp.     5.000     02/01/19     116,651  
  320     McDonald’s Corp.     5.700     02/01/39     319,735  
  205     McDonald’s Corp.     6.300     10/15/37     215,810  
  300     Yum! Brands, Inc.     6.875     11/15/37     249,094  
  50     Yum! Brands, Inc.     8.875     04/15/11     53,273  
                             
                          954,563  
                             
        Retailers  0.9%
  260     CVS Caremark Corp.     5.750     06/01/17     254,063  
  43     CVS Lease Pass-Through Trust (b)     6.036     12/10/28     32,697  
  500     Home Depot, Inc.     5.400     03/01/16     446,736  
  410     Walgreen Co.     5.250     01/15/19     404,852  
  510     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.     4.125     02/01/19     483,468  
  380     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.     4.250     04/15/13     398,386  
  65     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.     5.800     02/15/18     69,864  
  10     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.     6.200     04/15/38     10,407  
                             
                          2,100,473  
                             
        Schools  0.1%
  405     Duke University     5.150     04/01/19     409,585  
                             
         
        Supermarkets  0.3%
  105     Delhaize America, Inc.     9.000     04/15/31     117,504  
  335     Delhaize Group (Belgium)     5.875     02/01/14     335,828  
  115     Kroger Co.     5.000     04/15/13     114,846  
  165     Kroger Co.     6.400     08/15/17     167,516  
                             
                          735,694  
                             
        Technology  1.2%
  395     Cisco Systems, Inc.     4.950     02/15/19     382,481  
  95     Cisco Systems, Inc.     5.900     02/15/39     88,759  
  140     Dell, Inc.     5.650     04/15/18     131,763  
  265     Fiserv, Inc.     6.800     11/20/17     241,948  
  335     Hewlett-Packard Co.     4.750     06/02/14     333,674  
  120     Hewlett-Packard Co.     5.500     03/01/18     120,294  
  200     IBM Corp.     7.625     10/15/18     226,671  
  200     IBM Corp.     8.000     10/15/38     238,436  
  265     KLA Instruments Corp.     6.900     05/01/18     208,172  
  90     LG Electronics, Inc. (South Korea) (b)     5.000     06/17/10     85,615  
 
 
15
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Technology (Continued)
$ 370     Oracle Corp.     5.750 %   04/15/18   $ 374,816  
  275     Xerox Corp.     6.350     05/15/18     231,381  
                             
                          2,664,010  
                             
        Tobacco  0.5%
  235     Altria Group, Inc.     9.250     08/06/19     239,922  
  315     BAT International Finance PLC (United Kingdom) (b)     9.500     11/15/18     357,381  
  345     Philip Morris International, Inc.     5.650     05/16/18     335,456  
  300     Reynolds American, Inc.     6.500     07/15/10     301,774  
                             
                          1,234,533  
                             
        Utility  0.2%
  395     AES Corp. (b)     8.750     05/15/13     385,125  
                             
         
        Wireless  0.5%
  270     Rogers Communications, Inc. (Canada)     6.800     08/15/18     270,768  
  555     Verizon Wireless Capital LLC (b)     5.550     02/01/14     552,360  
  275     Vodafone Group PLC (United Kingdom)     5.625     02/27/17     267,379  
                             
                          1,090,507  
                             
        Wireline  2.0%
  500     AT&T Corp.     8.000     11/15/31     549,686  
  120     AT&T, Inc.     5.600     05/15/18     115,665  
  365     AT&T, Inc.     6.300     01/15/38     328,913  
  205     Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV (Netherlands)     8.750     06/15/30     233,669  
  475     France Telecom SA (France)     8.500     03/01/31     594,488  
  200     Sprint Capital Corp.     8.750     03/15/32     120,707  
  155     Sprint Nextel Corp.     6.000     12/01/16     100,889  
  65     Telecom Italia Capital (Luxembourg)     4.875     10/01/10     63,474  
  335     Telecom Italia Capital (Luxembourg)     4.950     09/30/14     288,928  
  460     Telecom Italia Capital (Luxembourg)     6.999     06/04/18     415,806  
  680     Telefonica Europe BV (Netherlands)     8.250     09/15/30     752,728  
  610     Verizon Communications, Inc.     5.500     02/15/18     578,261  
  275     Verizon Communications, Inc.     8.950     03/01/39     325,324  
                             
                          4,468,538  
                             
        Total Corporate Bonds  25.5%     57,940,395  
                 
         
        Collateralized Mortgage Obligations  2.8%
  77     American Home Mortgage Assets (d) (e)     0.699     10/25/46     5,754  
  204     American Home Mortgage Assets (d) (e)     0.774     06/25/47     14,113  
  525     Banc of America Commercial Mortgage, Inc.     5.451     01/15/49     330,395  
 
 
16
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Continued)
$ 650     Banc of America Commercial Mortgage, Inc. (c)     5.745 %   02/10/51   $ 420,919  
  10,827     Bear Stearns Structured Products, Inc. (b) (e) (f) (g)     *       06/26/36 to 04/25/37     1,083  
  1,075     Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust (c)     5.700     12/10/49     649,030  
  1,676     Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust (b) (c) (e) (f)     0.000     05/25/47     168  
  767     Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust (d) (e)     0.744     12/25/46     84,749  
  548     Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust (d) (e)     0.830     03/20/46     54,529  
  743     Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust (d) (e)     0.974     06/25/47     64,230  
  1,074     Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust (b) (c) (e) (f) (g)     1.000     02/25/47     107  
  97     Countrywide Home Loans (d)     0.744     04/25/35     41,430  
  2     Deutsche Alternative-A Securities, Inc. NIM Trust (Cayman Islands) (b) (e)     6.750     02/25/47     10  
  2,492     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (REMIC) (d)     0.955     07/15/28     2,454,521  
  9,477     Federal National Mortgage Association (REMIC) (c) (e)     3.580     04/25/36     142,149  
  178     Federal National Mortgage Association (REMIC) (g) (e)     6.000     07/25/33     19,177  
  73     Federal National Mortgage Association (REMIC) (g) (e)     7.000     05/25/33     10,918  
  650     Greenwich Capital Commercial Funding Corp.     5.444     03/10/39     409,293  
  450     GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II     5.560     11/10/39     297,716  
  89     Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust (d) (e)     0.920     06/20/35     28,533  
  393     Indymac Index Mortgage Loan Trust (d) (e)     0.574     02/25/37     275,037  
  350     JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp. (c)     5.746     02/12/49     210,849  
  1,125     JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp. (c)     5.819     06/15/49     668,397  
  748     MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust (d) (e)     2.763     04/25/46     76,637  
  204     Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (d) (e)     0.674     03/25/47     33,308  
  3,371     Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (b) (c) (e) (f)     1.000     03/25/47 to 05/25/47     337  
  73     Structured Asset Mortgage Investments, Inc. (d) (e)     0.754     07/25/46     8,517  
 
 
17
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
        Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Continued)
$ 225     Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates (d) (e)     0.824 %   06/25/46   $ 7,042  
                             
        Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations  2.8%     6,308,948  
                 
         
        Asset Backed Securities  2.0%
  349     Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust (d)     0.465     04/15/11     333,956  
  997     Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust (d)     0.515     07/15/10     949,615  
  309     Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust (d)     0.515     05/15/11     295,714  
  20     Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust (d)     0.544     10/25/36     19,571  
  52     Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates (d)     0.674     07/25/34     23,973  
  398     Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates (d)     0.864     11/25/34     283,567  
  404     Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates (d)     1.154     06/25/33     320,024  
  5     Credit Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC (d)     0.514     07/25/36     4,961  
  267     Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust (d)     0.471     04/15/10     266,292  
  767     Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust (d)     1.061     07/15/10     759,190  
  61     New Century Home Equity Loan Trust (d)     0.844     08/25/34     24,664  
  587     Nissan Auto Receivables Owner Trust (d)     0.961     05/17/10     583,350  
  625     Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust (d)     1.014     08/25/31     213,367  
  91     Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust (d)     0.584     06/25/37     80,346  
  134     Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc. (d)     0.544     08/25/36     128,680  
  65     Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc. (d)     0.564     10/25/36     60,822  
  186     SLM Student Loan Trust (d)     1.149     10/27/14     184,250  
  42     Specialty Underwriting &                    
        Residential Finance (d)     0.744     05/25/35     19,707  
  72     Structured Asset Investment Loan Trust (d)     1.214     11/25/33     41,382  
                             
        Total Asset Backed Securities  2.0%     4,593,431  
                 
 
 
18
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Par
               
Amount
               
(000)   Description   Coupon   Maturity   Value
 
 
         
        Adjustable Rate Mortgage Backed Securities  1.7%
$ 243     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (d)     5.704 %   01/01/37   $ 246,972  
  239     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (d)     5.798     04/01/37     244,978  
  498     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (d)     5.881     10/01/36     514,960  
  317     Federal National Mortgage Association (d)     4.731     06/01/36     323,238  
  588     Federal National Mortgage Association (d)     5.038     11/01/33     597,333  
  380     Federal National Mortgage Association (d)     5.120     11/01/35     390,543  
  391     Federal National Mortgage Association (d)     5.243     03/01/37     396,636  
  449     Federal National Mortgage Association (d)     5.440     04/01/37     462,902  
  453     Federal National Mortgage Association (d)     5.808     05/01/37     469,901  
  193     Government National Mortgage Association II (d)     5.375     01/20/25 to 06/20/25     196,331  
                             
        Total Adjustable Rate Mortgage Backed Securities  1.7%     3,843,794  
                 
         
        Foreign Government Obligations  0.4%
  810     Brazilian Government International Bond (Brazil)     6.000     01/17/17     787,725  
  135     Korea Railroad Corp. (Republic of Korea (South Korea)) (b)     5.375     05/15/13     117,603  
                             
        Total Foreign Government Obligations  0.4%     905,328  
                 
        Total Long-Term Investments  101.4%
(Cost $236,130,195)
    230,270,899  
                 
 
                             
Description   Contracts   Expiration Date   Exercise Price   Market Value
 
 
Purchased Options  0.1%
                           
2-Year EuroDollar Midcurve Call, September 2009 (Cost $323,295)
    418     09/19/09     97.750     $ 122,787  
                             
Short-Term Investments  17.0%
Repurchase Agreements  0.1%
       
Banc of America Securities ($158,410 par collateralized by U.S. Government obligations in a pooled cash account, interest rate of 0.22%, dated 02/27/09, to be sold on 03/02/09 at $158,413)
    158,410  
 
 
19
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                             
Description   Value
 
 
Repurchase Agreements (Continued)
       
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. ($126,728 par collateralized by U.S. Government obligations in a pooled cash account, interest rate of 0.25%, dated 02/27/09, to be sold on 03/02/09 at $126,731)
  $ 126,728  
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. ($47,523 par collateralized by U.S. Government obligations in a pooled cash account, interest rate of 0.26%, dated 02/27/09, to be sold on 03/02/09 at $47,524)
    47,523  
State Street Bank & Trust Co. ($339 par collateralized by U.S. Government obligations in a pooled cash account, interest rate of 0.01%, dated 02/27/09, to be sold on 03/02/09 at $339)
    339  
         
Total Repurchase Agreements  0.1%
    333,000  
         
United States Government Agency Obligations  16.9%        
Federal Home Loan Bank ($11,500,000 par, yielding 0.203%, 04/08/09 maturity)
    11,497,573  
Federal Home Loan Bank Discount Notes ($5,000,000 par, yielding 0.051%, 03/09/09 maturity)
    4,999,910  
Federal Home Loan Bank Discount Notes ($6,000,000 par, yielding 0.457%, 05/12/09 maturity)
    5,997,102  
Federal National Mortgage Association Discount Notes ($7,000,000 par, yielding 0.177%, 03/11/09 maturity)
    6,999,832  
United States Treasury Bill ($8,850,000 par, yielding 0.095%, 05/15/09 maturity) (h)
    8,848,273  
         
Total United States Government Agency Obligations  16.9%
    38,342,690  
         
         
Total Short-Term Investments  17.0%
(Cost $38,675,690)
    38,675,690  
         
         
Total Investments  118.5%
(Cost $275,129,180)
    269,069,376  
         
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets  (18.5%)
    (41,918,649 )
         
Written Options  0.0%**
    (18,287 )
         
         
Net Assets  100.0%
  $ 227,132,440  
         
 
 
Percentages are calculated as a percentage of net assets.
 
* Zero coupon bond
 
** Amount is less than 0.1%.
 
(a) Security purchased on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis.
 
(b) 144A-Private Placement security which is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This security may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration which are normally those transactions with qualified institutional buyers.
 
 
20
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
 
(c) Variable Rate Coupon
 
(d) Floating Rate Coupon
 
(e) Market value is determined in accordance with procedures established in good faith by the Board of Trustees.
 
(f) Security has been deemed illiquid
 
(g) IO—Interest Only
 
(h) All or a portion of this security has been physically segregated in connection with open futures contracts and swap contracts.
 
REMIC—Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits
STRIPS—Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities
TBA—To be announced, maturity date has not yet been established. Upon settlement and delivery of the mortgage pools, maturity dates will be assigned.
 
Futures contracts outstanding as of February 28, 2009:
 
                 
        Unrealized
        Appreciation/
    Contracts   Depreciation
 
Long Contracts:
               
U.S. Treasury Bond 30-Year Futures, June 2009 (Current Notional Value of $123,344 per contract)
    109     $ (79,953 )
U.S. Treasury Notes 2-Year Futures, June 2009 (Current Notional Value of $216,609 per contract)
    185       (65,503 )
U.S. Treasury Notes 5-Year Futures, March 2009 (Current Notional Value of $117,555 per contract)
    1       (885 )
U.S. Treasury Notes 5-Year Futures, June 2009 (Current Notional Value of $116,586 per contract)
    120       (27,632 )
                 
Total Long Contracts:
    415       (173,973 )
                 
Short Contracts:
               
EuroDollar 90-Day Futures, March 2011 (Current Notional Value of $243,600 per contract)
    4       (16,211 )
U.S. Treasury Notes 10-Year Futures, June 2009 (Current Notional Value of $120,031 per contract)
    318       227,873  
                 
Total Short Contracts:
    322       211,662  
                 
Total Futures Contracts
    737     $ 37,689  
                 
 
Written options outstanding as of February 28, 2009:
 
                                                 
    Exercise
  Expiration
  Number of
           
Name of Issuer   Price   Date   Contracts   Premium   Value    
 
2-Year EuroDollar Midcurve Call, September 2009
  $ 98.5       9/19/09       418     $ (51,717 )   $ (18,287 )        
                                                 
 
 
21
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
Swap agreements outstanding as of February 28, 2009:
Credit Default Swaps
 
                                                         
            Pay/
                  Credit
            Receive
      Notional
          Rating
    Reference
  Buy/Sell
  Fixed
  Expiration
  Amount
  Upfront
      of Reference
Counterparty   Entity   Protection   Rate   Date   (000)   Payments   Value   Entity*
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A
  Nordstrom, Inc.     Buy       1.070 %   03/20/18   $ 150     $ 0     $ 35,534       A–  
                                                     
                              150       0       35,534          
                                                     
Goldman Sachs International
  Dow Jones CDX NA IG HVOL 9     Sell       1.400     12/20/12     551       (31,211 )     (81,521 )     NR  
Goldman Sachs International
  Dow Jones CDX NA IG HVOL 9     Sell       1.400     12/20/12     575       (31,889 )     (85,096 )     NR  
Goldman Sachs International
  Dow Jones CDX NA IG HVOL 9     Sell       1.400     12/20/12     575       (33,607 )     (85,096 )     NR  
Goldman Sachs International
  Dow Jones CDX NA IG HVOL 9     Sell       1.400     12/20/12     1,242       (73,349 )     (183,779 )     NR  
                                                     
                              2,943       (170,056 )     (435,492 )        
                                                     
Total Credit Default Swaps
  $ 3,093     $ (170,056 )   $ (399,958 )        
                                 
 
NR—Not Rated
 
* Credit rating as issued by Standard and Poor’s.
 
Interest Rate Swaps
 
                                         
        Pay/
               
    Floating
  Receive
          Notional
   
    Rate
  Floating
  Fixed
  Expiration
  Amount
   
Counterparty   Index   Rate   Rate   Date   (000)   Value
 
Bank of America, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       4.779 %   10/10/18   $ 22,098     $ 565,709  
Citibank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.020     09/11/17     450       69,245  
Citibank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.333     05/22/17     750       128,228  
Citibank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.368     05/23/17     750       130,195  
Citibank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.414     05/25/17     1,725       305,201  
Citibank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.440     05/29/17     1,175       203,330  
Citibank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       4.470     01/10/18     2,000       195,744  
Deutsche Bank AG Frankfurt
  EUR-EURIBOR-Reuters     Pay       4.640     02/06/19     4,591       108,756  
Goldman Sachs International
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.340     05/24/17     900       154,310  
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       4.476     01/08/18     1,500       147,526  
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       4.968     11/06/17     35,000       5,144,337  
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.164     09/20/17     500       82,993  
 
 
22
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Portfolio of Investments  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  
continued
 
                                         
        Pay/
               
    Floating
  Receive
          Notional
   
    Rate
  Floating
  Fixed
  Expiration
  Amount
   
Counterparty   Index   Rate   Rate   Date   (000)   Value
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.370 %   05/23/17   $ 750     $ 130,366  
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Pay       5.448     05/29/17     1,175       210,609  
                                     
                                      7,576,549  
                                     
Bank of America, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       4.243     10/10/38     5,021       (785,693 )
Bank of America, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       4.670     08/04/18     18,365       (2,093,092 )
Barclays Bank PLC
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       **       11/15/19     5,715       (655,470 )
Barclays Bank PLC
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       **       11/15/21     3,873       (543,341 )
Citibank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       4.730     12/27/17     1,425       (170,405 )
Citibank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       5.288     09/28/17     550       (96,354 )
Deutsche Bank AG Frankfurt
  EUR-EURIBOR-Reuters     Receive       2.960     02/06/39     3,171       3,109  
Deutsche Bank AG Frankfurt
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       **       11/15/21     3,242       (345,814 )
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       **       05/15/21     2,976       (425,237 )
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       **       11/15/21     5,198       (677,684 )
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       5.253     10/11/17     600       102,825  
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       4.408     05/01/18     20,925       (2,158,200 )
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       4.621     02/22/18     3,500       (373,065 )
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       5.233     09/27/17     500       (82,162 )
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  USD-LIBOR BBA     Receive       5.300     09/28/17     550       (96,888 )
                                     
                                      (8,397,471 )
                                     
Total Interest Rate Swaps
    (820,922 )
         
Swap Collateral Received From Counterparty
       
Citibank, N.A.
    (990,000 )
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    (1,990,000 )
         
Total Swap Collateral Received
    (2,980,000 )
         
Total Swap Agreements
  $ (4,200,880 )
         
 
** Zero coupon swap. The Fund and/or counterparty will make a net payment on the expiration date.
 
 
23
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Financial Statements
 
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)
 
             
Assets:
           
Total Investments (Cost $275,129,180)
  $ 269,069,376      
Cash
    198,650      
Receivables:
           
Investments Sold
    20,724,049      
Interest
    1,470,026      
Fund Shares Sold
    417,850      
Swap Contracts
    50,955      
Other
    36,351      
             
Total Assets
    291,967,257      
             
Liabilities:
           
Payables:
           
Investments Purchased
    59,029,239      
Fund Shares Repurchased
    1,272,062      
Variation Margin on Futures
    34,403      
Distributor and Affiliates
    24,995      
Income Distributions
    22,981      
Written Options, at value (premiums received of $51,717)
    18,287      
Investment Advisory Fee
    11,387      
Swap Contracts
    4,251,835      
Trustees’ Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plans
    21,414      
Accrued Expenses
    107,492      
Other
    40,722      
             
Total Liabilities
    64,834,817      
             
Net Assets
  $ 227,132,440      
             
Net Assets Consist of:
           
Capital (Par value of $0.01 per share with an unlimited number of shares authorized)
  $ 266,680,657      
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income
    158,857      
Net Unrealized Depreciation
    (7,039,931 )    
Accumulated Net Realized Loss
    (32,667,143 )    
             
Net Assets
  $ 227,132,440      
             
Maximum Offering Price Per Share:
           
Class A Shares:
           
Net asset value and redemption price per share (Based on net assets of $81,859,989 and 9,317,359 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)
  $ 8.79      
Maximum sales charge (4.75%* of offering price)
    0.44      
             
Maximum offering price to public
  $ 9.23      
             
Class B Shares:
           
Net asset value and offering price per share (Based on net assets of $7,524,147 and 860,827 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)
  $ 8.74      
             
Class C Shares:
           
Net asset value and offering price per share (Based on net assets of $13,606,060 and 1,553,129 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)
  $ 8.76      
             
Class I Shares:
           
Net asset value and offering price per share (Based on net assets of $124,142,244 and 14,123,527 shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding)
  $ 8.79      
             
 
* On sales of $100,000 or more, the sales charge will be reduced.
 
 
24
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Financial Statements  
continued
 
Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)
 
             
Investment Income:
           
Interest
  $ 5,774,243      
             
Expenses:
           
Investment Advisory Fee
    443,374      
Distribution (12b-1) and Service Fees
           
Class A
    103,691      
Class B
    37,688      
Class C
    17,254      
Accounting and Administrative Expenses
    75,326      
Transfer Agent Fees
    70,100      
Reports to Shareholders
    60,160      
Registration Fees
    51,193      
Custody
    47,594      
Professional Fees
    38,311      
Trustees’ Fees and Related Expenses
    9,786      
Other
    11,764      
             
Total Expenses
    966,241      
Expense Reduction
    215,256      
Less Credits Earned on Cash Balances
    1,188      
             
Net Expenses
    749,797      
             
Net Investment Income
  $ 5,024,446      
             
Realized and Unrealized Gain/Loss:
           
Realized Gain/Loss:
           
Futures
  $ 2,980,828      
Swap Contracts
    2,903,847      
Foreign Currency Transactions
    (21,282 )    
Written Options
    (210,153 )    
Investments
    (25,790,826 )    
             
Net Realized Loss
    (20,137,586 )    
             
Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation:
           
Beginning of the Period
    (20,340,378 )    
             
End of the Period:
           
Futures
    37,689      
Written Options
    33,430      
Foreign Currency Translation
    (422 )    
Swap Contracts
    (1,050,824 )    
Investments
    (6,059,804 )    
             
      (7,039,931 )    
             
Net Unrealized Appreciation During the Period
    13,300,447      
             
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss
  $ (6,837,139 )    
             
Net Decrease in Net Assets From Operations
  $ (1,812,693 )    
             
 
 
25
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Financial Statements  
continued
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets  (Unaudited)
 
                     
    For The Six
  For The
   
    Months Ended
  Year Ended
   
    February 28, 2009   August 31, 2008    
     
 
From Investment Activities:
                   
Operations:
                   
Net Investment Income
  $ 5,024,446     $ 10,310,391      
Net Realized Loss
    (20,137,586 )     (12,312,984 )    
Net Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation During the Period
    13,300,447       (20,201,609 )    
                     
Change in Net Assets from Operations
    (1,812,693 )     (22,204,202 )    
                     
                     
Distributions from Net Investment Income:
                   
Class A Shares
    (1,908,814 )     (3,120,248 )    
Class B Shares
    (145,982 )     (227,863 )    
Class C Shares
    (284,805 )     (595,031 )    
Class I Shares
    (3,194,596 )     (6,072,204 )    
                     
      (5,534,197 )     (10,015,346 )    
                     
                     
Distributions from Net Realized Gain:
                   
Class A Shares
    -0-       (11,452 )    
Class B Shares
    -0-       (688 )    
Class C Shares
    -0-       (1,965 )    
Class I Shares
    -0-       (40,962 )    
                     
      -0-       (55,067 )    
                     
Total Distributions
    (5,534,197 )     (10,070,413 )    
                     
                     
Net Change in Net Assets from Investment Activities
    (7,346,890 )     (32,274,615 )    
                     
                     
From Capital Transactions:
                   
Proceeds from Shares Sold
    121,232,359       419,616,890      
Net Asset Value of Shares Issued Through Dividend Reinvestment
    5,364,796       9,678,183      
Cost of Shares Repurchased
    (161,850,398 )     (165,039,998 )    
                     
Net Change in Net Assets from Capital Transactions
    (35,253,243 )     264,255,075      
                     
Total Decrease/Increase in Net Assets
    (42,600,133 )     231,980,460      
Net Assets:
                   
Beginning of the Period
    269,732,573       37,752,113      
                     
End of the Period (Including accumulated undistributed net investment income of $158,857 and $668,608, respectively)
  $ 227,132,440     $ 269,732,573      
                     
 
 
26
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Financial Highlights  (Unaudited)
 
The following schedule presents financial highlights for one share of the Fund outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
 
                         
    Six Months
  For the Year
  January 26, 2007
    Ended
  Ended
  (Commencement of
    February 28,
  August 31,
  Operations) to
Class A Shares
  2009   2008   August 31, 2007
     
 
Net Asset Value, Beginning of the Period
  $ 9.05     $ 9.98     $ 10.00  
                         
Net Investment Income (a)
    0.18       0.45       0.36  
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss
    (0.24 )     (0.92 )     (0.10 )
                         
Total from Investment Operations
    (0.06 )     (0.47 )     0.26  
                         
Less:
                       
Distributions from Net Investment Income
    0.20       0.46       0.28  
Distributions from Net Realized Gain
    0.00       0.00 (c)     0.00  
                         
Total Distributions
    0.20       0.46       0.28  
                         
Net Asset Value, End of the Period
  $ 8.79     $ 9.05     $ 9.98  
                         
                         
Total Return* (b)
    –0.73% **     –4.91%       2.62% **
Net Assets at End of the Period (In millions)
  $ 81.9     $ 91.8     $ 28.7  
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*
    0.75%       0.75%       0.75%  
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets*
    4.13%       4.69%       6.10%  
Portfolio Turnover
    291% **     460%       91% **
*  If certain expenses had not been voluntarily assumed by Van Kampen, total return would have been lower and the ratios would have been as follows:
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets
    0.93%       0.96%       2.08%  
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets
    3.95%       4.48%       4.78%  
 
(a) Based on average shares outstanding.
 
(b) Assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the period and does not include payment of the maximum sales charge of 4.75% or contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). On purchases of $1 million or more, a CDSC of 1% may be imposed on certain redemptions made within eighteen months of purchase. If the sales charges were included, total returns would be lower. These returns include combined Rule 12b-1 fees and service fees of up to .25% and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
 
(c) Amount is less than $0.01 per share.
 
** Non-Annualized
 
 
27
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Financial Highlights  (Unaudited)  
continued
 
The following schedule presents financial highlights for one share of the Fund outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
 
                         
    Six Months
  For the Year
  January 26, 2007
    Ended
  Ended
  (Commencement of
    February 28,
  August 31,
  Operations) to
Class B Shares
  2009   2008   August 31, 2007
     
 
Net Asset Value, Beginning of the Period
  $ 9.01     $ 9.99     $ 10.00  
                         
Net Investment Income (a)
    0.15       0.38       0.30  
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss
    (0.25 )     (0.92 )     (0.07 )
                         
Total from Investment Operations
    (0.10 )     (0.54 )     0.23  
                         
Less:
                       
Distributions from Net Investment Income
    0.17       0.44       0.24  
Distributions from Net Realized Gain
    0.00       0.00 (c)     0.00  
                         
Total Distributions
    0.17       0.44       0.24  
                         
Net Asset Value, End of the Period
  $ 8.74     $ 9.01     $ 9.99  
                         
                         
Total Return* (b)
    –1.11% **     –5.69%       2.35% **(d)
Net Assets at End of the Period (In millions)
  $ 7.5     $ 8.6     $ 1.5  
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets* (e)
    1.50%       1.50%       1.28% (d)
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets*
    3.41%       3.95%       5.14% (d)
Portfolio Turnover
    291% **     460%       91% **
*  If certain expenses had not been voluntarily assumed by Van Kampen, total return would have been lower and the ratios would have been as follows:
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (e)
    1.69%       1.68%       2.68% (d)
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets
    3.22%       3.77%       3.74% (d)
 
(a) Based on average shares outstanding.
 
(b) Assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the period and does not include payment of the maximum CDSC of 4%, charged on certain redemptions made within one year of purchase and declining to 0% after the fifth year. If the sales charge were included, total returns would be lower. These returns include combined Rule 12b-1 fees and service fees of up to 1% and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
 
(c) Amount is less than $0.01.
 
(d) The Total Return, Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets reflect actual 12b-1 fees of less than 1% (See footnote 8).
 
(e) The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets does not reflect credits earned on cash balances. If these credits were reflected as a reduction of expenses, the ratio would decrease by .03% for the period ended August 31, 2007.
 
** Non-Annualized
 
 
28
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Financial Highlights  (Unaudited)  
continued
 
The following schedule presents financial highlights for one share of the Fund outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
 
                         
    Six Months
  For the Year
  January 26, 2007
    Ended
  Ended
  (Commencement of
    February 28,
  August 31,
  Operations) to
Class C Shares
  2009   2008   August 31, 2007
     
 
Net Asset Value, Beginning of the Period
  $ 9.00     $ 10.01     $ 10.00  
                         
Net Investment Income (a)
    0.18       0.37       0.31  
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss
    (0.25 )     (0.89 )     (0.05 )
                         
Total from Investment Operations
    (0.07 )     (0.52 )     0.26  
                         
Less:
                       
Distributions from Net Investment Income
    0.17       0.49       0.25  
Distributions from Net Realized Gain
    0.00       0.00 (c)     0.00  
                         
Total Distributions
    0.17       0.49       0.25  
                         
Net Asset Value, End of the Period
  $ 8.76     $ 9.00     $ 10.01  
                         
                         
Total Return* (b) (d)
    –0.72% **     –5.47%       2.61% **
Net Assets at End of the Period (In millions)
  $ 13.6     $ 17.2     $ 2.0  
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets* (d) (e)
    0.74%       1.45%       1.12%  
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets* (d)
    4.17%       3.81%       5.31%  
Portfolio Turnover
    291% **     460%       91% **
*  If certain expenses had not been voluntarily assumed by Van Kampen, total return would have been lower and the ratios would have been as follows:
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (d) (e)
    0.93%       1.58%       2.52%  
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets (d)
    3.98%       3.68%       3.92%  
 
(a) Based on average shares outstanding.
 
(b) Assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the period and does not include payment of the maximum CDSC of 1%, charged on certain redemptions made within one year of purchase. If the sales charge was included, total returns would be lower. These returns include combined Rule 12b-1 fees and service fees of up to 1% and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
 
(c) Amount is less than $0.01 per share.
 
(d) The Total Return, Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets reflect actual 12b-1 fees of less than 1% (See footnote 8).
 
(e) The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets does not reflect credits earned on cash balances. If these credits were reflected as a reduction of expenses, the ratio would decrease by .03% for the period ended August 31, 2007.
 
** Non-Annualized
 
 
29
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Financial Highlights  (Unaudited)  
continued
 
The following schedule presents financial highlights for one share of the Fund outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
 
                         
    Six Months
  For the Year
  January 26, 2007
    Ended
  Ended
  (Commencement of
    February 28,
  August 31,
  Operations) to
Class I Shares
  2009   2008   August 31, 2007
     
 
Net Asset Value, Beginning of the Period
  $ 9.06     $ 9.98     $ 10.00  
                         
Net Investment Income (a)
    0.19       0.47       0.36  
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss
    (0.25 )     (0.91 )     (0.09 )
                         
Total from Investment Operations
    (0.06 )     (0.44 )     0.27  
                         
Less:
                       
Distributions from Net Investment Income
    0.21       0.48       0.29  
Distributions from Net Realized Gain
    0.00       0.00 (c)     0.00  
                         
Total Distributions
    0.21       0.48       0.29  
                         
Net Asset Value, End of the Period
  $ 8.79     $ 9.06     $ 9.98  
                         
                         
Total Return* (b)
    –0.60% **     –4.67%       2.77% **
Net Assets at End of the Period (In millions)
  $ 124.1     $ 152.1     $ 5.6  
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets* (d)
    0.50%       0.50%       0.52%  
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets*
    4.38%       4.81%       6.07%  
Portfolio Turnover
    291% **     460%       91% **
*  If certain expenses had not been voluntarily assumed by Van Kampen, total return would have been lower and the ratios would have been as follows:
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (d)
    0.68%       0.61%       1.91%  
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets
    4.20%       4.70%       4.68%  
 
(a) Based on average shares outstanding.
 
(b) Assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the period. These returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
 
(c) Amount is less than $0.01 per share.
 
(d) The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets does not reflect credits earned on cash balances. If these credits were reflected as a reduction of expenses, the ratio would decrease by .02% for the period ended August 31, 2007.
 
** Non-Annualized
 
 
30
See Notes to Financial Statements


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)
 
1. Significant Accounting Policies
The Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund (the “Fund”) is organized as a diversified series of the Van Kampen Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, and is registered as a diversified, open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund’s investment objective is to seek total return. The Fund invests primarily in a diversified mix of U.S. dollar denominated investment grade fixed income securities, particularly U.S. government, corporate and mortgage securities. The Fund commenced operations on January 26, 2007. The Fund offers Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Each class of shares differs by its initial sales load, contingent deferred sales charges, the allocation of class-specific expenses and voting rights on matters affecting a single class.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
A. Security Valuation Fixed income investments are stated at value using market quotations or indications of value obtained from an independent pricing service. Investments in securities listed on a securities exchange are valued at their last sale price as of the close of such securities exchange. Listed and unlisted securities for which the last sale price is not available are valued at the mean of the last reported bid and asked prices. For those securities where quotations or prices are not readily available as noted above, valuations are determined in accordance with procedures established in good faith by the Board of Trustees. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents and, if necessary, available information concerning other securities in similar circumstances. Options are valued at the last sale price. Futures contracts are valued at the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. Swaps are valued using market quotations obtained from brokers. Short-term securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (FAS 157), effective September 1, 2008. In accordance with FAS 157, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. FAS 157 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to distinguish between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs) and to establish classification of fair value measurements
 
 
31


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
for disclosure purposes. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. The inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
 
Level 1— quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
Level 2— other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3— significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of February 28, 2009 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at value:
 
                 
        Other
    Investments in
  Financial
Valuation Inputs   Securities   Instruments*
 
Level 1—Quoted Prices
  $ 122,787     $ 19,402  
Level 2—Other Significant Observable Inputs
    268,120,190       (1,220,880 )
Level 3—Significant Unobservable Inputs
    826,399       -0-  
                 
Total
  $ 269,069,376     $ (1,201,478 )
                 
 
* Other financial instruments include futures, forwards, written options and swap contracts.
 
Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value:
 
         
    Investments in
    Securities
 
Balance as of 08/31/08
  $ 135,618  
Accrued Discounts/Premiums
    -0-  
Realized Gain/Loss
    36,970  
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation
    (521,679 )
Net Purchases/Sales
    (44,517 )
Net Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
    1,220,007  
         
Balance as of 2/28/09
  $ 826,399  
         
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation from Investments still held as of 2/28/09
  $ (521,679 )
 
B. Security Transaction Security transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses are determined on an identified cost basis. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements, which are short-term investments in which the Fund acquires ownership of a debt security and the seller agrees to repurchase the security at a future time and specified price. The Fund may invest independently in repurchase agreements, or transfer uninvested cash balances into a pooled cash account along with other investment companies advised by Van Kampen Asset Management (the “Adviser”) or its affiliates, the daily aggregate of which is invested in repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements are fully collateralized by the
 
 
32


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
underlying debt security. The Fund will make payment for such securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer to the account of the custodian bank. The seller is required to maintain the value of the underlying security at not less than the repurchase proceeds due the Fund. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a “when-issued“, “delayed delivery” or “forward commitment” basis, with settlement to occur at a later date. The value of the security so purchased is subject to market fluctuations during this period. The Fund will segregate assets with the custodian having an aggregate value at least equal to the amount of the when-issued, delayed delivery or forward purchase commitments until payment is made. At February 28, 2009, the Fund had $55,808,935 of when-issued, delayed delivery or forward purchase commitments.
 
C. Income and Expenses Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Discounts on debt securities purchased are accreted and premiums are amortized over the expected life of each applicable security. Income and expenses of the Fund are allocated on a pro rata basis to each class of shares, except for distribution and service fees and incremental transfer agency costs which are unique to each class of shares.
 
D. Federal Income Taxes It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required. Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48) sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Management has concluded there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. If applicable, the Fund recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in “Interest Expense“ and penalties in “Other” expenses on the Statement of Operations. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and various states. Generally, each of the tax years in the four year period ended August 31, 2008, remains subject to examination by taxing authorities.
At February 28, 2009, the cost and related gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation were as follows:
 
             
Cost of investments for tax purposes
  $ 275,231,226      
             
Gross tax unrealized appreciation
    3,149,357      
Gross tax unrealized depreciation
    (9,311,207 )    
             
Net tax unrealized depreciation on investments
  $ (6,161,850 )    
             
 
E. Distribution of Income and Gains The Fund declares daily and pays monthly dividends from net investment income. Net realized gains, if any, are distributed at least annually.
 
 
33


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008 were as follows:
 
         
Distributions paid from:
       
Ordinary income
  $ 10,036,254  
Long-term capital gain
    55,067  
         
    $ 10,091,321  
         
 
As of August 31, 2008, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
 
         
Undistributed ordinary income
  $ 781,252  
Undistributed long-term capital gain
    -0-  
 
Net realized gains or losses may differ for financial reporting and tax purposes primarily as a result of the deferral of losses relating to wash sale transactions.
 
F. Credits Earned on Cash Balances During the six month period ended February 28, 2009, the Fund’s custody fee was reduced by $1,188 as a result of credits earned on cash balances.
 
G. Foreign Currency Translation Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and asked prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Realized gain and loss on foreign currency transactions on the Statement of Operations includes the net realized amount from the sale of foreign currency, the amount realized between trade date and settlement date on securities transactions and the foreign currency portion of gain and losses on the sale of securities. Income and expenses are translated at rates prevailing when accrued.
 
2. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Under the terms of the Fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser will provide investment advice and facilities to the Fund for an annual fee payable monthly as follows:
 
         
Average Daily Net Assets   % Per Annum
 
First $1 billion
    .375%  
Over $1 billion
    .300%  
 
The Fund’s Adviser is currently waiving or reimbursing all or a portion of the Fund’s advisory fees or other expenses. This resulted in net expense ratios of 0.75%, 1.50%, 0.74% and 0.50% for Classes A, B, C and I Shares, respectively. The fee waivers or expense reimbursements are voluntary and can be discontinued at any time. For the six months ended February 28, 2009 the Adviser waived or reimbursed approximately $215,300 of advisory fees or other expenses.
For the six months ended February 28, 2009, the Fund recognized expenses of approximately $5,300 representing legal services provided by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
 
 
34


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
LLP, of which a trustee of the Fund is a partner of such firm and he and his law firm provide legal services as legal counsel to the Fund.
Under separate Legal Services, Accounting Services and Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) Employment agreements, the Adviser provides accounting and legal services and the CCO provides compliance services to the Fund. The costs of these services are allocated to each fund. For six months ended February 28, 2009, the Fund recognized expenses of approximately $33,200 representing Van Kampen Investments Inc.’s or its affiliates’ (collectively “Van Kampen”) cost of providing accounting and legal services to the Fund, as well as the salary, benefits and related costs of the CCO and related support staff paid by Van Kampen. Services provided pursuant to the Legal Services agreement are reported as part of “Professional Fees” on the Statement of Operations. Services provided pursuant to the Accounting Services and CCO Employment agreement are reported as part of “Accounting and Administrative Expenses” on the Statement of Operations.
Van Kampen Investor Services Inc. (VKIS), an affiliate of the Adviser, serves as the shareholder servicing agent for the Fund. For the six months ended February 28, 2009, the Fund recognized expenses of approximately $22,400 representing transfer agency fees paid to VKIS and its affiliates. Transfer agency fees are determined through negotiations with the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
Certain officers and trustees of the Fund are also officers and trustees of Van Kampen. The Fund does not compensate its officers or trustees who are also officers of Van Kampen.
The Fund provides deferred compensation and retirement plans for its trustees who are not officers of Van Kampen. Under the deferred compensation plan, trustees may elect to defer all or a portion of their compensation. Amounts deferred are retained by the Fund and, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, may be invested in the common shares of those funds selected by the trustees. Investments in such funds of approximately $7,000 are included in “Other” assets on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at February 28, 2009. Appreciation/depreciation and distributions received from these investments are recorded with an offsetting increase/decrease in the deferred compensation obligation and do not affect the net asset value of the Fund. Benefits under the retirement plan are payable upon retirement for a ten-year period and are based upon each trustee’s years of service to the Fund. The maximum annual benefit per trustee under the plan is $2,500.
For the six months ended February 28, 2009, Van Kampen, as Distributor for the Fund, received commissions on sales of the Fund’s Class A Shares of approximately $22,000 and contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) on redeemed shares of approximately $35,500. Sales charges do not represent expenses of the Fund.
 
 
35


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
3. Capital Transactions
For the year six months ended February 28, 2009 and the year ended August 31, 2008, transactions were as follows:
 
                                     
    For The
  For The
   
    Six Months Ended
  Year Ended
   
    February 28, 2009   August 31, 2008    
    Shares   Value   Shares   Value    
 
Sales:
                                   
Class A
    2,200,410     $ 19,541,091       11,516,834     $ 115,627,553      
Class B
    233,616       2,062,642       1,129,969       11,287,816      
Class C
    313,897       2,764,135       3,188,209       32,162,308      
Class I
    11,009,920       96,864,491       26,071,905       260,539,213      
                                     
Total Sales
    13,757,843     $ 121,232,359       41,906,917     $ 419,616,890      
                                     
                                     
Dividend Reinvestment:
                                   
Class A
    207,209     $ 1,823,860       300,020     $ 2,930,943      
Class B
    15,759       138,007       22,451       217,854      
Class C
    24,136       211,574       44,873       436,954      
Class I
    362,299       3,191,355       618,634       6,092,432      
                                     
Total Dividend Reinvestment
    609,403     $ 5,364,796       985,978     $ 9,678,183      
                                     
                                     
Repurchases:
                                   
Class A
    (3,228,351 )   $ (28,631,148 )     (4,551,149 )   $ (44,060,433 )    
Class B
    (348,107 )     (3,062,275 )     (344,188 )     (3,282,138 )    
Class C
    (693,444 )     (6,114,192 )     (1,520,393 )     (14,466,189 )    
Class I
    (14,040,119 )     (124,042,783 )     (10,461,564 )     (103,231,238 )    
                                     
Total Repurchases
    (18,310,021 )   $ (161,850,398 )     (16,877,294 )   $ (165,039,998 )    
                                     
 
4. Redemption Fee
Until November 3, 2008, the Fund assessed a 2% redemption fee on the proceeds of Fund shares that are redeemed (either by sale or exchange) within seven days of purchase. The redemption fee was paid directly to the Fund and allocated on a pro rata basis to each class of shares. For the six months ended February 28, 2009, the Fund received redemption fees of approximately $700, which are reported as part of “Cost of Shares Repurchased” on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. The per share impact from redemption fees paid to the Fund was less than $0.01. Effective November 3, 2008, the redemption fee is no longer applied.
 
5. Investment Transactions
During the period, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities, were $47,475,488 and $40,335,775 respectively. The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of long-term U.S. Government securities, including paydowns on mortgage-backed securities, for the period were $710,970,803 and $769, 839,942, respectively.
 
 
36


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
6. Mortgage Backed Securities
The Fund may invest in various types of Mortgage Backed Securities. A Mortgage Backed Security (MBS) is a pass-through security created by pooling mortgages and selling participations in the principal and interest payments received from borrowers. Some of these securities are guaranteed by federally sponsored agencies—Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC). GNMA is a wholly owned corporate instrumentality of the United States whose securities and guarantees are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. FNMA, a federally chartered and privately owned corporation, and FHLMC, a federal corporation, are instrumentalities of the United States. The securities and guarantees of FNMA and FHLMC are not backed, directly or indirectly, by the full faith and credit of United States. A Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (CMO) is a bond, which is collateralized by a pool of MBS’s.
These securities derive their value from or represent interests in a pool of mortgages, or mortgage securities. Mortgage securities are subject to prepayment risk—the risk that, as mortgage interest rates fall, borrowers will refinance and “prepay” principal. A fund holding mortgage securities that are experiencing prepayments may have to reinvest these payments at lower prevailing interest rates. On the other hand, when interest rates rise, borrowers are less likely to refinance resulting in lower prepayments. This can effectively extend the maturity of a fund’s mortgage securities resulting in greater price volatility. It can be difficult to measure precisely the remaining life of a mortgage security or the average life of a portfolio of such securities.
To the extent a fund invests in mortgage securities offered by non-governmental issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, the Fund may be subject to additional risks. Timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental issuers are supported by various forms of private insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance purchased by the issuer. There can be no assurance that the private insurers can meet their obligations under the policies.
An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage backed security and could result in losses to a Fund. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payment on their mortgages.
 
7. Derivative Financial Instruments
A derivative financial instrument in very general terms refers to a security whose value is “derived” from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index.
The Fund may use derivative instruments for a variety of reasons, such as to attempt to protect the Fund against possible changes in the market value of its portfolio or to generate potential gain. All of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, including derivative instruments, are marked to market each day with the change in value reflected in unrealized appreciation/depreciation. Upon disposition, a realized gain or loss is generally recognized. Risks may arise as a result of the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. Summarized below are the specific types of derivative financial instruments used by the Fund.
 
 
37


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
A. Futures Contracts A futures contract is an agreement involving the delivery of a particular asset on a specified future date at an agreed upon price. The Fund generally invests in futures on U.S. Treasury Bonds or Notes. Upon entering into futures contracts, the Fund maintains an amount of cash or liquid securities with a value equal to a percentage of the contract amount with either a futures commission merchant pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated under the 1940 Act, or with its custodian in an account in the broker’s name. This amount is known as initial margin. During the period the futures contract is open, payments are received from or made to the broker based upon changes in the value of the contract (the variation margin). The risk of loss associated with a futures contract is in excess of the variation margin reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Transactions in futures contracts for the six months ended February 28, 2009, were
as follows:
 
         
    Contracts
 
Outstanding at August 31, 2008
    590  
Futures Opened
    4,154  
Futures Closed
    (4,007 )
         
Outstanding at February 28, 2009
    737  
         
 
B. Option Contracts An option contract gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying item at a fixed exercise (strike) price during a specified period. The Fund may purchase put and call options. Purchasing call options tends to increase the Fund’s exposure to the underlying (or similar) instrument. Purchasing put options tends to decrease the Fund’s exposure to the underlying (or similar) instrument. The risk associated with purchasing put and call options is limited to the premium paid. Purchased options are reported as part of “Total Investments” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Premiums paid for purchasing options which expire are treated as realized losses.
The Fund may write covered call and put options. Writing put options tends to increase the Fund’s exposure to the underlying instrument. Writing call options tends to decrease the Fund’s exposure to the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a call or put option, an amount equal to the premium received is recorded as a liability and subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. These liabilities are reflected as written options outstanding on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Premiums received from writing options which expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options which are exercised or closed are added to the proceeds or offset against amounts paid on the underlying securities to determine the realized gain or loss. The Fund as a writer of an option has no control over whether the underlying security may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and as a result bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. There is the risk the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid market.
 
 
38


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
Transactions in written call options were as follows:
 
                     
    Number of
  Premium
   
    Contracts   Received    
 
Options Outstanding at August 31, 2008
    -0-     $ -0-      
Options Written
    843       221,316      
Options Terminated in Closing Purchase Transactions
    (425 )     (169,599 )    
Options Exercised
    -0-       -0-      
Options Expired
    -0-       -0-      
                     
Options Outstanding at February 28, 2009
    418     $ 51,717      
                     
 
C. Swap Contracts The Fund adopted the provisions of the FASB Staff Position Paper No. FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4, Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45 (FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4), effective November 30, 2008. FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 requires the seller of credit derivatives to provide additional disclosure about its credit derivatives.
The Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts, a type of credit derivative, for hedging purposes or to gain exposure to a credit or index of credits in which the Fund may otherwise invest. A credit default swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange the credit risk of an issuer or index of issuers. A buyer of a credit default swap is said to buy protection by paying periodic fees in return for a contingent payment from the seller if the issuer has a credit event such as bankruptcy, a failure to pay outstanding obligations or deteriorating credit while the swap is outstanding. A seller of a credit default swap is said to sell protection and thus collects the periodic fees and profits if the credit of the issuer remains stable or improves while the swap is outstanding. The seller in a credit default swap contract would be required to pay an agreed-upon amount, to the buyer in the event of an adverse credit event of the issuer. This agreed-upon amount approximates the notional amount of the swap as disclosed in the table following the Portfolio of Investments and is estimated to be the maximum potential future payment that the seller could be required to make under the credit default swap contract. In the event of an adverse credit event, the seller generally does not have any contractual remedies against the issuer or any other third party. However, if a physical settlement is elected, the seller would receive the defaulted credit and, as a result, become a creditor of the issuer.
The current credit rating of each individual issuer is listed in the table following the Portfolio of Investments and serves as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk of the credit derivative. Alternatively, for credit default swaps on an index of credits, the quoted market prices and current values serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk of the credit derivative. Generally, lower credit ratings and increasing market values, in absolute terms, represent a deterioration of the credit and a greater likelihood of an adverse credit event of the issuer.
The Fund accrues for the periodic fees on credit default swaps on a daily basis with the net amount accrued recorded within unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of swap contracts. Upon cash settlement of the periodic fees, the net amount is recorded as realized gain/loss on swap contracts on the Statement of Operations. Net unrealized gains are recorded as an asset or net unrealized losses are reported as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in value of the swap contracts is reported as unrealized gains or losses on the
 
 
39


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
Statement of Operations. Payments received or made upon entering into a credit default swap contract, if any, are recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations upon termination or maturity of the swap. Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the issuer directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, counterparty risk and credit risk.
The Fund may also enter into interest rate swaps primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. Interest rate swaps are contractual agreements to exchange periodic interest payment streams calculated on a predetermined notional principal amount. Interest rate swaps generally involve one party paying a fixed interest rate and the other party paying a variable rate. The Fund will usually enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis, i.e, the two payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund accrues the net amount with respect to each interest rate swap on a daily basis. This net amount is recorded within unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap contracts. Upon cash settlement of the periodic payments, the net amount is recorded as realized gain/loss on swap contracts on the Statement of Operations. Risks may arise as a result of the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
Swap agreements are not entered into or traded on exchanges and there is no central clearing or guaranty function for swaps. Therefore, swaps are subject to the risk of default or non-performance by the counterparty. If there is a default by the counterparty to a swap agreement, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. Counterparties are required to pledge collateral daily (based on the valuation of each swap) on behalf of the Fund with a value approximately equal to the amount of any unrealized gain. Reciprocally, when the Fund has an unrealized loss on a swap contract, the Fund has instructed the custodian to pledge cash or liquid securities as collateral with a value approximately equal to the amount of the unrealized loss. Collateral pledges are monitored and subsequently adjusted if and when the swap valuations fluctuate. Cash collateral is disclosed in the table following the Portfolio of Investments. Cash collateral has been offset against open swap contracts under the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 39 Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 10 and FASB Statement No. 105 and are included within “Swap Contracts” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For cash collateral received, the Fund pays a monthly fee to the counterparty based on the effective rate for Federal Funds. This fee, when paid, is included within realized loss on swap contracts on the Statement of Operations.
 
8. Distributions and Service Plans
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Van Kampen Funds Inc. (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Adviser. The Fund has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and a service plan (collectively, the “Plans”) for Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares to compensate the Distributor for the sale, distribution, shareholder servicing and maintenance of shareholder accounts for these shares. Under the Plans, the Fund will incur annual fees of up to .25% of Class A average daily net assets and up to 1.00% each of Class B and Class C average daily net assets. These fees are accrued daily and paid to the Distributor monthly.
 
 
40


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Notes to Financial Statements  
n  February 28, 2009 (Unaudited)  continued
 
The amount of distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor and not yet reimbursed (“unreimbursed receivable”) was approximately $8,500 and $0 for Class B and Class C Shares, respectively. These amounts may be recovered from future payments under the distribution plan or CDSC. To the extent the unreimbursed receivable has been fully recovered, the distribution fee is reduced.
 
9. Indemnifications
The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
 
10. Accounting Pronouncement
On March 19, 2008, Financial Accounting Standards Board released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (FAS 161). FAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. The application of FAS 161 is required for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. At this time, management does not believe the adoption of FAS 161 will impact the financial statement amounts; however, additional footnote disclosures may be required about the use of derivative instruments and hedging items.
 
 
 
41


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
Board of Trustees, Officers and Important Addresses
 
     
Board of Trustees
David C. Arch
Jerry D. Choate
Rod Dammeyer
Linda Hutton Heagy
R. Craig Kennedy
Howard J Kerr
Jack E. Nelson
Hugo F. Sonnenschein
Wayne W. Whalen*
 – Chairman
Suzanne H. Woolsey
 
Officers
Edward C. Wood
President and Principal Executive Officer
Kevin Klingert
Vice President
Stefanie V. Chang Yu
Vice President and Secretary
John L. Sullivan
Chief Compliance Officer
Stuart N. Schuldt
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  Investment Adviser
Van Kampen Asset Management
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036

Distributor
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036

Shareholder Servicing Agent
Van Kampen Investor Services Inc.
P.O. Box 219286
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9286

Custodian
State Street Bank
and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Legal Counsel
Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606

Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
233 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606-4301
 
 
 
* “Interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
 
 
42


 

Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our
U.S. Privacy Policy
 
We are required by federal law to provide you with a copy of our Privacy Policy annually.
 
This Policy applies to current and former individual clients of Van Kampen Investments Inc., Van Kampen Asset Management, Van Kampen Advisors Inc., Van Kampen Funds Inc., Van Kampen Investor Services Inc. and Van Kampen Exchange Corp., as well as current and former individual investors in Van Kampen mutual funds, unit investment trusts, and related companies.
 
This Policy is not applicable to partnerships, corporations, trusts or other non-individual clients or account holders, nor is this Policy applicable to individuals who are either beneficiaries of a trust for which we serve as trustee or participants in an employee benefit plan administered or advised by us. This Policy is, however, applicable to individuals who select us to be a custodian of securities or assets in individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, 529 Educational Savings Accounts, accounts subject to the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, or similar accounts. Please note that we may amend this Policy at any time, and will inform you of any changes to this Policy as required by law.
 
We Respect Your Privacy
 
We appreciate that you have provided us with your personal financial information and understand your concerns about safeguarding such information. We strive to maintain the privacy of such information while we help you achieve your financial objectives. This Policy describes what nonpublic personal information we collect about you, how we collect it, when we may share it with others, and how others may use it. It discusses the steps you may take to limit our sharing of information about you with affiliated Van Kampen companies (“affiliated companies”). It also discloses how you may limit our affiliates’ use of shared information for marketing purposes. Throughout this Policy, we refer to the nonpublic information that personally identifies you or your accounts as “personal information.”
 
1. What Personal Information Do We Collect About You?
 
To better serve you and manage our business, it is important that we collect and maintain accurate information about you. We obtain this information from applications and other forms you submit to us, from your dealings with us, from consumer reporting agencies and from third parties and other sources. For example:
 
  •   We collect information such as your name, address, e-mail address, phone number and account title.  
 
(continued on next page)
 


 


Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our
U.S. Privacy Policy  continued
 
  •   We may obtain information about account balances, your use of account(s) and the types of products and services you prefer to receive from us through your dealings and transactions with us and other sources.  
 
  •   We may obtain information about your creditworthiness and credit history from consumer reporting agencies.  
 
  •   We may collect background information from and through third-party vendors to verify representations you have made and to comply with various regulatory requirements.  
 
  •   If you interact with us through our public and private Web sites, we may collect information that you provide directly through online communications (such as an e-mail address). We may also collect information about your Internet service provider, your domain name, your computer’s operating system and Web browser, your use of our Web sites and your product and service preferences, through the use of ”cookies.” ”Cookies” recognize your computer each time you return to one of our sites, and help to improve our sites’ content and personalize your experience on our sites by, for example, suggesting offerings that may interest you. Please consult the Terms of Use of these sites for more details on our use of cookies.  
 
2. When Do We Disclose Personal Information We Collect About You?
 
To provide you with the products and services you request, to better serve you, to manage our business and as otherwise required or permitted by law, we may disclose personal information we collect about you to other affiliated companies and to nonaffiliated third parties.
 
A. Information We Disclose to Our Affiliated Companies. In order to manage your account(s) effectively, including servicing and processing your transactions, to let you know about products and services offered by us and affiliated companies, to manage our business, and as otherwise required or permitted by law, we may disclose personal information to other affiliated companies. Offers for products and services from affiliated companies are developed under conditions designed to safeguard your personal information.
 
B. Information We Disclose to Third Parties. We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to nonaffiliated third parties except to enable them to provide marketing services on our behalf, to perform joint marketing agreements with other financial institutions, and as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, some instances where we may disclose information about you to third
 
(continued on next page)
 


 


Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our
U.S. Privacy Policy  continued
 
parties include: for servicing and processing transactions, to offer our own products and services, to protect against fraud, for institutional risk control, to respond to judicial process or to perform services on our behalf. When we share personal information with a nonaffiliated third party, they are required to limit their use of personal information to the particular purpose for which it was shared and they are not allowed to share personal information with others except to fulfill that limited purpose.
 
3. How Do We Protect the Security and Confidentiality of Personal Information We Collect About You?
 
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural security measures to help safeguard the personal information we collect about you. We have internal policies governing the proper handling of client information. Third parties that provide support or marketing services on our behalf may also receive personal information, and we require them to adhere to confidentiality standards with respect to such information.
 
4. How Can You Limit the Sharing of Certain Types of Personal Information With Affiliated Companies?
 
We respect your privacy and offer you choices as to whether we share with affiliated companies personal information that was collected to determine your eligibility for products and services you request (“eligibility information”). Please note that, even if you direct us not to share eligibility information with affiliated companies (“opt-out”), we may still share personal information, including eligibility information, with those companies in circumstances excluded from the opt-out under applicable law, such as to process transactions or to service your account. We may also share certain other types of personal information with affiliated companies—such as your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and account number(s), and information about your transactions and experiences with us.
 
5. How Can You Limit the Use of Certain Types of Personal Information by Affiliated Companies for Marketing?
 
You may limit affiliated companies from marketing their products or services to you based on your personal information that they receive from affiliated companies. This information includes your income, assets and account history. Your choice to limit marketing offers from affiliated companies will apply until you tell us to change your choice.
 
(continued on next page)
 


 


Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our
U.S. Privacy Policy  continued
 
If you wish to opt-out of sharing and to limit marketing offers, you may do so by:
 
  •   Calling us at (800) 847-2424
Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (ET)
 
 
  •   Writing to us at the following address:
Van Kampen Privacy Department
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, 3rd Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07311
 
 
If you choose to write to us, your written request should include your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-out applies and should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your request, we require that the request be provided by you directly and not through a third party.
 
If you have previously notified us about your privacy preferences, it is not necessary to do so again unless you decide to change your preferences. Your opt-out preference will remain in effect with respect to this Policy (as it may be amended) until you notify us otherwise in writing. If you have a joint account, your direction for us not to share this information with other affiliated companies and for those affiliated companies not to use your personal information for marketing will be applied to all account holders on that account.
 
Please understand that if you opt-out, you and any joint account holders may not receive information about affiliated company products and services that could help you manage your financial resources and achieve your investment objectives.
 
If you hold more than one account with Van Kampen, you may receive multiple privacy policies from us, and would need to follow the directions stated in each particular policy for each account you have with us.
 
SPECIAL NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF VERMONT
 
This section supplements our Policy with respect to our individual clients who have a Vermont address and supersedes anything to the contrary in the above Policy with respect to those clients only.
 
The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information (“opt-in”).
 
(continued on back)
 


 


Van Kampen Core Plus Fixed Income Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our
U.S. Privacy Policy  continued
 
If you wish to receive offers for investment products and services offered by or through other affiliated companies, please notify us in writing at the following address:
 
      Van Kampen Privacy Department
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, 3rd Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07311
 
 
Your authorization should include your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-in applies and should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your authorization, we require that the authorization be provided by you directly and not through a third-party.
 
 
Van Kampen Funds Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036
www.vankampen.com
 
Copyright ©2009 Van Kampen Funds Inc.
All rights reserved. Member FINRA/SIPC
 
122, 222, 322, 622
CPFISAN 04/09
IU09-01671P-Y02/09
(VAN KAMPEN INVESTMENTS LOGO)
 


 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.
(a) Please refer to Item #1.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
(a) The Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures are sufficient to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in this Form N-CSRS was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, based upon such officers’ evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(1) Code of Ethics – Not applicable for semi-annual reports.
(2)(a) A certification for the Principal Executive Officer of the registrant is attached hereto as part of EX-99.CERT.
(2)(b) A certification for the Principal Financial Officer of the registrant is attached hereto as part of EX-99.CERT.

 


 

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
       
(Registrant) Van Kampen Trust
 
 
By:   /s/ Edward C. Wood III   
Name:   Edward C. Wood III   
Title:   Principal Executive Officer  
Date:   April 16, 2009   
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
       
By:   /s/ Edward C. Wood III   
Name:   Edward C. Wood III   
Title:   Principal Executive Officer  
Date:   April 16, 2009   
       
By:   /s/ Stuart N. Schuldt   
Name:   Stuart N. Schuldt   
Title:   Principal Financial Officer   
Date:   April 16, 2009