497 1 d239058d497.htm FORM 497 Form 497
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TCW FUNDS, INC.

865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800

Los Angeles, California 90017

(800) FUND TCW

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

As Amended

October 14, 2011

 

Equity Funds    Fixed Income Funds

TCW Concentrated Value Fund

Class I Ticker TGFFX

Class N Ticker TGFVX

  

TCW Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund

Class I Ticker TGWIX

Class N Ticker TGWNX

TCW Dividend Focused Fund

Class I Ticker TGDFX

Class N Ticker TGIGX

  

TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund

Class I Ticker TGEIX

Class N Ticker TGINX

TCW Growth Fund

Class I Ticker TGGIX

Class N Ticker TGGYX

  

TCW Core Fixed Income Fund

Class I Ticker TGCFX

Class N Ticker TGFNX

TCW Growth Equities Fund

Class I Ticker TGGEX

Class N Ticker TGDNX

  

TCW High Yield Bond Fund

Class I Ticker TGHYX

Class N TickerTGHNX

TCW Relative Value Large Cap Fund

Class I Ticker TGDIX

Class N Ticker TGDVX

  

TCW Money Market Fund

Class I Ticker TCWXX

TCW Select Equities Fund

Class I Ticker

Class N Ticker TGCNX

  

TCW Short Term Bond Fund

Class I Ticker TGSMX

TCW Small Cap Growth Fund

Class I Ticker TGSCX

Class N TickerTGSNX

  

TCW Total Return Bond Fund

Class I Ticker TGLMX

Class N Ticker TGMNX

TCW SMID Cap Growth Fund

Class I Ticker TGSDX

Class N Ticker TGMDX

   Asset Allocation Funds

TCW Value Opportunities Fund

Class I Ticker TGVOX

Class N TickerTGVNX

  

TCW Global Conservative Allocation Fund

Class I Ticker TGPCX

Class N Ticker TGPNX

TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund

Class I Ticker TGMIX

Class N Ticker TGMMX

  

TCW Global Moderate Allocation Fund

Class I Ticker TGPMX

Class N TickerTGPOX

  

TCW Global Flexible Allocation Fund

Class I Ticker TGPBX

Class N Ticker TGPLX


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This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus but contains information in addition to, and more detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus dated the same date, which describes each of the separate investment series (each, a “Fund”) of TCW Funds, Inc. This Statement of Additional Information should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. A Prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing TCW Funds, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations Department, 865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017 or by calling the Investor Relations Department at (800) FUND TCW. This Statement of Additional Information, although not in itself a prospectus, is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus in its entirety. Each Fund’s audited financial statements in the Annual Report to Shareholders and the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, and unaudited financial statements appearing in the Semi-Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

     1   

INVESTMENT PRACTICES

     1   

RISK CONSIDERATIONS

     17   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

     28   

BROKERAGE PRACTICES

     29   

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

     31   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     33   

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

     41   

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

     44   

DISTRIBUTION OF COMPANY SHARES

     63   

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     65   

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

     76   

CODE OF ETHICS

     77   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO INFORMATION

     77   

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

     79   

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

     88   

HOW TO BUY AND REDEEM SHARES

     88   

HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES

     89   

PURCHASES-IN-KIND

     89   

DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     89   

INVESTMENT RESULTS

     92   

SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS

     95   

TRANSFER AGENT AND CUSTODIANS

     95   

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     95   

LEGAL COUNSEL

     95   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     95   

DESCRIPTION OF S&P AND MOODY’S RATINGS

     96   


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GENERAL INFORMATION

TCW Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”) was incorporated as a Maryland corporation on September 15, 1992 and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an open-end, management investment company. The Corporation has acknowledged that the name “TCW” is owned by The TCW Group, Inc. (“TCW”), the parent of TCW Investment Management Company (the “Advisor”). The Corporation has agreed to change its name and the name of the Funds at the request of TCW if any advisory agreement into which TCW or any of its affiliates and the Corporation may enter is terminated.

The Funds offer two classes of shares: Class I shares and Class N shares. The TCW Global Conservative Allocation Fund, the TCW Global Moderate Allocation Fund and the TCW Global Flexible Allocation Fund are three lifestyle allocation funds, known collectively as the “Asset Allocation Funds.” The Asset Allocation Funds are funds of funds, each of which seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in the Class I shares of other TCW Funds (the “Underlying Funds”).

The TCW Concentrated Value, TCW Dividend Focused, TCW Growth, TCW Growth Equities, TCW Relative Value Large Cap, TCW Select Equities, TCW Small Cap Growth, TCW Value Opportunities, TCW Emerging Markets Income, TCW Money Market, TCW Core Fixed Income, TCW High Yield Bond, TCW Short Term Bond and TCW Total Return Bond Funds are each classified as a diversified fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”). The other TCW Funds are classified as non-diversified funds under the 1940 Act.

INVESTMENT PRACTICES

In attempting to achieve its investment objective, a Fund may utilize, among others, one or more of the strategies or securities set forth below. The Funds may, in addition, invest in other instruments (including derivative investments) or use other investment strategies that are developed or become available in the future and that are consistent with their objectives and restrictions. The investment strategies described below may be pursued directly by the Underlying Funds. As a general matter, the Asset Allocation Funds do not invest directly in securities. However, the Asset Allocation Funds are subject to the strategies and risks described below indirectly through their investments in the Underlying Funds.

Strategies and Investments Available to All Funds

Money Market Instruments. All Funds may invest in money market instruments and will generally do so for temporary and defensive purposes only. These instruments include, but are not limited to:

U.S. Government Securities. Obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States or its agencies (such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration and Government National Mortgage Association) or its instrumentalities (such as the Federal Home Loan Bank), including Treasury bills, notes and bonds.

Bank Obligations. Obligations including certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper (see below) and other debt obligations of banks subject to regulation by the U.S. Government and having total assets of $1 billion or more, and instruments secured by such obligations, not including obligations of foreign branches of domestic banks except as permitted below.

Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit. Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1 billion or more (investments in Eurodollar certificates may be affected by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or changes in governmental administration or economic or monetary policy in the United States and abroad).

Obligations of Savings Institutions. Certificates of deposit of savings banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion or more (investments in savings institutions above $100,000 in principal amount are not protected by federal deposit insurance).

Fully Insured Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit of banks and savings institutions, having total assets of less than $1 billion, if the principal amount of the obligation is insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund (each of which is administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), limited to $250,000 principal amount per certificate and to 15% or less of a Fund’s net assets in all such obligations and in all illiquid assets, in the aggregate (10% limit for the Money Market Fund in illiquid securities).

 

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Commercial Paper. Commercial paper rated within the highest ratings categories by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or, if not rated, that is determined by the Funds’ Advisor to be of comparable quality.

Money Market Mutual Funds. Shares of United States money market investment companies.

Other Short-Term Obligations. Debt securities that have a remaining maturity of 397 days or less and that have a long-term rating within the three highest ratings categories by S&P or Moody’s.

Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements, which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by a Fund, typically involve the acquisition by a Fund of debt securities from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The repurchase agreements will provide that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the underlying security (“collateral”) at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The collateral will be maintained in a segregated account and, with respect to United States repurchase agreements, will be marked to market daily to ensure that the full value of the collateral, as specified in the repurchase agreement, does not decrease below the repurchase price plus accrued interest. If such a decrease occurs, additional collateral will be requested and, when received, added to the account to maintain full collateralization. A Fund will accrue interest from the institution until the date the repurchase occurs. Although this date is deemed by each Fund to be the maturity date of a repurchase agreement, the maturities of the collateral securities are not subject to any limits and may exceed one year. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days will be considered illiquid for purposes of the restriction on each Fund’s investment in illiquid and restricted securities.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). ETFs are investment companies that invest in a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index and whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange.

Under the 1940 Act, a Fund (other than the Asset Allocation Funds) may not own more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of an unaffiliated investment company, invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one unaffiliated investment company, or invest more than 10% of its total assets in the securities of investment companies. Alternatively, a Fund may limit its investments to not more than 3% of any unaffiliated underlying fund and will not be subject to the 5% and 10% limit if all Funds of the Corporation choose to adhere to such 3% limit. Such investments may include open-end investment companies, closed-end investment companies and unit investment trusts (“UITs”). In some instances, a Fund may invest in an investment company in excess of these limits. This may occur, for instance, when a Fund invests collateral it receives from loaning its portfolio securities. As the shareholder of another investment company, a Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. Such expenses are in addition to the expenses a Fund pays in connection with its own operations. These limitations do not apply to investments in unregistered investment companies.

The 1940 Act permits an Asset Allocation Fund to invest beyond the limitations discussed above so long as the investments are in funds that are part of the “same group of investment companies” as the Asset Allocation Funds (other TCW Funds). An Asset Allocation Fund may generally also purchase shares of funds that are not part of the same group of investment companies as the Asset Allocation Funds (subject to the limits discussed above for unaffiliated funds) as well as stocks, bonds and other securities not issued by a fund. An Asset Allocation Fund also may invest in money market funds.

Despite the possibility of greater fees and expenses, investments in other investment companies may be attractive nonetheless for several reasons, especially in connection with foreign investments. Because of restrictions on direct investment by U.S. entities in certain countries, investing indirectly in such countries (by purchasing shares of another fund that is permitted to invest in such countries) may be the most practical and efficient way for a Fund to invest in such countries. In other cases, when a portfolio manager desires to make only a relatively small investment in a particular country, investing through another fund that holds a diversified portfolio in that country may be more effective than investing directly in issuers in that country.

Among the types of investment companies in which a Fund may invest are Portfolio Depositary Receipts (“PDRs”) and Index Fund Shares (PDRs and Index Fund Shares are collectively referred to as “exchange traded funds” or ETFs). PDRs represent interests in a UIT holding a fund of securities that may be obtained from the UIT or purchased in the secondary market. Each PDR is intended to track the underlying securities, trade like a share of common stock, and pay to PDR holders periodic dividends proportionate to those paid with respect to the underlying securities, less certain expenses. Index Fund Shares are shares issued by an open-end management investment company that seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of a specified foreign or domestic equity index (Index Fund). ETFs include, among others, Standard & Poor’s Depository Receipts (“SPDRs”), Optimized Funds as Listed Securities (OPALS), Dow Jones Industrial Average Instruments (Diamonds), NASDAQ 100 tracking shares (QQQ) and I-Shares.

 

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SPDRs. SPDRs track the performance of a basket of stocks intended to track the price performance and dividend yields of the S&P 500 until a specified maturity date. SPDRs are listed on the American Stock Exchange. Holders of SPDRs are entitled to receive quarterly distributions corresponding to dividends received on shares contained in the underlying basket of stocks net of expenses. On the maturity date of the SPDRs’ UIT, the holders will receive the value of the underlying basket of stocks.

OPALS. OPALS track the performance of adjustable baskets of stocks until a specified maturity date. Holders of OPALS are entitled to receive semi-annual distributions corresponding to dividends received on shares contained in the underlying basket of stocks, net of expenses. On the maturity date of the OPALS’ UIT, the holders will receive the physical securities comprising the underlying baskets.

I-Shares™. I-Shares track the performance of specified equity market indexes, including the S&P 500. I-Shares are listed on the American Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board Option Exchange. Holders of I-Shares are entitled to receive distributions not less frequently than annually corresponding to dividends and other distributions received on shares contained in the underlying basket of stocks net of expenses. I-Shares are Index Fund Shares. Individual investments in PDRs generally are not redeemable, except upon termination of the UIT. Similarly, individual investments in Index Fund Shares generally are not redeemable. However, large quantities of PDRs known as “Creation Units” are redeemable from the sponsor of the UIT.

Similarly, block sizes of Index Fund Shares, also known as “Creation Units,” are redeemable from the issuing Index Fund. The liquidity of small holdings of ETFs, therefore, will depend upon the existence of a secondary market.

The price of ETFs is derived from and based upon the securities held by the UIT or Index Fund.

Accordingly, the level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of an ETF is similar to the risk involved in the purchase or sale of traditional common stock, with the exception that the pricing mechanism for an ETF is based on a basket of stocks. Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying ETFs purchased or sold by a Fund could result in losses on investments in ETFs. ETFs represent an unsecured obligation and therefore carry with them the risk that the counterparty will default and the Fund may not be able to recover the current value of its investment.

Investments in ETFs will be limited to the percentage restrictions set forth above for investments in investment company securities.

Strategies and Investments Available to all Funds (except the Asset Allocation Funds)

Lending of Portfolio Securities. Each Fund may, consistent with applicable regulatory requirements, lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, provided such loans are callable at any time by the Funds (subject to the notice provisions described below), and are at all times secured by cash, bank letters of credit, other money market instruments rated A-1, P-1 or the equivalent or securities of the United States Government (or its agencies or instrumentalities), which are maintained in a segregated account and that are equal to at least the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such loans is that the Funds continue to receive the income on the loaned securities while at the same time earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations. A Fund will not lend more than 25% of the value of its total assets. A loan may be terminated by the borrower on one business day’s notice, or by a Fund on two business day’s notice. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within two days after receipt of notice, the Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with any extension of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. However, loans of portfolio securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Advisor to be creditworthy. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to the Funds. Any gain or loss in the marketplace during the loan period would inure to the Fund.

A Fund will pay reasonable finder’s, administrative and custodian fees in connection with a loan of securities. Also voting rights with respect to the loaned securities may pass with the lending of the securities.

 

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When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. From time to time, in the ordinary course of business, a Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis and may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. When such transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. The securities so purchased or sold are subject to market fluctuation, and no interest or dividends accrue to the purchaser prior to the settlement date. While a Fund will only purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell the securities before the settlement date, if it is deemed advisable. At the time a Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, the Fund will record the transaction and thereafter reflect the value, each day, of such security purchased or, if a sale, the proceeds to be received, in determining its net asset value. At such time, the Fund will also establish a segregated account in which it will continuously maintain cash or U.S. government securities or other liquid securities equal in value to recognized commitments for such securities. At the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. An increase in the percentage of a Fund’s assets committed to the purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may increase the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value. The Advisor does not believe that any Fund’s net asset value or income will be adversely affected by its purchase of securities on such basis.

When, As and If Issued Securities. A Fund may purchase securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis under which the issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of any such security will not be recognized in the portfolio of the Fund until the Advisor determines that issuance of the security is probable. At such time, the Fund will record the transaction and, in determining its net asset value, will reflect the value of the security daily. At such time, the Fund will also establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will continuously maintain cash or U.S. Government Securities or other liquid securities equal in value to recognized commitments for such securities. Settlement of the trade will ordinarily occur within three Business Days of the occurrence of the subsequent event. Once a segregated account has been established, if the anticipated event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the Fund will have lost an investment opportunity. Each Fund may purchase securities on such basis without limit. An increase in the percentage of the Fund’s assets committed to the purchase of securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value. Each Fund may also sell securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis provided that the issuance of the security will result automatically from the exchange or conversion of a security owned by the Fund at the time of the sale.

Strategies and Investments Available to All Funds (except the Asset Allocation and Money Market Funds)

Options. Each of the Funds (except the Asset Allocation and Money Market Funds) may purchase and write (sell) call and put options, including options listed on U.S. or foreign securities exchanges or written in over-the-counter transactions (“OTC Options”).

Exchange-listed options are issued by the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”) (in the U.S.) or other clearing corporation or exchange which assures that all transactions in such options are properly executed. OTC Options are purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or financial institutions which have entered into direct agreements with a Fund. With OTC Options, such variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed upon between a Fund and the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of a third party such as the OCC. If the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the securities or amount of foreign currency underlying an option it has written, in accordance with the terms of that option, a Fund would lose the premium paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Each Fund will engage in OTC Option transactions only with brokers or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Advisor.

Covered Call Writing. Each of the Funds (except the Asset Allocation and Money Market Funds) is permitted to write covered call options on securities, the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Generally, a call option is “covered” if a Fund owns, or has the right to acquire, without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held for the Fund by its custodian in a segregated account) the underlying security (currency) subject to the option, or otherwise segregates sufficient cash or other liquid assets to cover the outstanding position. A call option is also covered if a Fund holds a call on the same security as the underlying security (currency) of the written option, where the exercise price of the call used for coverage is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written or greater than the exercise price of the call written if the marked to market difference is maintained by a Fund in cash or other liquid assets which a Fund has segregated for this purpose.

The writer of an option receives from the purchaser, in return for a call it has written, a “premium”; i.e., the price of the option. Receipt of these premiums may better enable a Fund to earn a higher level of current income than it would earn from holding the underlying securities (currencies) alone. Moreover, the premium received will offset a portion of the potential loss incurred by the Fund if the securities (currencies) underlying the option are ultimately sold (exchanged) by the Fund at a loss. Furthermore, a premium received on a call written on a foreign currency will ameliorate any potential loss of value on the portfolio security due to a decline in the value of the currency.

 

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However, during the option period, the covered call writer has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity for capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the underlying security (or the exchange rate of the currency in which it is denominated) increase, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security (or the exchange rate of the currency in which it is denominated) decline. The premium received will fluctuate with varying economic market conditions. If the market value of the portfolio securities (or the currencies in which they are denominated) upon which call options have been written increases, a Fund may receive a lower total return from the portion of its portfolio upon which calls have been written than it would have had such calls not been written.

As regards listed options and certain OTC Options, during the option period, a Fund may be required, at any time, to deliver the underlying security (currency) against payment of the exercise price on any calls it has written (exercise of certain listed and OTC Options may be limited to specific expiration dates). This obligation is terminated upon the expiration of the option period or at such earlier time when the writer effects a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction is accomplished by purchasing an option of the same series as the option previously written. However, once the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will be unable to effect a closing purchase transaction.

Closing purchase transactions are ordinarily effected to realize a profit on an outstanding call option, to prevent an underlying security (currency) from being called, to permit the sale of an underlying security (or the exchange of the underlying currency) or to enable a Fund to write another call option on the underlying security (currency) with either a different exercise price or expiration date or both. A Fund may realize a net gain or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending upon whether the amount of the premium received on the call option is more or less than the cost of effecting the closing purchase transaction. Any loss incurred in a closing purchase transaction may be wholly or partially offset by unrealized appreciation in the market value of the underlying security (currency). Conversely, a gain resulting from a closing purchase transaction could be offset in whole or in part or exceeded by a decline in the market value of the underlying security (currency).

If a call option expires unexercised, a Fund realizes a gain in the amount of the premium on the option less the commission paid. Such a gain, however, may be offset by depreciation in the market value of the underlying security (currency) during the option period. If a call option is exercised, a Fund realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security (currency) equal to the difference between the purchase price of the underlying security (currency) and the proceeds of the sale of the security (currency) plus the premium received on the option less the commission paid.

Covered Put Writing. Each of the Funds (except the Asset Allocation and Money Market Funds) is permitted to write covered put options. As a writer of a covered put option, a Fund incurs an obligation to buy the security underlying the option from the purchaser of the put, at the option’s exercise price at any time during the option period, at the purchaser’s election (certain listed and OTC put options written by a Fund will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific date). A put is “covered” if, at all times, the Fund maintains, in a segregated account, cash or other liquid assets in an amount equal to at least the exercise price of the option, at all times during the option period. Similarly, a short put position could be covered by the Fund by its purchase of a put option on the same security (currency) as the underlying security of the written option, where the exercise price of the purchased option is equal to or more than the exercise price of the put written or less than the exercise price of the put written if the marked to market difference is maintained by the Fund in cash or other liquid assets which the Fund holds in a segregated account. In writing puts, a Fund assumes the risk of loss should the market value of the underlying security (currency) decline below the exercise price of the option (any loss being decreased by the receipt of the premium on the option written). In the case of listed options, during the option period, the Fund may be required, at any time, to make payment of the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security (currency). The operation of and limitations on covered put options in other respects are substantially identical to those of call options.

Purchasing Call and Put Options. Each of the Funds (except the Asset Allocation and Money Market Funds) may purchase a call option in order to close out a covered call position (see “Covered Call Writing” above), to protect against an increase in price of a security it anticipates purchasing or, in the case of a call option on foreign currency, to hedge against an adverse exchange rate move of the currency in which the security it anticipates purchasing is denominated vis-a-vis the currency in which the exercise price is denominated. The purchase of the call option to effect a closing transaction on a call written over-the-counter may be a listed or an OTC Option. In either case, the call purchased is likely to be on the same securities (currencies) and have the same terms as the written option. If purchased over-the-counter, the option would generally be acquired from the dealer or financial institution which purchased the call written by the Fund.

 

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The Funds may purchase put options on securities or currencies which it holds in its portfolio to protect itself against a decline in the value of the security and to close out written put option positions. If the value of the underlying security or currency were to fall below the exercise price of the put purchased in an amount greater than the premium paid for the option, the Fund would incur no additional loss. In addition, a Fund may sell a put option which it has previously purchased prior to the sale of the securities (currencies) underlying such option. Such a sale would result in a net gain or loss depending whether the amount received on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put option which is sold. Such gain or loss could be offset in whole or in part by a change in the market value of the underlying security (currency). If a put option purchased by a Fund expired without being sold or exercised, the premium would be lost.

Futures Contracts. Each of the Funds (except the Asset Allocation and Money Market Funds) may purchase and sell interest rate, currency, and index futures contracts (“futures contracts”), on securities eligible for purchase by the Fund. Subject to certain limitations, a Fund may enter into futures contracts or options on such contracts to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased by the Fund resulting from interest rate or market fluctuations, to protect the Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage its effective maturity or duration, or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities.

No Fund, except the Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund, may enter into futures contracts or related options if, immediately thereafter, the amount of initial margin and premiums for unexpired futures contracts and options on futures contracts exceeds 5% of the Fund’s liquidation value, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such futures contracts, provided, however, that in the case of an option that is in-the-money (the exercise price of the call (put) option is less (more) than the market price of the underlying security) at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%.

Pursuant to applicable regulatory exemptions, each Fund and the Advisor are not deemed to be a “commodity pool” or “commodity pool operator”, respectively, under the Commodity Exchange Act and are not subject to regulation as such under the Commodity Exchange Act.

In connection with the purchase or sale of futures contracts, a Fund will be required to either (i) segregate sufficient cash or other liquid assets to cover the outstanding position or (ii) cover the futures contract by either owning the instruments underlying the futures contracts or by holding a portfolio of securities with characteristics substantially similar to the underlying index or stock index comprising the futures contracts or by holding a separate offsetting option permitting it to purchase or sell the same futures contract. With respect to forwards and futures contracts that are not contractually required to “cash-settle,” a Fund must cover its open positions by segregating or “earmarking” liquid assets equal to the contracts’ full, notional value. With respect to forwards and futures that are contractually required to “cash-settle,” a Fund is permitted to segregate or “earmark” liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market (net) obligation (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability, if any) rather than the notional value. By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled forwards or futures, a Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate or “earmark” assets equal to the full notional value of such contracts.

A Fund may purchase or sell interest rate futures for the purpose of hedging some or all of the value of its portfolio securities against changes in prevailing interest rates or to manage its duration or effective maturity. If the Advisor anticipates that interest rates may rise and, concomitantly, the price of certain of its portfolio securities may fall, the Fund may sell futures contracts. If declining interest rates are anticipated, the Fund may purchase futures contracts to protect against a potential increase in the price of securities the Fund intends to purchase. Subsequently, appropriate securities may be purchased by the Fund in an orderly fashion; as securities are purchased, corresponding futures positions would be terminated by offsetting sales of contracts. A Fund may purchase or sell futures on various currencies in which its portfolio securities are denominated for the purpose of hedging against anticipated changes in currency exchange rates. A Fund will enter into currency futures contracts to “lock in” the value of a security purchased or sold in a given currency vis-a-vis a different currency or to hedge against an adverse currency exchange rate movement of a portfolio security’s denominated currency vis-a-vis a different currency. Foreign currency futures contracts would be entered into for the same reason and under the same circumstances as foreign currency forward contracts. The Advisor will assess such factors as cost spreads, liquidity and transaction costs in determining whether to utilize futures contracts or forward contracts in its foreign currency transactions and hedging strategy.

Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in securities transactions in that initial margin does not involve the borrowing of funds by a broker’s client but is, rather, a good faith deposit on the futures contract which will be returned to a Fund upon the proper termination of the futures contract. The margin deposits are marked to market daily and the Fund may be required to make subsequent deposits of cash or U.S. Government Securities called “variation margin”, with the Fund’s futures contract clearing broker, which are reflective of price fluctuations in the futures contract. Initial margin requirements are established by the exchanges on which futures contracts trade and may, from time to time, change. In addition, brokers may establish margin deposit requirements in excess of those required by the exchanges.

 

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At any time prior to expiration of a futures contract, a Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position which will operate to terminate the Fund’s position in the futures contract. A final determination of any variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund and the Fund realizes a loss or gain.

Although many futures contracts call for actual commitment or acceptance of securities, the contracts usually are closed out before the settlement date without making or taking delivery. A short futures position is usually closed out by purchasing futures contracts for the same aggregate amount of the underlying instruments and with the same delivery date. If the sale price exceeds the offsetting purchase price, the seller would be paid the difference and realize a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sales price, the seller would pay the difference and would realize a loss. Similarly, a long futures position in usually closed out by effecting a futures contract sale for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of security (currency) and the same delivery date. If the offsetting sales price exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser would realize a gain, whereas if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the purchaser would realize a loss. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to enter into a closing transactions.

Options on Futures Contracts. The Funds may also purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts which are traded on an exchange and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (in return for the premium paid) to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option.

The Funds will purchase and write options on futures contracts for identical purposes to those set forth above for the purchase of a futures contract (purchase of a call option or sale of a put option) and the sale of a futures contract (purchase of a put option or sale of a call option), or to close out a long or short position in futures contracts. Any premiums received in the writing of options on futures contracts may, of course, provide a further hedge against losses resulting from price declines in portions of a Fund’s portfolio.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Equity Funds, the Emerging Markets Income Fund, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund and the Core Fixed Income Fund

Options on Foreign Currencies. The Equity Funds, the Emerging Markets Income Fund, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund and the Core Fixed Income Fund may purchase and write options on foreign currencies for purposes similar to those involved with investing in foreign currency forward contracts. For example, in order to protect against declines in the dollar value of portfolio securities which are denominated in a foreign currency, a Fund may purchase put options on an amount of such foreign currency equivalent to the current value of the portfolio securities involved. As a result, the Fund would be enabled to sell the foreign currency for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, thereby “locking in” the dollar value of the portfolio securities (less the amount of the premiums paid for the options). Conversely, a Fund may purchase call options on foreign currencies in which securities it anticipates purchasing are denominated to secure a set U.S. dollar price for such securities and protect against a decline in the value of the U.S. dollar against such foreign currency. Each of these Funds may also purchase call and put options to close out written option positions.

Each of these Funds may also write call options on foreign currency to protect against potential declines in its portfolio securities which are denominated in foreign currencies. If the U.S. dollar value of the portfolio securities falls as a result of a decline in the exchange rate between the foreign currency in which it is denominated and the U.S. dollar, then a loss to a Fund occasioned by such value decline would be ameliorated by receipt of the premium on the option sold. At the same time, however, the Fund gives up the benefit of any rise in value of the relevant portfolio securities above the exercise price of the option and, in fact, only receives a benefit from the writing of the option to the extent that the value of the portfolio securities falls below the price of the premium received. A Fund may also write options to close out long call option positions. A put option on a foreign currency would be written by the Fund for the same reason it would purchase a call option, namely, to hedge against an increase in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign security which a Fund anticipates purchasing. Here, the receipt of the premium would offset, to the extent of the size of the premium, any increased cost to a Fund resulting from an increase in the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security. However, a Fund could not benefit from any decline in the cost of the foreign security which is greater than the price of the premium received. A Fund may also write options to close out long put and call option positions.

 

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The markets for certain foreign currency options are relatively new and a Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Although the Funds will not purchase or write such options unless and until, in the opinion of the Advisor, the market for them has developed sufficiently to ensure that the risks in connection with such options are not greater than the risks in connection with the underlying currency, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. In addition, options on foreign currencies are affected by all of those factors which influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally.

The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of the option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies and have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign security, including foreign securities held in a “hedged” investment portfolio. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.

Forward Currency Transactions. The Equity Funds, the Emerging Markets Income Fund, the Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund and the Core Fixed Income Fund may enter into forward currency transactions. A foreign currency forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at an agreed future date, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between currency traders. A Fund may enter into foreign currency forward contracts in order to protect against the risk that the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s dividends, interest and net realized capital gains in local currency will decline to the extent of any devaluation of the currency during the intervals between (a) (i) the time the Fund becomes entitled to receive or receives dividends, interest and realized gains or (ii) the time an investor gives notice of a requested redemption of a certain amount and (b) the time such amount(s) are converted into U.S. dollars for remittance out of the particular country or countries.

At the maturity of a forward contract, a Fund may either accept or make delivery of the currency specified in the contract or, prior to maturity, enter into a closing purchase transaction involving the purchase or sale of an offsetting contract. Closing purchase transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually effected with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract.

The cost to a Fund of engaging in forward currency transactions may vary with factors such as the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward currency transactions are usually conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved, although the price charged in the transaction includes a dealer’s markup. The use of forward currency contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. In addition, although forward currency contracts limit the risk of loss due to a devaluation of the foreign currency in relation to the U.S. dollar, they also limit any potential gain if that foreign currency appreciates with respect to the U.S. dollar.

A Fund will “cover” its forward positions in a manner substantially similar to that described above with respect to asset coverage for futures contracts.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Equity Funds, the Emerging Markets Income Fund, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund and the High Yield Bond Fund

Convertible Securities. The Equity Funds, the Emerging Markets Income Fund, the Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund, the Core Fixed Income Fund and the High Yield Bond Fund may acquire convertible securities. Convertible securities include bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. Convertible securities provide a conversion right for a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers. Therefore, they generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the proximity of its price to its value as a nonconvertible fixed income security.

 

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The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege), and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. In addition, a convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value determined by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Equity Funds, the Emerging Markets Income Fund, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund, Short Term Bond, Total Return Bond and the High Yield Bond Fund

Restricted Securities. The Equity Funds, the Emerging Markets Income, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income, Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond, Total Return Bond and High Yield Bond Funds may invest in securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the Securities Act or they are otherwise restricted as to sale. Restricted securities may include privately placed securities and securities offered pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

Restricted securities are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on resale. In some cases, certain restricted securities can be sold without SEC registration to qualified institutional buyers and, under the Fund’s procedures; such restricted securities could be treated as liquid. However, other restricted securities, such as those that are the subject of a private placement, may be illiquid for an extended period of time and will be reported as such.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Core Fixed Income, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income and Emerging Markets Income Funds

Sovereign Debt Obligations of Emerging Market Countries. The Core Fixed Income, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund and Emerging Markets Income Funds may invest in sovereign debt of emerging market countries. Political conditions, in terms of a country or agency’s willingness to meet the terms of its debt obligations, are considerable significance. Investors should be aware that the sovereign debt instruments in which these Funds may invest involve great risk and are deemed to be the equivalent in terms of quality to securities rated below investment grade by Moody’s and S&P.

Sovereign debt generally offers high yields, reflecting not only perceived credit risk, but also the need to compete with other local investments in domestic financial markets. Mexico and certain other emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. A foreign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the foreign debtor’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. Sovereign debtors may default on their sovereign debt. Sovereign debtors may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a sovereign debtor’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the sovereign debtor, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debts.

In recent years, some of the emerging market countries in which the Funds expect to invest have encountered difficulties in servicing their sovereign debt. Some of these countries have withheld payments of interest and/or principal of sovereign debt. These difficulties have also led to agreements to restructure external debt obligations; in particular, commercial bank loans, typically by rescheduling principal payments, reducing interest rates and extending new credits to finance interest payments on existing debt. In the future, holders of sovereign debt may be requested to participate in similar rescheduling of such debt.

 

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The ability or willingness of the governments of emerging market countries to make timely payments on their sovereign debt is likely to be influenced strongly by a country’s balance of trade and its access to trade and other international credits. A country whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities could be vulnerable to a decline in the international prices of one or more of such commodities. Increased protectionism on the part of a country’s trading partners could also adversely affect its exports. Such events could extinguish a country’s trade account surplus, if any. To the extent that a country receives payment for its exports in currencies other than hard currencies, its ability to make hard currency payments could be affected.

The occurrence of political, social and diplomatic changes in one or more of the countries issuing Sovereign Debt could adversely affect the Funds’ investments. The countries issuing such instruments are faced with social and political issues and some of them have experienced high rates of inflation in recent years and have extensive internal debt. Among other effects, high inflation and internal debt service requirements may adversely affect the cost and availability of future domestic sovereign borrowing to finance governmental programs, and may have other adverse social, political and economic consequences. Political changes or a deterioration of a country’s domestic economy or balance of trade may affect the willingness of countries to services their sovereign debt. There can be no assurance that adverse political changes will not cause the Funds to suffer a loss of interest or principal on any of its holdings.

As a result of all of the foregoing, a government obligor may default on its obligations. If such an event occurs, a Fund may have limited legal recourse against the issuer and/or guarantor. Remedies must, in some cases, be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party itself, and the ability of the holder of foreign government debt securities to obtain recourse may be subject to the political climate in the relevant country. Bankruptcy, moratorium and other similar laws applicable to issuers of sovereign debt obligations may be substantially different from those applicable to issuers of private debt obligations. In addition, no assurance can be given that the holders of commercial bank debt will not contest payments to the holders of other foreign government debt obligations in the event of default under their commercial bank loan agreements.

Periods of economic uncertainty may result in the volatility of market prices of sovereign debt and in turn, the Funds’ net asset value, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in domestic securities. The value of sovereign debt will likely vary inversely with changes in prevailing interest rates, which are subject to considerable variance in the international market.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Emerging Markets Income and Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Funds

Defaulted Securities. The Emerging Markets Income and Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Funds may invest in defaulted securities. Defaulted securities are debt securities on which the issuer is not currently making interest payments. In order to enforce its rights in defaulted securities, a Fund may be required to participate in legal proceedings or take possession and manage assets securing the issuer’s obligations on the defaulted securities. This could increase a Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect its net asset value. Risks in defaulted securities may be considerably higher as they are generally unsecured and subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. Investments by a Fund in defaulted securities may be considered liquid subject to the 15% limitation on illiquid securities unless the Advisor determines such defaulted securities are liquid under guidelines adopted by the Board of Directors.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Emerging Markets Equities and Fixed Income Funds

Swap Agreements. The Emerging Markets Equities and the Fixed Income Funds (except the Money Market Fund) may engage in swap transactions, including, but not limited to, swap agreements on interest rates, security or commodity indexes, specific securities and commodities, and credit and event-linked swaps. To the extent a Fund may invest in foreign currency-denominated securities, it also may invest in currency exchange rate swap agreements. A Fund also may enter into options on swap agreements (“swap options”).

A Fund may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose consistent with its investment objectives and policies, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in the most economical way possible.

 

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Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities or commodities representing a particular index. A “quanto” or “differential” swap combines both an interest rate and a currency transaction. Other forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

A Fund also may enter into swap options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options.

Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, a Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than it will incur when it purchases a swap option. When a Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when a Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

Most other types of swap agreements entered into by a Fund will calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, a Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). A Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the segregation or “earmarking” of assets determined to be liquid by the Advisor in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors, to avoid any potential leveraging of a Fund’s portfolio. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.

A Fund also may enter into credit default swap agreements. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default contract is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. A Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity whose value may have significantly decreased. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

The spread of a credit default swap is the annual amount the protection buyer must pay the protection seller over the length of the contract, expressed as a percentage of the notional amount. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. For credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

 

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Credit default swap agreements involve greater risks than had the Fund invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. A Fund will enter into credit default swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. A buyer generally also will lose its investment and recover nothing should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. A Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund). In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the buyer, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or assets determined to be liquid by the Advisor in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors, or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the Fund’s exposure (any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed by the Fund to any counterparty), on a marked-to-market basis. In connection with credit default swaps in which a Fund is the seller, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or assets determined to be liquid by the Advisor in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors, or enter into offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the full notional amount of the swap (minus any amounts owed to the Fund). Such segregation or “earmarking” will ensure that the Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction and will limit any potential leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio. Such segregation or “earmarking” will not limit a Fund’s exposure to loss.

Structured Notes. The Emerging Markets Equities and Fixed Income Funds (except the Money Market Fund) may invest in structured notes. Structured notes are derivative debt instruments, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator (for example, a currency, security, commodity or index thereof). The terms of the instrument may be “structured” by the purchaser and the borrower issuing the note. The terms of structured notes may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity, which may result in a loss of invested capital. Structured notes may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the unrelated indicator may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or the value of the structured note at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the value of the unrelated indicator. Therefore, the value of such notes may be very volatile. Structured notes may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the unrelated indicator. Structured notes also may be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities. To the extent the Fund invests in these notes, however, the Advisor analyzes these notes in its overall assessment of the effective duration of the Fund’s holdings in an effort to monitor the Fund’s interest rate risk.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Core Fixed Income and High Yield Bond Funds

Loan Participation and Assignments. Investment in secured or unsecured fixed or floating rate loans (“Loans”) arranged through private negotiations between a borrowing corporation, government or other entity and one or more financial institutions (“Lenders”) may be in the form of participations in Loans (“Participation”) or assignments of all or a portion of Loans from third parties (“Assignments”). Participations typically results in the Fund’s having a contractual relationship only with the Lender, not with the borrower. A Fund has the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender selling the Participation and only upon receipt by the Lender of the payments from the borrower. In connection with purchasing Participations, a Fund generally has no direct right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the Loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower, and a Fund may not directly benefit from any collateral supporting the Loan in which it has purchased the Participation. As a result, a Fund assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the Lender that is selling the Participation. In the event of the insolvency of the selling Lender, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of that Lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the Lender and the borrower. A Fund will acquire Participations only if the Advisor determines that the selling Lender is creditworthy.

When a Fund purchases Assignments from Lenders, it acquires direct rights against the borrower on the Loan. In an Assignment, the Fund is entitled to receive payments directly from the borrower and, therefore, does not depend on the selling bank to pass these payments onto the Fund. However, because Assignments are arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and assignors, the rights and obligations acquired by the Fund as the purchaser of an Assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning Lender.

Assignments and Participations are generally not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and thus may be subject to a Fund’s limitation on investment in illiquid securities. Because there may be no liquid market for such securities, such securities may be sold only to a limited number of institutional investors. The lack of a liquid secondary market could have an adverse impact on the value of such securities and on a Fund’s ability to dispose of particular Assignments or Participations when necessary to meet the Fund’s liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the borrower.

 

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Strategies and Investments Available to the Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds

Government Mortgage Pass-Through Securities. The Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds may invest in mortgage pass-through securities representing participation interests in pools of residential mortgage loans purchased from individual lenders by an agency, instrumentality or sponsored corporation of the United States government (“Federal Agency”) or originated by private lenders and guaranteed, to the extent provided in such securities, by a Federal Agency. Such securities, which are ownership interests in the underlying mortgage loans, differ from conventional debt securities, which provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts (usually semiannually) and principal payments at payments (not necessarily in fixed amounts) that are a “pass-through” of the monthly interest and principal payments (including any prepayments) made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the guarantor of such securities and the servicer of the underlying mortgage loans.

The government mortgage pass-through securities in which the Funds may invest include those issued or guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”). GNMA certificates are direct obligations of the U.S. Government and, as such, are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. FNMA is a federally chartered, privately owned corporation and FHLMC is a corporate instrumentality of the United States. FNMA and FHLMC certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States but the issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its obligations, from an existing line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. The U.S. Treasury has no legal obligation to provide such line of credit and may choose not to do so.

Certificates for these types of mortgage-backed securities evidence an interest in a specific pool of mortgages. These certificates are, in most cases, “modified pass-through” instruments, wherein the issuing agency guarantees the payment of principal and interest on mortgages underlying the certificates, whether or not such amounts are collected by the issuer on the underlying mortgages.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”) and Multiclass Pass-Through Securities. CMOs are debt obligations collateralized by mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. Typically, CMOs are collateralized by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC certificates, but also may be collateralized by whole loans or private mortgage pass-through securities (such collateral is collectively hereinafter referred to as “Mortgage Assets”). Multiclass pass-through securities are equity interests in a trust composed of Mortgage Assets. Payments of principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets, and any reinvestment income thereon, provide the funds to pay debt service on the CMOs or make scheduled distributions on the multiclass pass-through securities. CMOs may be issued by Federal Agencies, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. The issuer of a series of CMOs may elect to be treated as a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (“REMIC”). REMICs include governmental and/or private entities that issue a fixed pool of mortgages secured by an interest in real property. REMICs are similar to CMOs in that they issue multiple classes of securities, but unlike CMOs, which are required to be structured as debt securities, REMICs may be structured as indirect ownership interests in the underlying assets of the REMICs themselves. However, there are no effects on a Fund from investing in CMOs issued by entities that have elected to be treated as REMICs, and all future references to CMOs shall also be deemed to include REMIC.

In a CMO, a series of bonds or certificates is issued in multiple classes. Each class of CMOs, often referred to as a “tranche,” is issued at a specific fixed or floating coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution date. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Assets may cause the CMOs to be retired substantially earlier than their stated maturities or final distribution dates. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on a monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis. Certain CMOs may have variable or floating interest rates and others may be Stripped Mortgage Securities.

The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the several classes of a CMO series in a number of different ways. Generally, the purpose of the allocation of the cash flow of a CMO to the various classes is to obtain a more predictable cash flow to certain of the individual tranches than exists with the underlying collateral of the CMO. As a general rule, the more predictable the cash flow is on a CMO tranche, the lower the anticipated yield will be on that tranche at the time of issuance relative to prevailing market yields on other mortgage-backed securities. As part of the process of creating more predictable cash flows on most of the tranches in a series of CMOs, one or more tranches generally must be created that absorb most of the volatility in the cash flows on the underlying mortgage loans. The yields on these tranches are generally higher than prevailing market yields on mortgage-backed securities with similar maturities. As a result of the uncertainty of the cash flows of these tranches, the market prices of and yield on these tranches generally are more volatile. The Funds will not invest in CMO and REMIC residuals.

 

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Private Mortgage Pass-Through Securities. Private mortgage pass-through securities are structured similarly to the GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC mortgage pass-through securities and are issued by United States and foreign private issuers such as originators of and investors in mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. These securities usually are backed by a pool of conventional fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage loans. Since private mortgage pass-through securities typically are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit status of GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC, such securities generally are structured with one or more types of credit enhancement.

Mortgage-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, those securities may contain elements of credit support, which fall into two categories: (i) liquidity protection and (ii) protection against losses resulting from ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion. Protection against losses resulting from default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. This protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches. The degree of credit support provided for each issue is generally based on historical information respecting the level of credit risk associated with the underlying assets. Delinquencies or losses in excess of those anticipated could adversely affect the return on an investment in a security. The Funds will not pay any fees for credit support, although the existence of credit support may increase the price of a security.

Stripped Mortgage Securities. Stripped Mortgage Securities may be issued by Federal Agencies, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. Stripped Mortgage Securities not issued by Federal Agencies will be treated by the Funds as illiquid securities so long as the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission maintains its position that such securities are illiquid.

Stripped Mortgage Securities usually are structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distribution of a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of Stripped Mortgage Security will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). PO classes generate income through the accretion of the deep discount at which such securities are purchased, and, while PO classes do not receive periodic payments of interest, they receive monthly payments associated with scheduled amortization and principal prepayment from the mortgage assets underlying the PO class. The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on such security’s yield to maturity. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments or principal, the Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities.

A Fund may purchase Stripped Mortgage Securities for income, or for hedging purposes to protect the Fund’s portfolio against interest rate fluctuations. For example, since an IO class will tend to increase in value as interest rates rise, it may be utilized to hedge against a decrease in value of other fixed-income securities in a rising interest rate environment.

Inflation-Indexed Bonds. Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the CPI accruals as part of a semiannual coupon.

 

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Inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of five, ten or thirty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semiannual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if the Fund purchased an inflation- indexed bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and inflation over the first six months was 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole years’ inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%).

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate. The Fund also may invest in other inflation related bonds which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds.

While these securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed bonds is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.

Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.

Mortgage Dollar Rolls. The Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls with a bank or a broker-dealer. A mortgage dollar roll is a transaction in which a Fund sells mortgage-related securities for immediate settlement and simultaneously purchases the same type of securities for forward settlement at a discount. While a Fund begins accruing interest on the newly purchased securities from the purchase or trade date, it is able to invest the proceeds from the sale of its previously owned securities, which will be used to pay for the new securities, in money market investments until future settlement date. The use of mortgage dollar rolls is a speculative technique involving leverage, and is considered to be a form of borrowing by the Fund.

Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to mortgage-backed securities but have underlying assets that are not mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans. Various types of assets, primarily automobile and credit cards receivables, are securitized in pass-through structures similar to mortgage pass-through structures. In general, the collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of a shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is likely to experience substantial prepayments. As with mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties and use similar credit enhancement techniques. The cash flow generated by the underlying assets is applied to make required payments on the securities and to pay related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed or mortgage-backed securities depends on, among other things, the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets. The Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds may each invest in any such instruments or variations as may be developed, to the extent consistent with its investment objectives and policies and applicable regulatory requirements.

 

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Inverse Floaters. Inverse floaters constitute a class of CMOs with a coupon rate that moves inversely to a designated index, such as LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) or 11th District Cost of Funds index (“COFI”). Inverse floaters have coupon rates that typically change at a multiple of the changes of the relevant index rate. Any rise in the index rate (as a consequence of an increase in interest rates) causes a drop in the coupon rate on an inverse floater while any drop in the index rate causes an increase in the coupon rate of an inverse floater. In some circumstances, the coupon on an inverse floater could decrease to zero. In addition, like most other fixed-income securities, the value of inverse floaters will decrease as interest rates increase and their average lives will extend. Inverse floaters exhibit greater price volatility than the majority of mortgage-backed securities. In addition, some inverse floaters display extreme sensitivity to changes in prepayments. As a result, the yield to maturity of an inverse floater is sensitive not only to changes in interest rates but also to changes in prepayment rates on the related underlying mortgage assets. As described above, inverse floaters may be used alone or in tandem with interest-only stripped mortgage instruments.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Core Fixed Income, Money Market, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by a Fund of portfolio securities concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same securities at a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while it will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of otherwise obtaining the cash.

Strategies and Investments Available to the Equity Funds

Warrants. A warrant confers upon its holder the right to purchase an amount of securities at a particular time and price. Because a warrant does not carry with it the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities which it entitles a holder to purchase, and because it does not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer, warrants may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments. Also, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.

Short Sales Against the Box. The Funds may from time to time make short sales of securities it owns or has the right to acquire through conversion or exchange of other securities it owns. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent that a Fund contemporaneously owns or has the right to obtain at no added cost securities identical to those sold short. In a short sale, a Fund does not immediately deliver the securities sold and does not receive the proceeds from the sale. The Fund is said to have a short position in the securities sold until it delivers the securities sold, at which time it receives the proceeds of the sale. When a short sale transaction is closed out by delivery of the securities, any gain or loss on the transaction is taxable as a short term capital gain or loss.

To secure its obligation to deliver the securities sold short, a Fund will deposit in a separate escrow account with its custodian an equal amount of the securities sold short or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such securities. The Fund may close out a short position by purchasing and delivering an equal amount of the securities sold short, rather than by delivering securities already held by the Fund, because the Fund may want to continue to receive interest and dividend payments on securities in its portfolio that are convertible into the securities sold short.

A Fund may make a short sale in order to hedge against market risks when the Advisor believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund or a security convertible into or exchangeable for such security. However, to the extent that in a generally rising market the Fund maintains short positions in securities rising with the market, the net asset value of the Fund would be expected to increase to a lesser extent than the net asset value of an investment company that does not engage in short sales. A Fund may also make a short sale when it does not want to sell the security it owns, because, among other reasons, it wishes to defer recognition of gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes. In such case, any future losses in the Fund’s long position should be reduced by a gain in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are reduced will depend upon the amount of the security sold short relative to the amount the Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where the Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the investment value or conversion premiums. Additionally, a Fund may use short sales when it is determined that a convertible security can be bought at a small conversion premium and has a yield advantage relative to the underlying common stock sold short. The potential risk in this strategy is the possible loss of any premium over conversion value in the convertible security at the time of purchase. The purpose of this strategy is to produce income from the yield advantage and to provide the potential for a gain should the conversion premium increase.

 

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RISK CONSIDERATIONS

The following risk considerations relate to investment practices undertaken by some or all of the Funds. Generally, since shares of a Fund represent an investment in securities with fluctuating market prices, shareholders should understand that the value of their Fund shares will vary as the value of each Fund’s portfolio securities increases or decreases. Therefore, the value of an investment in a Fund could go down as well as up. You can lose money by investing in a Fund. There is no guarantee of successful performance, that a Fund’s objective can be achieved or that an investment in a Fund will achieve a positive return. Each Fund should be considered as a means of diversifying an investment portfolio and is not in itself a balanced investment program.

Prospective investors should consider the following risks.

General

Various market risks can affect the price or liquidity of an issuer’s securities. Adverse events occurring with respect to an issuer’s performance or financial position can depress the value of the issuer’s securities. The liquidity in a market for a particular security will affect its value and may be affected by factors relating to the issuer, as well as the depth of the market for that security. Other market risks that can affect value include a market’s current attitudes about type of security, market reactions to political or economic events, and tax and regulatory effects (including lack of adequate regulations for a market or particular type of instrument). Market restrictions on trading volume can also affect price and liquidity.

Certain risks exist because of the composition and investment horizon of a particular portfolio of securities. Prices of many securities tend to be more volatile in the short-term and lack of diversification in a portfolio can also increase volatility.

Stock Market Risk

Funds that invest in equity securities are subject to stock market risks and significant fluctuations in value. If the stock market declines in value, a Fund’s share price is likely to decline in value. A Fund’s focus on certain types of stocks (such as small or large cap) and style of investing (such as value or growth) subjects it to the risk that is performance may be lower than that of other types of equity funds that focus on other types of stocks or that have a broader investment style (such as general market).

Risk of Investing in Small and Mid-Capitalization Companies

Investing in the equity securities of small and mid-capitalization companies involves additional risks compared to investing in large capitalization companies. Compared to large companies, these companies may have more limited product lines and capital resources; have less established markets for their products; have earnings that are more sensitive to changes in the economy, competition and technology and be more dependent upon key members of management.

The market value of the common stock of small and medium capitalization companies may be more volatile, particularly in response to company announcements or industry events; have less active trading markets and be harder to sell at the time and prices that the Advisor considers appropriate.

Repurchase Agreements Risk

In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution under a repurchase agreement, a Fund will seek to sell the underlying security serving as collateral. However, this could involve certain costs or delays, and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. Each Fund follows procedures designed to minimize the risks associated with repurchase agreements, including effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions and specifying the required value of the collateral underlying the agreement.

 

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Mortgage Dollar Rolls Risk

Reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities a Fund is obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline below the repurchase price. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement or mortgage dollar roll files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund’s use of proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities. Reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar rolls are speculative techniques involving leverage, and are considered borrowings by the Fund. Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund is required to maintain an asset coverage (including the proceeds of the borrowings) of a least 300% of all borrowings. None of the Funds authorized to utilize these instruments expects to engage in reverse repurchase agreements or mortgage dollar rolls (together with other borrowings of the Fund) with respect to greater than 30% of the Fund’s total assets.

Counterparty Credit Risk

Financial-linked derivative instruments are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the instrument might not pay interest when due or repay principal at maturity of the obligation. If a counterparty defaults on its interest or principal payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of your investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, certain Funds may invest in financial-linked structured notes issued by a limited number of issuers, which will act as counterparties. To the extent a Fund focuses its investments in a limited number of issuers, it will be more susceptible to the risks associated with those issuers.

Debt Securities Risk

Debt securities are subject to various risks. The two primary (but not exclusive) risks affecting fixed income instruments are “credit risk” and “interest rate risk.” These risks can affect a security’s price volatility to varying degrees, depending upon the nature of the instrument. In addition, the depth and liquidity of the market for an individual or class of fixed income security can also affect its price and, hence, the market value of a Fund.

“Credit risk” refers to the likelihood that an issuer will default in the payment of principal and/or interest on an instrument. Financial strength and solvency of an issuer are the primary factors influencing credit risk. In addition, lack of or inadequacy of collateral or credit enhancements for a fixed income security may affect its credit risk. Credit risk of a security may change over its life and securities which are rated by rating agencies are often reviewed and may be subject to downgrade.

“Interest Rate Risk” refers to the risks associated with market changes in interest rates. Interest rate changes may affect the value of a fixed income security directly (especially in the case of fixed rate securities) and directly (especially in the case of adjustable rate securities). In general, rises in interest rates will negatively impact the price of fixed rate securities and falling interest rates will have a positive effect on price. The degree to which a security’s price will change as a result of changes in interest rates is measured by its “duration.” For example, the price of a bond with a 5 year duration would be expected under normal market conditions to decrease 5% for every 1% increase in interest rates. Generally, securities with longer maturities have a greater duration and thus are subject to greater price volatility from changes in interest rates. Adjustable rate instruments also react to interest rate changes in a similar manner although generally to a lesser degree (depending, however, on the characteristics of the re-set terms, including the index chosen, frequency of reset and reset caps or floors, among other things).

Foreign Securities Risk

Investment in foreign securities involves special risks in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic investments. These include: political or economic instability; the unpredictability of international trade patterns; the possibility of foreign governmental actions such as expropriation, nationalization or confiscatory taxation; the imposition or modification of foreign currency or foreign investment controls; the imposition of withholding taxes on dividends, interest and gains; price volatility; and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. As compared to United States companies, foreign issuers generally disclose less financial and other information publicly and are subject to less stringent and less uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. Foreign countries typically impose less thorough regulations on brokers, dealers, stock exchanges, insiders and listed companies than does the United States, and foreign securities markets may be less liquid and more volatile than domestic markets. Investment in foreign securities involves higher costs than investment in U.S. securities, including higher transaction and custody costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments. In addition, security trading practices abroad may offer less protection to investors such as the Funds. Settlement of transactions in some foreign markets may be delayed or may be less frequent than in the U.S., which could affect the liquidity of each Fund’s portfolio. Also, it may be more difficult to obtain and enforce legal judgments against foreign corporate issuers than against domestic issuers and it may be impossible to obtain and enforce judgments against foreign governmental issues.

 

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Foreign Currency Risks

Because foreign securities generally are denominated and pay dividends or interest in foreign currencies, the value of the net assets of those Funds as measured in United States dollars will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in exchange rates. Generally, currency exchange transactions will be conducted on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market. The cost of currency exchange transactions will generally be the difference between the bid and offer spot rate of the currency being purchased or sold. In order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates, the Funds are authorized to enter into certain foreign currency future and forward contracts. However, it is not obligated to do so and, depending on the availability and cost of these devices, the Funds may be unable to use them to protect against currency risk. While foreign currency future and forward contracts may be available, the cost of these instruments may be prohibitively expensive so that the Funds may not to be able to effectively use them.

Risks Associated With Emerging Market Countries

Investors should recognize that investing in securities of emerging market countries through investment in the Emerging Markets Income Fund involves certain risks, and considerations, including those set forth below, which are not typically associated with investing in the United States or other developed countries.

Political and economic structures in many emerging markets countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristics of more developed countries. Some of these countries may have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies.

The securities markets of emerging market countries are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets in the United States and other developed nations. The limited size of many emerging securities markets and limited trading volume in issuers compared to volume of trading in U.S. securities or securities of issuers in other developed countries could cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the quality of the securities. For example, limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions. Adverse publicity and investors’ perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and liquidity of portfolio securities, especially in these markets.

In addition, emerging market countries’ exchanges’ and broker-dealers are generally subject to less government and exchange regulation than their counterparts in developed countries. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions, custodial expenses and other transaction costs may be higher in emerging markets than in developed countries. As a result, Funds investing in emerging market countries have operating expenses that are expected to be higher than other funds investing in more established market regions.

Many of the emerging market countries may be subject to greater degree of economic, political and social instability than is the case in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Western European and certain Asian countries. Such instability may result from, among other things, (i) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions, and (ii) internal insurgencies. Such social, political and economic instability could disrupt the financial markets in which the Funds invest and adversely affect the value of the Funds’ assets.

In certain emerging market countries governments participate to a significant degree, through ownership or regulation, in their respective economies. Action by these governments could have a significant adverse effect on market prices of securities and payment of dividends. In addition, most emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation. Inflation and rapid fluctuation in inflation rates have had and may continue to have very negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

Many of the currencies of emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar, and major devaluations have historically occurred in certain countries. Any devaluations in the currencies in which portfolio securities are denominated will have a detrimental impact on Funds investing in emerging market countries. Many emerging market countries are experiencing currency exchange problems. Countries have and may in the future impose foreign currency controls and repatriation control.

Risks Associated With Lower Rated Securities

The Equity Funds, Emerging Markets Income, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income, Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond, Total Return Bond and High Yield Bond Funds may invest in convertible securities. A portion of the convertible securities acquired by the Funds may be rated below investment grade. The Emerging Markets Income, Emerging Markets Local Currency Income, Core Fixed Income and High Yield Bond Funds will invest in below investment grade securities. Securities rated below investment grade are commonly known as “junk bonds” and have speculative characteristics.

 

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High yield securities or “junk bonds” can be classified into two categories: (a) securities issued without an investment grade rating and (b) securities whose credit ratings have been downgraded below investment grade because of declining investment fundamentals. The first category includes securities issued by “emerging credit” companies and companies which have experienced a leveraged buyout or recapitalization. Although the small and medium size companies that constitute emerging credit issuers typically have significant operating histories, these companies generally do not have strong enough operating results to secure investment grade ratings from the rating agencies. In addition, in recent years there has been a substantial volume of high yield securities issued by companies that have converted from public to private ownership through leveraged buyout transactions and by companies that have restructured their balance sheets through leveraged recapitalizations. High yield securities issued in these situations are used primarily to pay existing stockholders for their shares or to finance special dividend distributions to shareholders. The indebtedness incurred in connection with these transactions is often substantial and, as a result, often produces highly leveraged capital structures which present special risks for the holders of such securities. Also, the market price of such securities may be more volatile to the extent that expected benefits from the restructuring do not materialize. The second category of high yield securities consists of securities of former investment grade companies that have experienced poor operating performance due to such factors as cyclical downtrends in their industry, poor management or increased foreign competition.

Generally, lower-rated debt securities provide a higher yield than higher rated debt securities of similar maturity but are subject to greater risk of loss of principal and interest than higher rated securities of similar maturity. They are generally considered to be subject to greater risk than securities with higher ratings particularly in the event of a deterioration of general economic conditions. The lower ratings of the high yield securities which the Funds will purchase reflect a greater possibility that the financial condition of the issuers, or adverse changes in general economic conditions, or both, may impair the ability of the issuers to make payments of principal and interest. The market value of a single lower-rated debt security may fluctuate more than the market value of higher rated securities, since changes in the creditworthiness of lower rated issuers and in market perceptions of the issuers’ creditworthiness tend to occur more frequently and in a more pronounced manner than in the case of higher rated issuers. High yield debt securities also tend to reflect individual corporate developments to a greater extent than higher rated securities. The securities in which the Funds invest are frequently subordinated to senior indebtedness.

The economy and interest rates affect high yield securities differently from other securities. The prices of high yield bonds have been found to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments. During an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals, and to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a bond owned by a Fund defaults, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices of high yield bonds and a Fund’s asset value. Furthermore, the market prices of high yield bonds structured as zero coupon or pay-in-kind securities are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes and thereby tend to be more volatile than securities which pay interest periodically and in cash.

To the extent there is a limited retail secondary market for particular high yield bonds, these bonds may be thinly-traded and the Advisor’s ability to accurately value high yield bonds and a Fund’s assets may be more difficult because there is less reliable, objective data available. In addition, a Fund’s ability to acquire or dispose of the bonds may be negatively-impacted. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield bonds, especially in a thinly-traded market. To the extent a Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted high yield bonds, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.

Special tax considerations are associated with investing in lower rated debt securities structured as zero coupon or pay-in-kind securities. The Funds accrue income on these securities prior to the receipt of cash payments. The Funds must distribute substantially all of its income to its shareholders to qualify for pass-through treatment under the tax laws and may, therefore, have to dispose of its portfolio securities to satisfy distribution requirements.

 

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Underwriting and dealer spreads associated with the purchase of lower rated bonds are typically higher than those associated with the purchase of high grade bonds.

Ratings Categories Risk

A description of the rating categories as published by Moody’s and S&P is set forth in the Appendix to this Statement of Additional Information. Ratings assigned by Moody’s and/or S&P to securities acquired by a Fund reflect only the views of those agencies as to the quality of the securities they have undertaken to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are relative and subjective and are not absolute standards of quality. There is no assurance that a rating assigned initially will not change. A Fund may retain a security whose rating has changed or has become unrated.

Restricted Securities Risk

Certain Funds may acquire securities through private placements. These securities are typically sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions or mutual funds. Unlike public offerings, such securities are not registered under the federal securities laws. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold, others may be illiquid, and their sale may involve substantial delays and additional costs.

In addition, certain Funds may also invest in securities sold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Rule 144A permits the Funds to sell restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers without limitation. However, investing in Rule 144A securities could have the effect of increasing the level of a Fund’s illiquidity to the extent the Fund, at a particular point in time, may be unable to find qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing such securities.

Restricted securities, including private placements, are subject to legal and contractual restrictions on resale. This may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent a Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. A Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting such registration.

The Advisor, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, will make a determination as to the liquidity of each private placement or restricted security purchased by a Fund. If such security is determined to be “liquid,” it will not be included within the category “illiquid securities,” which under each Fund’s current policies may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets. To the extent the Fund owns private placements or restricted securities, these securities may involve liquidity and valuation difficulties. At times of less liquidity, it may be more difficult to value these securities because this valuation may require more research and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation since there is less reliable, objective data available. Securities that are not readily marketable will be valued by a Fund pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.

Risks Associated With Derivatives

Certain Funds may, but are not required to, use various derivatives and related investment strategies as described in this Statement of Additional Information. Derivatives may be used for a variety of purposes including hedging, risk management, portfolio management or to earn income. Any or all of the investment techniques previously described herein may be used at any time and there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another, as the use of any derivative by the Fund is a function of numerous variables including market conditions. Although the Advisor seeks to use derivatives to further the Fund’s investment objective, no assurance can be given that the use of derivatives will achieve this result.

Derivatives utilized by a Fund may involve the purchase and sale of derivative instruments. A derivative is a financial instrument the value of which depends upon (or derives from) the value of another asset, security, interest rate or index. Derivatives may relate to a wide variety of underlying instruments, including equity and debt securities, indexes, interest rates, currencies and other assets. Certain derivative instruments which a Fund may use and the risks of those instruments are described in further detail below. A Fund may in the future also utilize derivatives techniques, instruments and strategies that may be newly developed or permitted as a result of regulatory changes, consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Such newly developed techniques, instruments and strategies may involve risks different than or in addition to those described herein. No assurance can be given that any derivatives strategy employed by the Fund will be successful.

 

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The risks associated with the use of derivatives are different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the instruments underlying such derivatives. Derivatives are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from other portfolio investments. The use of derivative instruments requires an understanding not only of the underlying instrument but also of the derivative itself. Certain risk factors generally applicable to derivative transactions are described below.

 

   

Derivatives are subject to the risk that the market value of the derivative itself or the market value of underlying instruments will change in a way adverse to the Fund’s interests. The Fund bears the risk that the Advisor may incorrectly forecast future market trends and other financial or economic factors or the value of the underlying security, index, interest rate or currency when establishing a derivatives position for the Fund.

 

   

Derivatives may be subject to pricing or “basis” risk, which exists when a derivative becomes extraordinarily expensive (or inexpensive) relative to historical prices or corresponding instruments. Under such market conditions, it may not be economically feasible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price.

 

   

Many derivatives are complex and often valued subjectively. Improper valuations can result in increased payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to the Fund.

 

   

Using derivatives as a hedge against a portfolio investment subjects the Fund to the risk that the derivative will have imperfect correlation with the portfolio investment, which could result in the Fund incurring substantial losses. This correlation risk may be greater in the case of derivatives based on an index or other basket of securities, as the portfolio securities being hedged may not duplicate the components of the underlying index or the basket may not be of exactly the same type of obligation as those underlying the derivative. The use of derivatives for “cross hedging” purposes (using a derivative based on one instrument as a hedge on a different instrument) may also involve greater correlation risks.

 

   

While using derivatives for hedging purposes can reduce a Fund’s risk of loss, it may also limit the Fund’s opportunity for gains or result in losses by offsetting or limiting the Fund’s ability to participate in favorable price movements in portfolio investments.

 

   

Derivatives transactions for non-hedging purposes involve greater risks and may result in losses which would not be offset by increases in the value of portfolio securities or declines in the cost of securities to be acquired. In the event that a Fund enters into a derivatives transaction as an alternative to purchasing or selling the underlying instrument or in order to obtain desired exposure to an index or market, the Fund will be exposed to the same risks as are incurred in purchasing or selling the underlying instruments directly.

 

   

The use of certain derivatives transaction involves the risk of loss resulting from the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the contract (the “counterparty”) or the failure by the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the contract. In the event of default by a counterparty, the Fund may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreement related to the transaction.

 

   

Liquidity risk exists when a particular derivative is difficult to purchase or sell. If a derivative transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, the Fund may be unable to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price.

 

   

Certain derivatives transactions are not entered into or traded on exchanges or in markets regulated by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or the SEC. Instead, such over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives are entered into directly by the counterparties and may be traded only through financial institutions acting as market makers. OTC derivatives transaction can only be entered into with a willing counterparty that is approved by the Investment Adviser in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. Where no such counterparty is available, the Fund will be unable to into a desired transaction. There also may be greater risk that no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC derivatives will exist, in which case the Fund may be afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange or clearinghouse and as a result the Fund would bear greater risk of default by the counterparties to such transactions.

 

   

The Fund may be required to make physical delivery of portfolio securities underlying a derivative in order to close out a derivatives position or to sell portfolio securities at a time or price at which it may be disadvantageous to do so in order to obtain cash to close out or to maintain a derivatives position.

 

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As a result of the structure of certain derivatives, adverse changes in the value of the underlying instrument can result in losses substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.

 

   

Certain derivatives may be considered illiquid and therefore subject to a Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

 

   

Derivatives transactions conducted outside the United States may not be conducted in the same manner as those entered into on U.S. exchanges, and may be subject to different margin, exercise, settlement or expiration procedures. Brokerage commissions, clearing costs and other transaction costs may be higher on foreign exchanges. Many of the risks of OTC derivatives transactions are also applicable to derivatives transactions conducted outside the United States. Derivatives transactions conducted outside the United States are subject to the risk of governmental action affecting the trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions could be adversely affected by foreign political and economic factors; lesser availability of data on which to make trading decisions, delays on the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets; and less liquidity than U.S. markets.

 

   

Currency derivatives are subject to additional risks. Currency derivatives transactions may be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations. Currency exchange rates may be influenced by factors extrinsic to a country’s economy. There is not systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to foreign currencies. As a result, the available information on which trading in currency derivatives will be based may not be as complete as comparable data for other transactions. Events could occur in the foreign currency market which will not be reflected in currency derivatives until the following day, making it more difficult for the Fund to respond to such events in a timely manner.

Options Transactions Risks

The effective use of options depends on a Fund’s ability to terminate option positions at times when the Advisor deems it desirable to do so. Prior to exercise or expiration, an option position can only be terminated by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. If a covered call option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase an offsetting OTC Option, it cannot sell the underlying security until the option expires or the option is exercised. Accordingly, a covered call option writer may not be able to sell an underlying security at a time when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so. A secured put option writer who is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase an offsetting OTC Option would continue to bear the risk of decline in the market price of the underlying security until the option expires or is exercised.

In addition, a secured put writer would be unable to utilize the amount held in cash or U.S. Government Securities or other high grade short-term obligations as security for the put option for other investment purposes until the exercise or expiration of the option.

A Fund’s ability to close out its position as a writer of an option is dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market. There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly in the case of OTC Options, as such options will generally only be closed out by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. However, the Fund may be able to purchase an offsetting option which does not close out its position as a writer but constitutes an asset of equal value to the obligation under the option written. If the Fund is not able to either enter into a closing purchase transaction or purchase an offsetting position, it will be required to maintain the securities subject to the call, or the collateral underlying the put, even though it might not be advantageous to do so, until a closing transaction can be entered into (or the option is exercised or expires).

Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange are: (a) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (b) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (c) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; (d) interruption of the normal operations on an exchange; (e) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or the OCC or other relevant clearing corporation to handle current trading volume; or (f) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the relevant clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

 

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In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which a Fund engages in transactions in options, the Fund could experience delays and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker and/or incur a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the broker. Similarly, in the event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC Option purchased by a Fund, the Fund could experience a loss of all or part of the value of the option. Transactions are entered into by a Fund only with brokers or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Fund’s management.

Each of the exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum number of options on the same underlying security or futures contract (whether or not covered) which may be written by a single investor, whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such options are written on the same or different exchanges or are held or written on one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may impose other sanctions or restrictions. These position limits may restrict the number of listed options which a Fund may write.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.

Risks Associated With Futures Contracts and Options on Futures

There are certain risks inherent in the use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts. Successful use of futures contracts by a Fund is subject to the ability of the Advisor to correctly predict movements in the direction of interest rates or changes in market conditions. In addition, there can be no assurance that there will be a correlation between price movements in the underlying securities, currencies or index and the price movements in the securities which are the subject of the hedge.

Positions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be closed out only on the exchange or board of trade on which they were entered into, and there can be no assurance that an active market will exist for a particular contract or option at any particular time. If a Fund has hedged against the possibility of an increase in interest rates or a decrease in the value of portfolio securities and interest rates fall or the value of portfolio securities increase instead, a Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of securities that it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if a Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. These sales of securities may, but will not necessarily be at increased prices that reflect the decline in interest rates. While utilization of futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be advantageous to the Fund, if the Fund is not successful in employing such instruments in managing the Fund’s investments, the Fund’s performance will be worse than if the Fund did not make such investments.

Exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may move on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily limit moves have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin on open futures positions. In such situations, if a Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, a Fund may be required to take or make delivery of the instruments underlying interest rate futures contracts it holds at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close out options and futures positions could also have an adverse impact on a Fund’s ability to effectively hedge its portfolio.

Futures contracts and options thereon which are purchased or sold on foreign commodities exchanges may have greater price volatility than their U.S. counterparts. Furthermore, foreign commodities exchanges may be less regulated and under less governmental scrutiny than U.S. exchanges. Brokerage commissions, clearing costs and other transaction costs may be higher on foreign exchanges. Greater margin requirements may limit a Fund’s ability to enter into certain commodity transactions on foreign exchanges. Moreover, differences in clearance and delivery requirements on foreign exchanges may occasion delays in the settlement of a Fund’s transactions effected on foreign exchanges.

In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which a Fund engages in transactions in futures or options thereon, the Fund could experience delays and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker and/or incur a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the broker. Similarly, in the event of the bankruptcy, of the writer of an OTC option purchased by a Fund, the Fund could experience a loss of all or part of the value of the option. Transactions are entered into by a Fund only with brokers or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Advisor.

 

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There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for futures contracts and related options in which a Fund may invest. In the event a liquid market does not exist, it may not be possible to close out a futures position, and in the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. In addition, limitations imposed by an exchange or board of trade on which futures contracts are traded may compel or prevent a Fund from closing out a contract which may result in reduced gain or increased loss to the Fund. The absence of a liquid market in futures contracts might cause a Fund to make or take delivery of the underlying securities (currencies) at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of call or put options on futures contracts involves less potential risk to a Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options (plus transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the purchase of a call or put option on a futures contract would result in a loss to a Fund notwithstanding that the purchase or sale of a futures contract would not result in a loss, as in the instance where there is no movement in the prices of the futures contract or underlying securities (currencies).

Options on foreign currency futures contracts may involve certain additional risks. Trading options on foreign currency futures contracts is relatively new. The ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. To reduce this risk, a Fund will not purchase or write options on foreign currency futures contracts unless and until, in the Advisor’s opinion, the market for such options has developed sufficiently that the risks in connection with such options are not greater than the risks in connection with transactions in the underlying foreign currency futures contracts.

Structured Notes Risk

Certain Funds may invest in structured notes, which are debt obligations that also contain an embedded derivative component with characteristics that adjust the obligation’s risk/return profile. Generally, the performance of a structured note will track that of the underlying debt obligation and the derivative embedded within it. The Fund has the right to receive periodic interest payments from the issuer of the structured notes at an agreed-upon interest rate and a return of the principal at the maturity date.

Structured notes are typically privately negotiated transactions between two or more parties. The Fund bears the risk that the issuer of the structured note will default or become bankrupt. The Fund bears the risk of the loss of its principal investment and periodic interest payments expected to be received for the duration of its investment in the structured notes.

In the case of structured notes on credit default swaps, the Fund is also subject to the credit risk of the corporate credits underlying the credit default swaps. If one of the underlying corporate credits defaults, the Fund may receive the security that has defaulted, or alternatively a cash settlement may occur, and the Fund’s principal investment in the structured note would be reduced by the corresponding face value of the defaulted security.

A Fund may invest in equity-linked structured notes (which would be linked to an equity index) to a significant extent. A highly liquid secondary market may not exist for the structured notes the Fund invests in, and there can be no assurance that a highly liquid secondary market will develop. The lack of a highly liquid secondary market may make it difficult for the Fund to sell the structured notes it holds at an acceptable price or accurately value such notes.

The market for structured notes may be, or suddenly can become, illiquid. The other parties to the transaction may be the only investors with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be interested in bidding for it. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid, and unpredictable changes in the prices for structured notes. In certain cases, a market price for a credit-linked security may not be available. The collateral for a structured note may be one or more credit default swaps, which are subject to additional risks.

 

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Swap Agreements Risks

Whether a Fund’s use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend on the ability of the Advisor to correctly predict whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid investments. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. A Fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards for creditworthiness (generally, such counterparties would have to be eligible counterparties under the terms of the Fund’s repurchase agreement guidelines). Certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by the Internal Revenue Code may limit a Fund’s ability to use swap agreements. The swap market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swap market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements. In addition, a Fund’s use of swaps may reduce the Fund’s returns and increase volatility.

Risks Associated With Mortgage-Backed Securities

Credit and Market Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities. Investments by the Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds in fixed rate and floating rate mortgage-backed securities will entail normal credit risks (i.e., the risk of non-payment of interest and principal) and market risks (i.e., the risk that interest rates and other factors will cause the value of the instrument to decline). Many issuers or servicers of mortgage-backed securities guarantee timely payment of interest and principal on the securities, whether or not payments are made when due on the underlying mortgages. This kind of guarantee generally increases the quality of a security, but does not mean that the security’s market value and yield will not change. Like other bond investments, the value of fixed rate mortgage-backed securities will tend to rise when interest rates fall, and fall when rates rise. Floating rate mortgage-backed securities will generally tend to have minimal changes in price when interest rates rise or fall. The value of all mortgage-backed securities may also change because of changes in the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the organization that issued or guarantees them. In addition, the mortgage-backed securities market in general may be adversely affected by changes in governmental legislation or regulation. Fluctuations in the market value of mortgage-backed securities after their acquisition usually do not affect cash income from such securities but are reflected in each Fund’s net asset value. The liquidity of mortgage-backed securities varies by type of security; at certain times a Fund may encounter difficulty in disposing of investments. Other factors that could affect the value of a mortgage-backed security include, among other things, the types and amounts of insurance which a mortgagor carries, the amount of time the mortgage loan has been outstanding, the loan-to-value ratio of each mortgage and the amount of overcollateralization of a mortgage pool.

Prepayment and Redemption Risk of Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities reflect an interest in monthly payments made by the borrowers who receive the underlying mortgage loans. Although the underlying mortgage loans are for specified periods of time, such as 20 or 30 years, the borrowers can, and typically do, pay them off sooner. In such an event, the mortgage-backed security which represents an interest in such underlying mortgage loan will be prepaid. A borrower is more likely to prepay a mortgage which bears a relatively high rate of interest. This means that in times of declining interest rates, a portion of a Fund’s higher yielding securities are likely to be redeemed and the Fund will probably be unable to replace them with securities having as great a yield. Prepayments can result in lower yields to shareholders. The increased likelihood of prepayments when interest rates decline also limits market price appreciation of mortgage-backed securities. In addition, a mortgage-backed security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer. If a mortgage-backed security held by a Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, which could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”). There are certain risks associated specifically with CMOs. CMOs issued by private entities are not obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities and are not guaranteed by any government agency, although the securities underlying a CMO may be subject to a guarantee. Therefore, if the collateral securing the CMO, as well as any third party credit support or guarantees, is insufficient to make payment, the holder could sustain a loss. In addition, the average life of CMOs is determined using mathematical models that incorporate prepayment assumptions and other factors that involve estimates of future economic and market conditions. These estimates may vary from actual future results, particularly during periods of extreme market volatility. Further, under certain market conditions, such as those that occurred in 1994 and 2008, the average weighted life of certain CMOs may not accurately reflect the price volatility of such securities. For example, in periods of supply and demands imbalances in the market for such securities and/or in periods of sharp interest rate movements, the prices of CMOs may fluctuate to a greater extent than would be expected from interest rate movements alone.

 

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Stripped Mortgage Securities. Part of the investment strategy of the Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds may involve the purchase of interest-only Stripped Mortgage Securities. These investments are highly sensitive to changes in interest and prepayment rates and tend to be less liquid than other CMOs.

Inverse Floaters. The Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds invest in inverse floaters, a class of CMOs with a coupon rate that resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which it is indexed such as LIBOR or COFI. Any rise in the index rate (as a consequence of an increase in interest rates) causes a drop in the coupon rate of an inverse floater. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest. The higher degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market prices.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages (“ARMs”). ARMs contain maximum and minimum rates beyond which the mortgage interest rate may not vary over the lifetime of the security. In addition, certain ARMs provide for additional limitations on the minimum amount by which the mortgage interest rate may adjust for any single adjustment period. Alternatively, certain ARMs contain limitations on changes in the required monthly payment. In the event that a monthly payment is not sufficient to pay the interest accruing on an ARM, any such excess interest is added to the principal balance of the mortgage loan, which is repaid through future monthly payments. If the monthly payment for such an instrument exceeds the sum of the interest accrued at the applicable mortgage interest rate and the principal payment required at such point to amortize the outstanding principal balance over the remaining term of the loan, the excess is utilized to reduce the then outstanding principal balance of the ARM.

Risks Associated With Asset-Backed Securities

Certain asset-backed securities do not have the benefit of the same security interest in the related collateral as do mortgage-backed securities. Credit card receivables are generally unsecured, and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set off certain amounts owned on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due. In addition, some issuers of automobile receivables permit the servicers to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related automobile receivables.

Risks Associated With Funds of Funds

The Asset Allocation Funds are “funds of funds.” Achieving the Asset Allocation Funds’ objectives will depend entirely on the performance of the Underlying Funds to which the Asset Allocation investments are allocated, which depends on the particular securities in which the Underlying Funds invest. Therefore, the Asset Allocation Funds are subject to all risks associated with the Underlying Funds. Because the performance for the Asset Allocation Funds depends on that of each Underlying Fund, performance may be subject to increased volatility. Additionally, operating expenses incurred annually by each Underlying Fund are borne indirectly by shareholders of the Asset Allocation Funds. The Asset Allocation Funds directly bear their annual operating expenses and indirectly bear the annual operating expenses of the Underlying Funds in proportion to their allocations.

The Advisor allocates the assets of each of the Asset Allocation Funds among the Underlying Funds based upon a number of factors, including the Advisor’s asset allocation strategies and the investment performance of each Underlying Fund. In making investment decisions for the Asset Allocation Funds, the Advisor will consider, among other factors, internally generated research. Because certain Underlying Funds are more profitable to the Advisor than others, the Advisor may have an incentive to allocate more of any such Asset Allocation Funds’ assets to more profitable Underlying Funds, and fewer assets to less profitable Underlying Funds. The Advisor does not, however, consider the profitability of the Underlying Funds in making investment decisions for the Asset Allocation Funds.

The Asset Allocation Funds may invest in the Underlying Funds as disclosed in the Prospectus. The Advisor may modify the asset allocation strategy for the Asset Allocation Funds and modify the selection of Underlying Funds for the Asset Allocation Funds or may invest in other TCW funds from time to time without shareholder approval if it believes that doing so would better enable the Asset Allocation Funds to pursue their investment goals.

 

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Risks of Large Shareholder Redemptions

Certain account holders may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of a Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these account holders of their shares in a Fund may impact the Fund’s liquidity and net asset value. These redemptions may also force a Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund’s brokerage and tax costs.

Risks Associated with Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs)

The value of an ETN will change as the value of the market benchmark or strategy fluctuates. If, for example, a commodity-linked ETN is purchased, its value will fluctuate because the value of the underlying commodity to which it is linked fluctuates with market conditions. The prices of the market benchmark are determined based on a variety of market and economic factors and may change unpredictably, affecting the value of the underlying benchmark and, consequently, the value of the ETN.

ETNs are fully exposed to any decline in the level of the underlying market benchmark. If the value of the underlying market benchmark decreases, or does not increase by an amount greater than the aggregate investor fee applicable to the ETN, a Fund will receive less than its original investment in the ETN upon maturity or early redemption and could lose up to 100% of the original principal amount. Investors in ETNs do not receive any periodic interest payments.

ETNs are subject to illiquity risk. The issuer of an ETN may restrict the ETN’s redemption amount or its redemption date. In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN.

Because ETNs are unsecured debt securities, they are subject to risk of default by the issuing bank or other financial institution. This is called counter party risk. In addition, the value of an ETN may decline due to downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating despite no change in the underlying market benchmark.

ETNs are also subject to tax risk. No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) will accept, or a court will uphold, how the Funds characterize and treat ETNs’ for tax purposes. Further, the IRS and Congress are considering proposals that would change the timing and character of income and gains from ETNs.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

A portfolio turnover rate is, in summary, the percentage computed by dividing the lesser of a Fund’s purchases or sales of securities (excluding short-term securities) by the average market value of that Fund. The Advisor intends to manage each Fund’s assets by buying and selling securities to help attain its investment objective. This may result in increases or decreases in a Fund’s current income available for distribution to its shareholders. While none of the Funds is managed with the intent of generating short- term capital gains, each of the Funds may dispose of investments (including money market instruments) regardless of the holding period if, in the opinion of the Advisor, an issuer’s creditworthiness or perceived changes in a company’s growth prospects or asset value make selling them advisable. Such an investment decision may result in capital gains or losses and could result in a high portfolio turnover rate during a given period, resulting in increased transaction costs related to equity securities. Disposing of debt securities in these circumstances should not increase direct transaction costs since debt securities are normally traded on a principal basis without brokerage commissions. However, such transactions do involve a mark-up or markdown of the price.

The portfolio turnover rates of the Funds cannot be accurately predicted. Nevertheless, the annual portfolio turnover rates certain of the Funds (other than the Money Market Fund for which, due to the short-term nature of its investments, a portfolio turnover rate is not applicable) are generally not expected to exceed 100%. In addition, many of the Funds are Underlying Funds of the Asset Allocation Funds, and changes to the target allocations of the Asset Allocation Funds may result in the transfer of assets from one Underlying Fund to another. These changes, as well as changes in managers and investment personnel and reorganizations of Underlying Funds, may result in the sale of portfolio securities, which may increase trading costs and the portfolio turnover and trigger negative tax consequences for the affected Underlying Funds. The following Funds had a portfolio turnover rate exceeding 100% for their most recent fiscal year. A 100% portfolio turnover rate would occur, for example, if all the securities in a Fund’s investment portfolio were replaced once in a period of one year.

 

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For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the portfolio turnover rate for the TCW Small Cap Growth Fund was 105.57%. This was due to market volatility and repositioning of the portfolio by eliminating underperforming companies and purchasing companies with better growth prospects.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the portfolio turnover rate for the TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund was 198.80%. This was due to dramatic changes in global macroeconomic and monetary policies in the U.S., Europe and China over the course of the year that required repositioning and rebalancing of the portfolio from the standpoint of industry and country exposures.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the portfolio turnover rate for the TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund was 172.75%. This was due principally to a rebalancing toward local currency credits (from 0% to 18% of the Fund’s investment portfolio) and the shortening of durations in these securities. In addition, the Fund was an active buyer of new issues as these bonds came to the market at spread concessions.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the portfolio turnover rate for the TCW Core Fixed Income Fund was 258.32%. This was due principally to shareholder subscription and redemption activities during the year and re-balancing of certain sectors within the Fund.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the portfolio turnover rate for the TCW High Yield Bond Fund was 176.77%. This was due principally to the Fund rotating out of securities that trade at a premium to par and which offer low total return potential. In addition, the significant amount of bond referencing activity contributed to the turnover rate of the portfolio. In 2010, according to JP Morgan, there was $302 billion of high yield bond issuance and refinancing was approximately 2/3s of that volume.

BROKERAGE PRACTICES

The Advisor is responsible for the placement of the Funds’ portfolio transactions and the negotiation of prices and commissions, if any, with respect to such transactions. Debt, convertible and unlisted equity securities are generally purchased from a primary market maker acting as principal on a net basis without a stated commission but at prices generally reflecting a dealer spread. Listed equity securities are normally purchased through brokers in transactions executed on securities exchanges involving negotiated commissions. Debt, convertible and equity securities are also purchased in underwritten offerings at fixed prices which include discounts to underwriters and/or concessions to dealers. In placing a portfolio transactions, the Advisor seeks to obtain the best execution for the Funds, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable dealer spread or commission, if any), size of order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities.

Consistent with its policy of securing best execution, in selecting broker-dealers and negotiating any commissions or prices involved in Fund transactions, the Advisor considers the range and quality of the professional services provided by such firms. Brokerage services include the ability to most effectively execute large orders without adversely impacting markets and positioning securities in order to enable the Advisor to effect orderly purchases or sales for a Fund. Accordingly, transactions will not always be executed at the lowest available commission. In addition, the Advisor may effect transactions which cause a Fund to pay a commission in excess of a commission which another broker-dealer would have charged if the Advisor first determines that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker-dealer. In some cases, research is provided directly by an executing broker-dealer and in other cases, research may be provided by third party research providers such as a non-executing third party broker-dealer or other third party research service. Research services furnished by an executing broker-dealer or third party research provider may be used in providing services for any or all of the clients of the Advisor, as well as clients of affiliated companies, and may be used in connection with accounts other than those which pay commissions to the broker-dealers providing the research services.

 

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The Advisor maintains an internal allocation procedure to identify those direct research providers who provide it with research services and endeavors to place sufficient transactions with them to ensure the continued receipt of research services the Advisor believes are useful. The Advisor’s procedures also seek to compensate third party research providers that provide it with research by directing executing broker-dealers to cause payments to be made to third party research providers, either through cash payments from the executing broker or through the use of step out transactions. A “step out transaction” is a securities trade executed by the executing broker-dealer, but settled by the non-executing research broker-dealer permitting the non-executing research broker-dealer to share in the commission. The determination of the broker-dealers to whom commissions are directed generally is made using a system involving the Advisor’s Director of U.S. Equity Research, the Funds’ portfolio managers, the Advisor’s analysts and is periodically reviewed by the Advisor’s trading committee. The Advisor’s Director of U.S. Equity Research coordinates the evaluation of broker-dealer research services in most instances, taking into account the views of the Advisor’s portfolio managers and analysts.

Research services include such items as reports on industries and companies, economic analyses, review of business conditions and portfolio strategy, analytic computer software, account performance services and various trading and/or quotation equipment. They also include advice from broker-dealers as to the value of securities and availability of securities, availability of buyers, and availability of sellers. In addition, they include recommendations as to purchase and sale of individual securities and timing of transactions. Sometimes the Advisor receives products or services from broker-dealers that are used for both research services and other purposes, such as corporate administration or marketing (“mixed-use products or services”). The Advisor makes a good faith effort to determine the relative proportions of mixed-use products or services that may be attributable to research services. The portion attributable to research services may be paid through the allocation of brokerage commissions and the Advisor pays the non-research services in cash.

Debt and convertible securities are generally purchased from the issuer or a primary market maker acting as principal on a net basis with no brokerage commission paid by the client. Such securities, as well as equity securities, may also be purchased from underwriters at prices which include underwriting fees.

In an effort to achieve efficiencies in execution and reduce trading costs, the Advisor and its affiliates frequently (though not always) execute securities transactions on behalf of a number of accounts at the same time, generally referred to as “block trades.” When executing block trades, securities are allocated using procedures that the Advisor considers fair and equitable. Allocation guidelines are established to provide to the Advisor’s Trading Department. In some cases, various forms of pro-rata allocation are used and, in other cases, random allocation processes are used. Participation of an account in the allocation is based on considerations such as lot size, account size, diversification requirements and investment objectives, restrictions, time horizon, availability of cash, existing or targeted account weightings in particular securities, the amount of existing holdings (or substitutes) of the security in the account, and, when relevant, directed brokerage. In connection with certain purchase or sale programs, and in other circumstances if practicable, if multiple trades for a specific security are made with the same broker in a single day, those securities are allocated to accounts based on a weighted average purchase or sale price.

In determining whether accounts are eligible to participate in any type of initial public offering, the Advisor considers such factors as lot size, account size, diversification requirements and investment objectives, restrictions, time horizon, availability of cash, existing or targeted account weightings in particular securities, and the amount of existing holdings (or substitutes) of the security in the account. For initial public offerings of equities, the Advisor generally shares allocations in a pro rata fashion based upon assets under management for those accounts eligible to participate in the initial public offering. For equity offerings, an exception may be made when the allocation is so small that it may create transaction costs that diminish the benefit of the trade or it would be unreasonably minimal relative to the size of the account. For there exceptions, the Advisor will use its best judgment to make a fair and equitable allocation, which may include, among other things, consideration of allocating to underperforming accounts or accounts where smaller lot sizes would be reasonable.

To the extent permitted by law and in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors, the Fund may engage in brokerage transactions with brokers that are affiliates of the Advisor. The Fund has adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that commissions or other remuneration paid to affiliated brokers of the Advisor or Sub-Advisors do not exceed the usual and customary broker’s commission. With respect to the Asset Allocation Funds, each Asset Allocation Fund will not incur any commissions or sales charges when it invests in the Underlying Funds.

 

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The following table sets forth the amounts of brokerage commission paid to broker-dealers for research services by each Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

     Aggregate Brokerage
Commissions Paid
on Transactions in
the Funds’ Securities
     Aggregate Brokerage
Commissions Paid
for Research
Services Provided
 

TCW Concentrated Value Fund

   $ 71,084       $ 69,772   

TCW Dividend Focused Fund

     835,927         832,531   

TCW Growth Fund

     1,769         1,427   

TCW Growth Equities Fund

     244,973         196,444   

TCW Relative Value Large Cap Fund

     948,314         944,866   

TCW Select Equities Fund

     248,269         236,901   

TCW Small Cap Growth Fund

     3,151,284         2,302,545   

TCW Value Opportunities Fund

     651,030         562,272   

TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund

     512,330         17   

TCW Global Moderate Allocation Fund

     5,688         4,578   

TCW Global Flexible Allocation Fund

     1,137         699   

TCW Money Market Fund

     486,136         0   

TCW High Yield Bond Fund

     1,157,932         0   

TCW Short Term Bond Fund

     89,042         0   

TCW Total Return Bond Fund

     11,569,487         0   

The aggregate brokerage commissions paid by the Funds on transactions for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008 were: $17,704,721 and $8,934,852, respectively.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Funds paid the following amounts to Cowen & Company LLC:

 

Fund

   Aggregate
Commissions  Paid
     Percentage of  Total
Commissions Paid
 

TCW Concentrated Value Fund

   $ 556         0.78

TCW Dividend Focused Fund

     5,609         0.67

TCW Growth Equities Fund

     243         0.10

TCW Relative Value Large Cap Fund

     5,144         0.54

TCW Select Equities Fund

     420         0.17

TCW Value Opportunities Fund

     1,261         0.19

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2009 and 2008, the Funds paid $37,615 and $130,400 in aggregate commissions to Cowen & Company LLC, respectively.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The investment restrictions numbered 1 through 9 below have been adopted as fundamental policies (except as otherwise provided in 1). A fundamental policy affecting a particular Fund may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the affected Fund. Investment restrictions 10, 11, 12 and 13 with respect to a Fund may be changed by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors at any time.

1. No Fund will borrow money, except that (a) a Fund may borrow from banks for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes including the meeting of redemption requests that might otherwise require the untimely disposition of securities; (b) the Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond, Total Return Bond and Money Market Funds may each enter into reverse repurchase agreements; (c) the Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds may utilize mortgage-dollar rolls; and (d) each Fund, other than the Money Market Fund, may enter into futures contracts for hedging purposes subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph 8 below. The total amount borrowed by a Fund (including, for this purpose, reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar rolls) at any time will not exceed 30% (or, in the case of the Money Market Fund, 10%) of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued at market less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. As an operating policy, whenever borrowings pursuant to (a) exceed 5% (or, in the case of the Money Market Fund, 10%) of the value of a Fund’s total assets, the Fund will not purchase any securities.

 

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2. No Fund will issue senior securities as defined in the 1940 Act, provided that the Funds may (a) enter into repurchase agreements; (b) purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; (c) purchase or sell financial futures contracts or options thereon; and (d) borrow money in accordance with the restrictions described in paragraph 1 above.

3. No Fund will underwrite securities of other companies, except insofar as the Fund might be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities.

4. No Fund will purchase any securities that would cause 25% or more of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of any one particular industry or group of industries, provided that this limitation shall not apply to any Fund’s purchase of U.S. Government Securities, and, in the case of the Money Market Fund, to the purchase of obligations of domestic branches of United States banks. The Emerging Markets Income Fund and TCW Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund may invest more than 25% of the value of their total assets in debt securities issued or guaranteed by the governments of emerging markets countries. In determining industry classifications for foreign issuers, each Fund will use reasonable classifications that are not so broad that the primary economic characteristics of the companies in a single class are materially different. Each Fund will determine such classifications of foreign issuers based on the issuer’s principal or major business activities. An Asset Allocation Fund may invest, in accordance with each Asset Allocation Fund’s investment program as set forth in the prospectus, more than 25% of its assets in any one or a combination of Underlying Funds and other investment companies. Each Asset Allocation Fund treats the assets of the Underlying Funds in which it invests as its own for purposes of this restriction.

5. No Fund will invest in real estate, real estate mortgage loans, residual interests in REMICs, oil, gas and other mineral leases (including other universal exploration or development programs), or real estate limited partnerships, except that a Fund may purchase securities backed by real estate or interests therein, or issued by companies, including real estate investment trusts, which invest in real estate or interests therein and except that the Core Fixed Income, Short Term Bond and Total Return Bond Funds are not prohibited investing in real estate mortgage loans.

6. No Fund may make loans of cash except by purchasing qualified debt obligations or entering into repurchase agreements.

7. Each Fund may effect short sales of securities or maintain a short position only if the Fund at the time of sale either owns or has the right to acquire at no additional cost securities equivalent in kind and amount to those sold.

8. No Fund will invest in commodities or commodities contracts, except that the Funds may enter into futures contracts or purchase related options thereon if, immediately thereafter, the amount committed to margin plus the amount paid for premiums for unexpired options on futures contracts does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, after taking into account unrealized gains and unrealized losses on such contracts it has entered into, provided, however, that in the case of an option that is in-the-money (the exercise price of the call (put) option is less (more) than the market price of the underlying security) at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%. The 5% limit does not apply to the TCW Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund. The entry into foreign currency forward contracts shall not be deemed to involve investing in commodities.

9. For each of the Dividend Focused and Relative Value Large Cap Funds, no Fund will, with respect to 75 percent of its assets, purchase the securities of any issuer, other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other investment companies if as a result more than five percent of the value of the Funds’ total assets would be invested in the securities of the issuer; or, (b) purchase more than 10 percent of the voting securities of any one issuer other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other investment companies.

10. No Fund will purchase securities on margin, except that a Fund may obtain any short-term credits necessary for clearance of purchases and sales of securities. For purposes of this restriction, the deposit or payment of initial or variation margin in connection with futures contracts and related options will not be deemed to be a purchase of securities on margin.

11. No Fund will purchase the securities of an issuer for the purpose of acquiring control or management thereof.

 

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12. The Asset Allocation Funds may invest in short-term instruments, U.S. Government Securities, money market instruments, unaffiliated investment companies, and other securities in addition to securities of other affiliated investment companies, for temporary defensive purposes or otherwise as deemed advisable by the Advisor to the extent permissible under existing or future rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

13. Underlying Funds may not invest in securities of other investment companies in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or (G) of the 1940 Act, or any successor provisions.

The percentage limitations contained in the restrictions listed above apply, with the exception of (1), at the time of purchase or initial investment and any subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in total or net assets does not require elimination of any security from the Fund.

For purposes of applying the terms of investment restriction number 4, the Advisor will, on behalf of each Fund, make reasonable determinations as to the appropriate industry classification to assign to each issuer of securities in which the Fund invests. As a general matter, an “industry” is considered to be a group of companies whose principal activities, products or services offered give them a similar economic risk profile vis à vis issuers active in other sectors of the economy. The definition of what constitutes a particular “industry” is therefore an evolving one, particularly for issuers in industries or sectors within industries that are new or are undergoing rapid development. Some issuers could reasonably fall within more than one industry category. For example, some companies that sell goods over the internet (including issuers of securities in which the Fund invest) were initially classified as internet companies, but over time have evolved into the economic risk profiles of retail companies. The Advisor will use its best efforts to assign each issuer to the category which it believes is most appropriate. Further, the Funds take the position that mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, whether government-issued or privately issued do not represent interests in any particular “industry” or group of industries, and therefore the 25% concentration restriction noted above does not apply to such securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing investment restrictions, the Underlying Funds in which the Asset Allocation Funds may invest have adopted certain investment restrictions that may be more or less restrictive than those listed above, thereby permitting an Asset Allocation Fund to engage indirectly in investment strategies that may be prohibited under the investment restrictions listed above.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

A board of ten directors is responsible for overseeing the Funds’ affairs. The directors of the Funds, and their business addresses and their principal occupations for the last five years are set forth below. Each director oversees each Fund in TCW Funds, Inc. which, as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, number 23.

Independent Directors

 

Name, Address, Age and

Position with Funds (1)

 

Term of Office and

Length of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

 

Other Directorships

Held by Director

Samuel P. Bell (75)

Director

  Mr. Bell has served as a director of TCW Funds, Inc. since October 2002.   Private Investor. Former President, Los Angeles Business Advisors (not-for-profit business organization).   Point 360 (post production services), Broadway National Bank (banking) and TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (closed-end fund).

John A. Gavin (80)

Director

  Mr. Gavin has served as a director of TCW Funds, Inc., since May 2001.   Founder and Chairman of Gamma Holdings (international capital consulting firm).   Causeway Capital (mutual fund with 2 series), TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (closed-end fund), Hotchkis and Wiley Funds (mutual fund with 5 series).

Patrick C. Haden (58)

Chairman of the Board

  Mr. Haden has served as a director of TCW Funds, Inc. since May 2001.   Athletic Director, University of Southern California. Prior to August 2010, General Partner, Riordan, Lewis & Haden (private equity firm).   Tetra Tech, Inc. (environmental consulting), Metropolitan West Funds (mutual fund with 6 series), and TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (closed-end fund).

Janet E. Kerr (57)

Director

  Ms. Kerr has served as a director of TCW Funds, Inc. since August 2010   Professor of Law and Executive Director Geoffrey H. Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law. Pepperdine University School of Law.   La-Z-Boy Furniture Incorporated (residential furniture producer), and TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (closed-end fund)

Peter McMillan (53)

Director

  Mr. McMillan has served as a director of TCW Funds, Inc. since August 2010.   Co-founder and Managing Partner, Willowbrook Capital Group, LLC (investment advisory firm) and Co-founder and Executive Vice President of KBS Capital Advisors (a manager of real estate investment trusts).   KBS Real Estate Investment Trust I and KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II (real estate investments), Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (musical instruments manufacturing), Metropolitan West Funds (mutual fund with 6 series) and TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (closed-end fund)

Charles A. Parker (77)

Director

  Mr. Parker has served as a director of the TCW Funds, Inc. since April 2003.   Private Investor.   Burridge Center for Research in Security Prices (University of Colorado) and TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (closed end fund).

Victoria B. Rogers (50)

Director

  Ms. Rogers has served as a director of the TCW Funds, Inc. since October 2011.   President, the Rose Hills Foundation (Los Angeles, CA)   None

 

(1) 

The address of each Independent Director is c/o Bingham McCutchen LLP, Counsel to the Independent Directors, 355 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

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Interested Directors

Each of these directors are “interested persons” of TCW Funds, Inc. (“Corporation”) as defined in the 1940 Act because they are directors and officers of the Advisor, and shareholders and directors of The TCW Group, Inc. the parent company of the Advisor.

 

Name, Address, Age and

Position with Funds

 

Term of Office and

Length of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

 

Other Directorships

Held by Director

Charles W. Baldiswieler (53)

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 South Figueroa Street

Los Angeles, CA 90017

  Mr. Baldiswieler has served as a director of TCW Funds, Inc. since March 2009 and President and Chief Executive Officer since December 2009.   Group Managing Director, the Advisor, TCW Asset Management Company and Trust Company of the West.   TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (closed-end fund)

Thomas E. Larkin, Jr. (72)

Director

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 South

Figueroa Street

Los Angeles, CA 90017

  Mr. Larkin has served as a director since inception of TCW Funds, Inc., in September 1992.   Vice Chairman, the Advisor, The TCW Group, Inc., TCW Asset Management Company and Trust Company of the West.   Automobile Club of Southern California (motorist association)

Marc I. Stern (67)

Director

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 South Figueroa Street

Los Angeles, CA 90017

  Mr. Stern has served as a director since inception of TCW Funds, Inc. in September 1992.   Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, the Advisor; Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The TCW Group, Inc. and TCW Asset Management Company; and Vice Chairman, Trust Company of the West.   Qualcomm Incorporated (wireless communications)

 

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Leadership Structure

The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall management of the Corporation, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Advisor and other service providers in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, other applicable laws and the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. The Board of Directors meets in regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year. It is currently composed of nine Directors, including six Independent Directors. As discussed below, the Board of Directors has established three committees to assist the Board of Directors in performing its oversight responsibilities.

The Board of Directors has appointed an Independent Director to serve as its Chairman. The Chairman’s primary role is to set the agenda of the Board of Directors and determine what information is provided to the Board of Directors with respect to matters to be acted upon by the Board of Directors. The Chairman presides at all meetings of the Board of Directors and leads the Board of Directors through its various tasks. The Chairman also acts as a liaison with management in carrying out the Board of Directors’ functions. The Chairman also performs such other functions as may be requested by the Board of Directors from time to time. The designation of Chairman does not impose any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations or liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the Board of Directors, generally.

Risk Oversight

Through its direct oversight role, and indirectly through its Committees, the Board of Directors performs a risk oversight function for the Corporation consisting, among other things, of the following activities:

General Oversight. The Board of Directors regularly meets with the officers of the Corporation and representatives of key service providers to the Corporation, including the Advisor, administrator, transfer agent, custodian and independent registered public accounting firm to review and discuss the operational activities of the Corporation and to provide direction with respect thereto.

Compliance Oversight. The Board of Directors reviews and approves the procedures of the Corporation established to ensure compliance with applicable federal securities laws. The Board of Directors keeps informed about how the Corporation’s operations conform to its compliance procedures through regular meetings with, and reports received from the Corporation’s Chief Compliance Officer, and other officers.

Investment Oversight. The Board of Directors monitors investment performance during the year through regular performance reports from management with references to appropriate performance measurement indices. The Board of Directors also receives focused performance presentations on a regular basis, including special written reports and oral presentations by portfolio managers. In addition, the Board of Directors monitors the Corporation’s investment practices and reviews its investment strategies with management and receives focused presentations.

Valuation Oversight. The Board of Directors has approved the valuation methodologies used in establishing the daily values of the Corporation’s assets and monitors the accuracy with which the valuations are carried out. The Board of Directors receives regular reports on the use of fair value prices and monitors the effectiveness of the Corporation’s valuation procedures.

Financial Reporting. Through its Audit Committee, the Board of Directors meets regularly with the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm to discuss financial reporting matters, the adequacy of the Corporation’s internal controls over financial reporting, and risks to accounting and financial reporting matters.

 

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Committees

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the selection of the independent auditors and reviews with the auditors the results of the annual audit, including the scope of auditing procedures, the adequacy of internal controls and compliance by the Corporation with the accounting, recording and financial reporting requirements of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee also reviews compliance with the Code of Ethics by the executive officers, directors and investment personnel of the Advisor. The Audit Committee’s members consist of Ms. Kerr and Messrs. Bell, Gavin, Haden, McMillan and Parker. Each Audit Committee member is an Independent Director. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Audit Committee held four meetings.

Executive Committee. The Executive Committee has the same powers of the Board of Directors except the power to declare dividends or other stock distributions, elect directors, authorize the issuance of stock except as permitted by statute, to recommend to the shareholders any action requiring their approval, to amend the By-Laws or to approve any merger or share exchange not requiring shareholder approval. The Executive Committee’s members consist of Messrs. Bell, Haden and Stern. Mr. Haden is an Independent Director. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Executive Committee held no meetings.

Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding nominations for membership on the Board of Directors. It evaluates candidates’ qualifications for Board membership and, with respect to nominees for positions as independent directors, their independence from the Corporation’s investment advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee periodically reviews director compensation and recommends any appropriate changes to the Board as a group. This Committee also reviews and may make recommendations to the Board of Directors relating to those issues that pertain to the effectiveness of the Board in carrying out its responsibilities in governing the Corporation and overseeing the management of the Corporation. The members of the Corporation’s Nominating Committee are Ms. Kerr and Messrs. Bell, Gavin, Haden, McMillan and Parker. Each Nominating Committee member is an Independent Director. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Nominating Committee held four meetings.

The Nominating Committee will consider potential director candidates recommended by shareholders provided that the proposed candidates satisfy the director qualification requirements provided in the Corporation’s Directors Nominating and Qualification Charter and are not “interested persons” of the Corporation within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Before fiscal year 2004, the Nominating Committee did not have a formal process for the submission of potential candidates by shareholders except as part of a shareholder proposal in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). In determining procedures for the submission of potential candidates by shareholders and any eligibility requirements for such nominees and the shareholders submitting the nominations, the Nominating Committee has looked to recent SEC promulgations regarding director nominations for guidance.

Additional Information About the Directors

Charles W. Baldiswieler. Mr. Baldiswieler is a Group Managing Director of the Advisor, TCW Asset Management Company and Trust Company of the West and serves on the board of TSI, a publicly-traded closed end fund. He has over 20 years of experience in the investment industry and prior to joining TCW in 1995 he was Director of Marketing for Jensworld, King and Associates (Houston, Texas). Prior to that he headed the Investment Marketing Department at Bank One Trust (Houston, Texas).

Samuel P. Bell. Mr. Bell, Chairman of the Audit Committee, is a private investor and serves on the boards of Post 360, a post production services company, Broadway National Bank, and TSI, a publicly-traded closed end fund. He previously was President of Los Angeles Business Advisors, a not-for-profit business organization. Prior to 1996, Mr. Bell served as the Area Managing Partner of Ernst & Young, a public accounting firm, for the Pacific Southwest Area.

John A. Gavin. Mr. Gavin, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, is founder and Chairman of Gamma Holdings, an international capital consulting firm and serves on the boards of Causeway Capital Management Trust and the Hotchkis and Wiley Funds, mutual fund complexes, and TSI, a publicly-traded closed end fund. From 1981 to 1986, Mr. Gavin served as the United States Ambassador to Mexico.

 

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Patrick C. Haden. Mr. Haden, the Independent Chairman of TCW Funds, Inc., is the Athletic Director of the University of Southern California. Previously he was a General Partner in Riordan, Lewis & Haden, a private equity fund and serves on the boards of Tetra Tech, Inc., an environmental consulting company, the Metropolitan West Funds, a mutual fund complex managed by an affiliate of the Advisor, and TSI, a publicly-traded closed end fund, of which he is also the Independent Chairman. Mr. Haden is a Rhodes Scholar and prior to August 2010, a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Southern California.

Janet E. Kerr. Ms. Kerr serves on the board of La-Z-Boy Incorporated, a residential furniture producer, TSI, a publicly-traded closed-end fund and Tilly’s Inc., a privately held retailer of apparel and accessories. Ms. Kerr is also a Professor of Law at Pepperdine University School of Law and is the founder and Executive Director of the Geoffrey H. Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law at the Pepperdine University School of Law. Ms. Kerr has founded several technology companies and is a well known author in the areas of securities, corporate law and corporate governance, having published several articles and a book on the subjects. She is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and Women Corporate Directors.

Thomas E. Larkin, Jr. Mr. Larkin is Vice Chairman of the Advisor, TCW Asset Management Company, Trust Company of the West and The TCW Group, Inc. and serves on the board of the Automobile Club of Southern California, a motorist association. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame, Loyola Marymount University and Mount Saint Mary’s College. He also serves on the boards of several philanthropic organizations including the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital Foundation, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, the Heart & Lung Surgery Foundation, American Red Cross and is a member of the Finance Council and Investment Committee of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Peter McMillan. Mr. McMillan is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Willowbrook Capital Group, LLC, an investment advisory firm, and co-founder and Executive Vice President of KBS Capital Advisors, a manager of real estate investment trusts. He serves on the boards of four KBS Real Estate Investment Trusts, TSI, a publicly-traded closed-end fund and the Metropolitan West Funds, a mutual fund complex managed by an affiliate of the Advisor. Prior to forming Willowbrook Capital Group in 2000, Mr. McMillan served as the executive vice president and chief investment officer of Sun America Investments, Inc. Prior to 1989, he served as assistant vice president for Aetna Life Insurance for Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company with responsibility for the company’s fixed income portfolios.

Charles A. Parker. Mr. Parker is a private investor and serves on the boards of the Burridge Center for Research in Security Prices (Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado) and TSI, a publicly-traded closed end fund. Previously Mr. Parker was an executive vice president and director of the Continental Corporation and chairman and chief executive officer of Continental Asset Management Corporation.

Victoria B. Rogers. Ms. Rogers is President of The Rose Hills Foundation, a $475 million foundation based in Los Angeles, California. She also serves on the Boards of Trustees of Polytechnic School (Pasadena, California) and Stanford University. Previously, Ms. Rogers served on the Boards of Trustees of The Chandler School (Pasadena, California), The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville, Connecticut) and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. Ms. Rogers has substantial experience in the area of taxes, accounting, non-profit organizations and foundation management having been previously employed by Deloitte & Touche LLP, Security Pacific Bank and The Whittier Trust Company.

Marc I. Stern. Mr. Stern is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Advisor, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of TCW Asset Management Company and The TCW Group, Inc. and Vice Chairman of Trust Company of the West. He is a member of the Management Committee of Société Générale Group and Chairman of Société Générale’s Global Investment Management and Services (GIMS) North American unit. Mr. Stern serves on the board of Qualcomm Inc. and is a Director of Rockefeller & Co., Inc. In addition, he is a member of the Advisory Board and an owner of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club. Prior to joining TCW in 1990, Mr. Stern was President of Sun America, Inc. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles opera. He also serves on the boards of several philanthropic organizations including the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and the California Institute of Technology. Mr. Stern was recently appointed as a “Commandeur de l’Ordre National du Mérite” by the President of France.

 

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Equity Ownership of Directors

Independent Directors

The following tables set forth the equity ownership of the directors in each Fund as of December 31, 2010. The code for the dollar range of equity securities owned by the directors is: (a) $1-$10,000, (b) $10,001-$50,000, (c) $50,001-$100,000; and (d) over $100,000.

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in the Corporation

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of

Equity Securities in All

Registered Investment Companies Overseen by
Director in Family of Investment Companies

Samuel P. Bell

  TCW Select Equities Fund (b)   (c)
  TCW Value Opportunities Fund (b)  

John A. Gavin

  TCW Select Equities Fund (d)   (d)

Patrick C. Haden

  TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund (d)   (d)
  TCW Small Cap Growth Fund (b)  
  TCW Total Return Bond Fund (d)  

Janet E. Kerr

  None   None

Peter McMillan

  None   None

Charles A. Parker

  TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund (d)   (d)

 

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Interested Directors

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in the Corporation

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of

Equity Securities in All

Registered Investment

Companies Overseen by

Director in Family of

Investment Companies

Charles W. Baldiswieler

  TCW Core Fixed Income Fund (d)   (d)
  TCW Money Market Fund (d)  
  TCW Total Return Bond Fund (d)  

Marc I. Stern

  TCW Core Fixed Income Fund (d)   (d)
  TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund (c)  
  TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund (d)  
  TCW Growth Equities Fund (d)  
  TCW High Yield Bond Fund (d)  
  TCW Money Market Fund (c)  
  TCW Select Equities Fund (d)  
  TCW Small Cap Growth Fund (c)  
  TCW Total Return Bond Fund (d)  

Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.

  TCW Dividend Focused Fund (d)   (d)
  TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund (d)  
  TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund (d)  
  TCW High Yield Bond Fund (d)  
  TCW Money Market Fund (d)  
  TCW Small Cap Growth Fund (d)  
  TCW Total Return Bond Fund (d)  
  TCW Value Opportunities Fund (d)  

Compensation of Independent Directors

The Corporation pays each Independent Director an annual fee of $45,000 plus a per joint meeting fee of $1,750 for meetings of the Board of Directors or Committees of the Board of Directors attended by the director prorated among the Funds. The Chairman of the Audit Committee also receives a $15,000 annual retainer, the Chairman of the Nominating Committee an additional $1,500 annual retainer and the Independent Chairman of the Corporation receives an additional $22,500 annual retainer. Directors are also reimbursed for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with attending such meetings. Directors and officers who are employed by the Advisor or an affiliated company thereof receive no compensation nor expense reimbursement from the Corporation. Directors do not receive any pension or retirement benefits as a result of their service as a director of the Corporation.

The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Independent Directors by the Corporation for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

Name of Independent Director

   Aggregate Compensation
From TCW Funds, Inc.
 

Samuel P. Bell

   $ 78,500   

John A. Gavin

   $ 63,500   

Patrick C. Haden

   $ 86,000   

Janet E. Kerr

   $ 28,250   

Peter McMillan

   $ 28,250   

Charles A. Parker

   $ 63,500   

Ms. Kerr and Mr. McMillan were elected directors of the Corporation in August 2010. Ms. Rogers was elected a director of the Corporation in October 2011.

 

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The following table illustrates the total compensation paid to Corporation’s Independent Directors for the calendar year ended December 31, 2010 by TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. as well as from the Corporation. TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. is included solely because the Corporation’s Advisor, TCW Investment Management Company also serves as their investment advisor.

 

Name of Independent

Director

  For Service as  Director
and Committee Member
of the TCW Strategic
Income Fund, Inc.
    Total Cash Compensation  from
TCW Funds, Inc. and TCW
Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
 

Samuel P. Bell

  $ 13,750      $ 92,250   

John A. Gavin

  $ 13,750      $ 77,250   

Patrick C. Haden

  $ 13,750      $ 99,750   

Janet E. Kerr

  $ 6,500      $ 34,750   

Peter McMillan

  $ 6,500      $ 34,750   

Charles A. Parker

  $ 13,750      $ 77,250   

Ms. Kerr and Mr. McMillan were elected directors of TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. in June 2010, and Ms. Rogers was elected a director of TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. in October 2011.

Retirement Policy

The Corporation has not adopted a retirement policy for directors.

Officers

The officers of the Corporation who are not also directors of the Corporation are:

 

Name and Address

 

Position(s) Held

with Company

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Michael E. Cahill (60)*  

Senior Vice President,

General Counsel and Assistant Secretary

  Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, the Advisor, The TCW Group, Inc., Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company; General Counsel, TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
Peter A. Brown (56)*   Senior Vice President   Managing Director, the Advisor, The TCW Group Inc., Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company; Senior Vice President, TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
Hilary G.D. Lord (55)*  

Senior Vice President,

Chief Compliance Officer

  Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer, the Advisor, The TCW Group, Inc., Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company; Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
Philip K. Holl (61)*  

Secretary and Associate

General Counsel

  Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, the Advisor, Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company; Secretary, TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
David S. DeVito (48)*   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer   Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, the Advisor, The TCW Group, Inc., Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company; Director, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

(1) Positions with The TCW Group, Inc. and its affiliates may have changed over time.
* Address is 865 South Figueroa Street, 18th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90017

 

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In addition, George N. Winn, Senior Vice President of Trust Company of the West, TCW Asset Management Company and the Advisor is Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The Corporation and the Advisor are parties to an Investment Management and Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”). The Advisor was organized in 1987 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of The TCW Group, Inc. Société Générale Asset Management, S.A. may be deemed to be a control person of the Advisor by reason of its ownership of more than 25% of the outstanding voting stock of the TCW Group, Inc. Société Générale Asset Management, S.A., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Société Générale, S.A. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Corporation retains the Advisor to manage the investment of its assets, to place orders for the purchase and sale of its portfolio securities, to administer its day-to-day operations, and to be responsible for overall management of the Corporation’s business affairs subject to control by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The Advisor is responsible for obtaining and evaluating economic, statistical, and financial data and for formulating and implementing investment programs in furtherance of each Fund’s investment objectives.

The Advisor furnishes to the Corporation office space at such places as are agreed upon from time to time and all office facilities, business equipment, supplies, utilities and telephone service necessary for managing the affairs and investments and arranges for officers or employees of the Advisor to serve, without compensation from the Corporation, as officers, directors or employees of the Company if desired and reasonably required by the Corporation.

The fee allocable to each Fund, payable monthly, is calculated daily by applying the annual investment advisory fee percent for the Fund to the Fund’s net asset value, except for the Asset Allocation Funds, which are not charged an investment advisory fee. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Asset Allocation Funds do not pay any amount to the Advisor as compensation for the services rendered, facilities furnished, and expenses paid by it. However, the Advisor serves as investment advisor to the Underlying Funds and is paid a fee by the Underlying Funds for providing such service. Accordingly, shareholders of the Asset Allocation Funds indirectly bear a portion of the fees paid by the Underlying Funds to the Advisor and other service providers, and the other expenses borne by the Underlying Funds. The annual management fee (as a percentage of average net asset value) for each Fund is as follows:

 

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Table of Contents

Equity Funds

  

TCW Concentrated Value Fund

     0.65

TCW Dividend Focused Fund

     0.75

TCW Growth Fund

     0.75

TCW Growth Equities Fund

     1.00

TCW Relative Value Large Cap Fund

     0.75

TCW Select Equities Fund

     0.75

TCW Small Cap Growth Fund

     1.00

TCW SMID Cap Fund

     1.00

TCW Value Opportunities Fund

     0.80

TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund

     1.00

Fixed Income Funds

  

TCW Money Market Fund

     0.25

TCW Core Fixed Income Fund

     0.40

TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund

     0.75

TCW Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund

     0.75

TCW High Yield Bond Fund

     0.75

TCW Short Term Bond Fund

     0.50

TCW Total Return Bond Fund

     0.50

 

The Advisor has agreed to reduce its investment advisory fee or to pay the operating expenses of a Fund to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s operating expenses to an amount not to exceed the trailing monthly expense ratio average for comparable funds as calculated by Lipper Inc.

 

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Table of Contents

The table below sets forth the investment advisory fee, exclusive of any expense reimbursement, paid by each Fund (except for the Asset Allocation Funds which have no investment advisory fee) for the period or year ended:

 

Fund

   2010     2009      2008  

TCW Concentrated Value Fund

   $ 415,000      $ 391,000       $ 308,000   

TCW Dividend Focused Fund

   $ 4,799,000      $ 4,463,000       $ 10,154,000   

TCW Growth Fund

   $ 7,000      $ 5,000       $ 6,000

TCW Growth Equities Fund

   $ 831,000      $ 307,000       $ 449,000   

TCW Relative Value Large Cap Fund

   $ 3,892,000      $ 3,776,000       $ 6,076,000   

TCW Select Equities Fund

   $ 3,791,000      $ 3,788,000       $ 13,130,000   

TCW Small Cap Growth Fund

   $ 5,113,000      $ 1,487,000       $ 1,012,000   

TCW Value Opportunities Fund

   $ 2,035,000      $ 1,716,000       $ 3,726,000   

TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund

   $ 175,000 **      —           —     

TCW Money Market Fund

   $ 427,000      $ 1,071,000       $ 3,984,000   

TCW Core Fixed Income Fund

   $ 1,088,000      $ 763,000       $ 512,000   

TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund

   $ 3,190,000      $ 300,000       $ 217,000   

TCW High Yield Bond Fund

   $ 994,000      $ 705,000       $ 473,000   

TCW Short Term Bond Fund

   $ 327,000      $ 361,000       $ 367,000   

TCW Total Return Bond Fund

   $ 30,843,000      $ 25,686,000       $ 7,605,000   

 

* For the period January 2, 2008 (Commencement of Operations) through October 31, 2008
** For the period ended December 14, 2009 (Commencement of Operations) through October 31, 2010

 

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Except for expenses specifically assumed by the Advisor under the Advisory Agreement, each Fund bears all expenses incurred in its operations. Fund expenses include the fee of the Advisor; expenses of the Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1; compensation and expenses of directors who are not officers or employees of the Advisor; registration, filing and other fees in connection with filings with states and other regulatory authorities; fees and expenses of independent accountants; the expenses of printing and mailing proxy statements and shareholder reports; custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent charges; brokerage fees and commissions and securities transaction costs; taxes and corporate fees; legal fees; the fees of any trade association; the costs of the administrator and fund accountant; compliance support services; the cost of stock certificates, if any, representing shares of the Fund; organizational expenses; expenses of shareholder and director meetings; the cost and expense of printing, including typesetting, and distributing prospectuses and supplements thereto to the Fund’s shareholders; premiums for the fidelity bond and any errors and omissions insurance; interest and taxes; and any other ordinary or extraordinary expenses incurred in the course of the Fund’s business. The 12b-1 fees relating to the Class N shares will be directly allocated to that class.

Each Asset Allocation Fund, as a shareholder of the Underlying Funds, also indirectly bears its pro rata share of the advisory fees charged to, and expenses of operating, the Underlying Funds in which it invests. Each Asset Allocation Fund’s expense ratios, as disclosed in the Funds’ prospectus, may be higher or lower depending on the allocation of the Asset Allocation Funds’ assets among the Underlying Funds and the actual expenses of the Underlying Funds.

The Advisory Agreement was approved by each Fund’s shareholders and will continue in effect as to each Fund initially for two years and thereafter from year to year if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the Board of Directors of the Corporation or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and (b) vote of a majority of the directors who are not “interested persons” of the Corporation or the Advisor (the Independent Directors), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty at any time on 60 days’ written notice, by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment.

The Corporation has acknowledged that the name “TCW” is owned by TCW, the parent of the Advisor. The Corporation has agreed to change its name and the name of the Funds at the request of TCW if any advisory agreement into which TCW or any of its affiliates and the Corporation may enter is terminated.

The Advisory Agreement also provides that the Advisor shall not be liable to the Corporation for any actions or omissions if it acted in good faith without gross negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith, or from reckless disregard of its duties.

In addition to the management fees discussed above, the Corporation and TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. reimburse the Advisor for certain regulatory compliance services pursuant to a written agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, the Corporation and TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. reimbursed the Advisor in the amount of $225,000 for the 2010 calendar year. The Corporation’s share was $217,068 This amount is allocated pro rata to each Fund based on relative net assets.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Portfolio Manager Compensation

TCW Investment Management Corporation

The overall objective of the compensation program for portfolio managers is for the Advisor to attract what it considers competent and expert investment professionals and to retain them over the long-term. Compensation is comprised of several components which, in the aggregate are designed to achieve these objectives and to reward the portfolio managers for their contribution to the success of their clients and the Advisor and its affiliates within The TCW Group (collectively, “TCW”). Portfolio managers are compensated through a combination of base salary, profit sharing based compensation (“profit sharing”), bonus and equity incentive participation in the Advisor’s immediate parent, The TCW Group, Inc. and/or ultimate parent, Société Générale (“equity incentives”). Profit sharing and equity incentives generally represent most of the portfolio managers’ compensation. In some cases, portfolio managers are eligible for discretionary bonuses.

 

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Table of Contents

Salary. Salary is agreed to with managers at time of employment and is reviewed from time to time. It does not change significantly and often does not constitute a significant part of the portfolio manager’s compensation.

Profit Sharing. Profit sharing is linked quantitatively to a fixed percentage of income relating to accounts in the investment strategy area for which the portfolio managers are responsible and is paid quarterly. Profit sharing may be determined on a gross basis, without the deduction of expenses; in most cases, revenues are allocated to a pool and profit sharing compensation is paid out after the deduction of group expenses. The profit sharing percentage used to compensate a portfolio manager for management of the Fund is generally the same as that used to compensate them for all other client accounts they manage in the same strategy for TCW, with limited exceptions involving grandfathered accounts (accounts that become clients of TCW before or after a specified date or former clients of a manager that joined TCW from another firm), firm capital of TCW or accounts sourced through a distinct distribution channel. Income included in a profit sharing pool will relate to the products managed by the portfolio manager. In some cases, the pool includes revenues related to more than one equity or fixed income product where the portfolio managers work together as a team, in which case each participant in the pool is entitled to profit sharing derived from all the included products. In certain cases, a portfolio manager may also participate in a profit sharing pool that includes revenues from products besides the strategies offered in the TCW Funds, including alternative investment products (as described below); the portfolio manger would be entitled to participate in such pool where he or she supervises, is involved in the management of, or is associated with a group, other members of which manage, such products. Profit sharing arrangements are generally the result of agreement between the portfolio manager and TCW, although in some cases they may be discretionary based on supervisor allocation.

In some cases, the profit sharing percentage is subject to increase based on the relative pre-tax performance of the investment strategy composite returns, net of fees and expenses, to that of the benchmark. The measurement of performance relative to the benchmark can be based on single year or multiple year metrics, or a combination thereof. The benchmark used is the one associated with the Fund managed by the portfolio manager as disclosed in the prospectus. Benchmarks vary from strategy to strategy but, within a given strategy, the same benchmark applies to all accounts, including the Funds. In the case of the Concentrated Value Fund, the Russell 1000 Value rather than the S&P 500 is used to measure performance for purposes of the profit sharing percentage.

Certain accounts of TCW (but not the Funds) have a performance (or incentive) fee in addition to or in lieu of an asset-based fee. For these accounts, the profit sharing pool from which the portfolio managers’ profit sharing compensation is paid will include the performance fees. For investment strategies investing in marketable securities such as those employed in the Funds, the performance fee normally consists of an increased asset-based fee, the increased percentage of which is tied to the performance of the account relative to a benchmark (usually the benchmark associated with the strategy). In these marketable securities strategies, the profit sharing percentage applied relative to performance fees is generally the same as it is for the asset-based fees chargeable to the Fund. In the case of alternative investment strategies, performance fees are based on the account achieving net gains over a specified rate of return to the account or to a class of securities in the account. Profit sharing for alternative investment strategies may also include structuring or transaction fees. “Alternative investment strategies” include (a) mezzanine or other forms of privately placed financing, distressed investing, private equity, project finance, real estate investments, leveraged strategies (including short sales) and other similar strategies not employed by the Funds or (b) strategies employed by the Funds that are offered in structured vehicles, such as collateralized loan obligations or collateralized debt obligations or in private funds (sometimes referred to as hedge funds). In the case of certain alternative investment products in which a portfolio manager may be entitled to profit sharing compensation, the profit sharing percentage for performance fees may be lower or higher than the percentage applicable to the asset-based fees.

Discretionary Bonus/Guaranteed Minimums. In general, portfolio managers do not receive discretionary bonuses. However, in some cases bonuses may be paid on a discretionary basis out of a department profit sharing pool, as determined by the supervisor(s) in the department. In other cases where portfolio managers do not receive profit sharing or where the company has determined the combination of salary and profit sharing does not adequately compensate the portfolio manager, discretionary bonuses may be paid by TCW. Also, pursuant to contractual arrangements, some portfolio managers may be entitled to a mandatory bonus if the sum of their salary and profit sharing does not meet certain minimum thresholds.

 

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Table of Contents

Equity Incentives. Many portfolio managers participate in equity incentives based on overall firm performance of TCW and its affiliates, through stock ownership or participation in stock option or stock appreciation plans of TCW and/or Société Générale. The TCW 2005 TCW Stock Option Plans provide eligible portfolio managers the opportunity to participate in an effective economic interest in TCW, the value of which is tied to TCW’s annual financial performance as a whole. Participation is generally determined in the discretion of TCW, taking into account factors relevant to the portfolio manager’s contribution to the success of TCW. Portfolio managers participating in the TCW 2005 TCW Stock Option Plan also generally participate in Société Générale’s Stock Option Plan which grants options on its common stock, the value of which may be realized after certain vesting requirements are met. The TCW 2005 TCW Stock Option Plan has been closed for new issuances and TCW in the process of establishing a new equity-based plan in which portfolio managers will have an opportunity to participate. In connection with TCW’s acquisition of Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC (the “MW Acquisition”) in 2010, a Retention Award Plan was established pursuant to which certain portfolio managers in the fixed income area will be entitled to awards in the form of cash and/or TCW stock, either on a contractually-determined basis or on a discretionary basis. Also, in connection with the MW Acquisition, certain portfolio managers will receive TCW stock as part of a contingent deferred purchase plan. Some portfolio managers are direct stockholders of TCW and/or Société Générale, as well.

Other Plans and Compensation Vehicles. Portfolio managers may also participate in a deferred compensation plan that is generally available to a wide-range of officers of TCW, the purpose of which is to allow the participant to defer portions of income to a later date while accruing earnings on a tax-deferred basis based on performance of TCW-managed products selected by the participant. Portfolio managers may also elect to participate in TCW’s 401(k) plan, to which they may contribute a portion of their pre- and post-tax compensation to the plan for investment on a tax-deferred basis.

Ownership of Securities and Other Managed Accounts

The first table set forth the dollar of securities of the Fund owned by each portfolio manager as of October 31, 2010. The second table sets forth certain information, as of October 31, 2010, regarding other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, including the managed Fund. Total assets in the second table are in millions. Certain portfolio managers invest in their investment strategy through investment vehicles other than the Funds.

 

46


Table of Contents

Concentrated Value Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to
$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Thomas McKissick

                  X   

N. John Snider

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other
Accounts
 
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Thomas McKissick

    1      $ 65.1        4      $ 110.1        25      $ 5,398.1        —          —          —          —          —          —     

N. John Snider

    1      $ 65.1        4      $ 110.1        25      $ 5,398.1        —          —          —          —          —          —     

 

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Table of Contents

Dividend Focused Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to
$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Diane Jaffee

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts        
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Diane Jaffee

    4      $ 1,330.5        13      $ 1,460.7        60      $ 2,613.6        —          —          2      $ 719.9        —          —     

 

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Table of Contents

Growth Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to
$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Craig Blum

   X                  

Husam Nazer

   X                  

Robert Park

      X               

Michael Reilly

               X      

R. Brendt Stallings

   X                  

Anthony Valencia

         X            

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered  Investment
Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered  Investment
Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Craig Blum

    2      $ 757.6        9      $ 528.9        50      $ 2,530.6        —          —          3      $ 57.1        2      $ 358.8   

Husam Nazer

    5      $ 962.6        11      $ 404.9        26      $ 2,388.5        —          —          1      $ 50.5        1      $ 623.4   

Robert Park

    1      $ 1.2        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Michael Reilly

    4      $ 27.2        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

R. Brendt Stallings

    4      $ 319.8        11      $ 404.9        26      $ 2,388.5        —          —          1      $ 50.5        1      $ 623.4   

Anthony Valencia

    1      $ 1.2        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

 

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Table of Contents

Growth Equities Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to
$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

R. Brendt Stallings

                  X   

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered  Investment
Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment  Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered  Investment
Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

R. Brendt Stallings

    4      $ 319.8        11      $ 404.9        26      $ 2,388.5        —          —          1        50.5        1      $ 623.4   

Relative Value Large Cap Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to
$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Diane Jaffee

               X      

Matthew Spahn

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Diane Jaffee

    4      $ 1,330.5        13      $ 1,460.7        60      $ 2,613.6        —          —          2      $ 719.9        —          —     

Matthew Spahn

    1      $ 442.3        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

 

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Table of Contents

Select Equities Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to
$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Craig Blum

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Craig Blum

    2      $ 757.6        9      $ 528.9        50      $ 2,530.6        —          —          3      $ 57.1        2      $ 358.8   

Small Cap Growth Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to
$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Husam H. Nazer

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Husam H. Nazer

    5      $ 962.6        11      $ 404.9        26      $ 2,388.5        —          —          1      $ 50.5        1      $ 623.4   

 

51


Table of Contents

SMID Cap Growth Fund (1)

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to

$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Husam H. Nazer

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Husam H. Nazer

    5      $ 962.6        11      $ 404.9        26      $ 2,388.5        —          —          1      $ 50.5        1      $ 623.4   

 

(1)

Fund did not commence operations until November 1, 2010.

Value Opportunities Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Diane Jaffee

   X                  

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Diane Jaffee

    4      $ 1,330.5        13      $ 1,460.7        60      $ 2,613.6        —          —          2      $ 719.9        —          —     

 

 

52


Table of Contents

Emerging Markets Equities Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Mark H. Madden

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Mark H. Madden

    1      $ 24.5       —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

 

53


Table of Contents

Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Penelope D. Foley(1)

   X                  

David Robbins (1)

   X                  

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Penelope D. Foley(1)

    1      $ 1,112.1        6      $ 2,048.3        —          —          —          —          2      $ 1,352.9        —          —     

David Robbins (1)

    1      $ 1,112.1        6      $ 2,048.3        —          —          —          —          2      $ 1,352.9        —          —     

 

(1)

Appointed a portfolio manager December 2010. Fund registration not effective until December 2010.

 

54


Table of Contents

Emerging Markets Income Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Penelope D. Foley

               X      

David Robbins

                     X

Javier Segovia

            X         

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Penelope D. Foley

    1     $ 1,112.1        6      $ 2,048.3        —          —          —          —          2      $ 1,352.9        —          —     

David Robbins

    1      $ 1,112.1        6      $ 2,048.3        —          —          —          —          2      $ 1,352.9        —          —     

Javier Segovia

    1      $ 1,112.1        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

 

55


Table of Contents

Core Fixed Income Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Stephen M. Kane(1)

   X                  

Laird R. Landmann(1)

   X                  

Tad Rivelle

   X                  

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Stephen M. Kane(1)

    20      $ 17,616.8        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Laird R. Landmann(1)

    19      $ 17,607.2        67      $ 12,843.5        256      $ 24,077.5        —          —          34      $ 8,768.7        3      $ 932.7   

Tad Rivelle

    23      $ 23,382.9        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

 

(1)

Appointed Portfolio Manager February 2011

 

56


Table of Contents

High Yield Bond Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$ 10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

James Farnham(1)

   X                  

Laird R. Landmann(2)

   X                  

Giovanni Nucci(1)

   X                  

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

James Farnham(1)

    7      $ 7,711.2       4      $ 777.9        4      $ 348.0       —          —          —          —          —          —     

Laird R. Landmann(2)

    19      $ 17,607.2        67      $ 12,843.5        256      $ 24,077.5        —          —          34      $ 8,768.7        3      $ 932.7   

Giovanni Nucci(1)

    7      $ 7,711.2       1      $ 692.4        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

 

(1)

Appointed Portfolio Manager January 2011

(2)

Appointed Portfolio Manager February 2011

 

57


Table of Contents

Short Term Bond Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Stephen M. Kane(1)

   X                  

Laird R. Landmann(1)

   X                  

Tad Rivelle

   X                  

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Stephen M. Kane(1)

    20      $ 17,616.8        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Laird R. Landmann(1)

    19      $ 17,607.2        67      $ 12,843.5        256      $ 24,077.5        —          —          34      $ 8,768.7        3      $ 932.7   

Tad Rivelle

    23      $ 23,382.9        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

 

(1)

Appointed Portfolio Manager February 2011

 

58


Table of Contents

Total Return Bond Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Mitch Flack

   X                  

Tad Rivelle

   X                  

Bryan Whalen

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Mitch Flack

    2      $ 5,654.5        47      $ 10,858.1        39      $ 2,730.0        —          —          31      $ 8,637.1        1      $ 279.0  

Tad Rivelle

    23      $ 23,382.9        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Bryan Whalen

    2      $ 5,654.5        49      $ 10,965.2        39      $ 2,730.0        —          —          33      $ 8,744.2        1     $ 279.0   

 

59


Table of Contents

Global Conservative Allocation Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Adam Coppersmith

   X                  

Stephen M. Kane

   X                  

Laird Landmann

   X                  

Tad Rivelle

   X                  

Michael Reilly

   X                  

Komal Sri-Kumar

   X                  

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Adam Coppersmith

    3      $ 6.0        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Stephen M. Kane

    20      $ 17,616.8        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Laird Landmann

    19      $ 17,607.2        67      $ 12,843.5        256      $ 24,077.5        —          —          34      $ 8,768.7        3      $ 932.7   

Tad Rivelle

    23      $ 23,382.9        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Michael Reilly

    4      $ 6.9        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Komal Sri-Kumar

    3      $ 6.0        5      $ 618.9        —          —          —          —          1      $ 33.2        —          —     

 

60


Table of Contents

Global Moderate Allocation Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Adam Coppersmith

   X                  

Stephen M. Kane

   X                  

Laird Landmann

   X                  

Tad Rivelle

   X                  

Michael Reilly

   X                  

Komal Sri-Kumar

               X      

 

                        Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
  Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Adam Coppersmith

    3      $ 6.0        —          —          —          —          —        —       —          —          —          —     

Stephen M. Kane

    20      $ 17,616.8        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $11.6     34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Laird Landmann

    19      $ 17,607.2        67      $ 12,843.5        256      $ 24,077.5        —        —       34      $ 8,768.7        3      $ 932.7   

Tad Rivelle

    23      $ 23,382.9        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $11.6     34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Michael Reilly

    4      $ 6.9        —          —          —          —          —        —       —          —          —          —     

Komal Sri-Kumar

    3      $ 6.0        5      $ 618.9        —          —          —        —       1      $ 33.2        —          —     

 

61


Table of Contents

Global Flexible Allocation Fund

 

Portfolio Manager

   None    $1
to
$10K
   $10K
to
$50K
   $50K
to
$100K
   $100K
to
$500K
   $500K
to

$1 Mill
   Over
$1 Mill

Adam Coppersmith

   X                  

Stephen M. Kane

   X                  

Laird Landmann

   X                  

Tad Rivelle

   X                  

Michael Reilly

   X                  

Komal Sri-Kumar

               X      

 

                            Performance Fee Accounts              
    Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts     Registered
Investment  Companies
    Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
  Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
    Number
of
Accounts
    Total
Assets
 

Adam Coppersmith

    3      $ 6.0        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Stephen M. Kane

    20      $ 17,616.8        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Laird Landmann

    19      $ 17,607.2        67      $ 12,843.5        256      $ 24,077.5        —          —          34      $ 8,768.7        3      $ 932.7   

Tad Rivelle

    23      $ 23,382.9        67      $ 12,843.5        262      $ 24,459.3        1     $ 11.6       34      $ 8,768.7        9      $ 1,314.5   

Michael Reilly

    4      $ 6.9        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Komal Sri-Kumar

    3      $ 6.0        5      $ 618.9        —          —          —          —          1      $ 33.2        —          —     

 

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Conflicts

Actual or potential conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has management responsibilities to more than one account (including a Fund), such as devotion of unequal time and attention to the management of the accounts, inability to allocate limited investment opportunities across a broad band of accounts and incentive to allocate opportunities to an account where the portfolio manager or TCW has a greater financial incentive, such as a performance fee account or where an account or fund managed by a portfolio manager has a higher fee sharing percentage than the portfolio manager’s fee sharing percentage with respect to a Fund. TCW has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts and TCW believes its policies and procedures serve to operate in a manner that is fair and equitable among its clients, including the Funds.

DISTRIBUTION OF COMPANY SHARES

TCW Funds Distributors (“Distributor”) 865 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 serves as the nonexclusive distributor of each class of the Company’s shares pursuant to an Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement (“Distribution Agreement”) with the Corporation which is subject to approval by the Board. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty, on not less than 60 days’ notice, by the Corporation’s Board of Directors, by vote of holders of a majority of the Corporation’s shares, or by the Distributor. The Distributor receives no compensation from the Corporation except payments pursuant to the Corporation’s distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Distribution Plan”). The Distributor is affiliated with the Advisor.

The Corporation offers two classes of shares: Institutional Class or Class I shares and Class N or Investor Class shares. Class I shares are offered primarily for direct investment by investors and the Asset Allocation Funds. Class N shares are offered through firms which are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), and which have dealer agreements with the Distributor and other financial intermediaries.

The Corporation has adopted a Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 18f-3 Plan”). Under the Rule 18f-3 Plan, shares of each class of each Fund represent an equal pro rata interest in such Fund and, generally, have identical voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, limitations, qualifications and terms and conditions, except that: (a) each class has a different designation; (b) each class of shares bears any class-specific expenses allocated to it; and (c) each class has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its distribution or service arrangements, and each class has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class. In addition, each class may have a differing sales charge structure, and differing exchange and conversion features.

The Corporation also has adopted a Distribution Plan with respect to the Class N shares of each Fund. Under the terms of the Distribution Plan, each Fund compensates the Distributor at a rate equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to its Class N shares for distribution and related services. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Corporation’s Class N shares paid $9,014,000 in the aggregate. Payments were made to firms that are members of FINRA and other financial intermediaries for distribution and related services. Under the terms of the Distribution Plan, services which a firm will provide may include, but are not limited to, the following functions: providing facilities to answer questions from prospective investors about a Fund; receiving and answering correspondence, including requests for prospectuses and statements of additional information; preparing, printing and delivering prospectuses and shareholder reports to prospective shareholders; complying with federal and state securities laws pertaining to the sale of Class N shares; and assisting investors in completing application forms and selecting dividend and other account options. Because these fees are paid out of the Funds’ assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other sales charges.

 

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The following table sets forth the amounts of distribution payments made to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries by each Fund’s N Class for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010:

 

     Class
N
 

TCW Concentrated Value Fund

   $ 74,000   

TCW Dividend Focused Fund

   $ 1,470,000   

TCW Growth Fund

   $ 1,000   

TCW Growth Equities Fund

   $ 15,000   

TCW Relative Value Large Cap Fund

   $ 232,000   

TCW Select Equities Fund

   $ 327,000   

TCW Small Cap Growth Fund

   $ 437,000   

TCW Value Opportunities Fund

   $ 122,000   

TCW Core Fixed Income Fund

   $ 217,000   

TCW High Yield Bond Fund

   $ 133,000   

TCW Total Return Bond Fund

   $ 5,524,000   

TCW Emerging Markets Equities Fund

   $ 11,000   

TCW Emerging Markets Income Fund

   $ 418,000   

The distribution payments by each Asset Allocation Fund is less than $1,000.

The Distribution Plan provides that it may not be amended to materially increase the costs which Class N shareholders may bear under the Plan without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class N and by vote of a majority of both (i) the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and (ii) those Directors of the Corporation who are not “interested persons” of the Corporation (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreements related to it cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan and any related amendments.

The Distribution Plan was initially approved by the Corporation’s Board of Directors on December 17, 1998 and provides that it shall continue in effect so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of both (i) the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and (ii) those Directors of the Corporation who are not “interested persons” of the Corporation (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreements related to it cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan and any related amendments.

 

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Payments by the Advisor

Set forth below is a list of the member firms of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) to which the Advisor, or its affiliates made payments out of their revenues in connection with the sale and distribution of the Funds’ shares or for services to the Funds and their shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2010. Such payments are in addition to any Distribution Plan amounts paid to such FINRA member firms. The payments are discussed in detail in the Prospectus under the title “Payments by the Advisor.” Any additions, modifications, or deletions to the FINRA member firms identified in this list since December 31, 2010, are not reflected:

FINRA member firm

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

E*Trade Securities, LLC

Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company, Inc.

GWFS Equities, Inc.

LPL Financial Corporation

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

MSCS Financial Services, LLC

Newport Group Securities, Inc.

Pershing LLC

Prudential Investment Management Services, LLC

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

RBC Dain Rauscher

TD Ameritrade, Inc.

UBS Financial Services Incorporated

In addition to member firms of FINRA, payments are also made to their selling and shareholder servicing agents that sell shares of or provide services to the funds and their shareholders, such as banks, insurance companies and plan administrators. These firms are not included on the list above, although they may be affiliated with companies on the above list.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

The following shareholders owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the indicated Fund Class’ shares outstanding as of December 31, 2010. A shareholder who beneficially owns 25% or more of a Fund is presumed to “control” that Fund and such shareholders will be able to affect the outcome of matters presented for a vote of that Fund’s shareholders.

Class I

Concentrated Value Fund

Mac & Co.

Mutual Fund Operations

P.O. Box 3198

Pittsburgh, PA 15230

44.38%

Parker Childrens Trust

P.O. Box 8028

Naples, FL 34101

11.21%

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

10.22% owned of record

 

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Mann Family Trust

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

9.60%

Dividend Focused Fund

IBEW Pension Benefit Trust

5735 Elizabeth St.

St. Louis, MO 63110

42.06%

LPL Financial FBO Customer Accounts

P.O. Box 509046

San Diego, CA 92150

35.16% owned of record

Growth Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

99.39%

Growth Equities Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

36.29%

Tifkat LP

221 E. Walnut St.

Pasadena, CA 91101

5.50%

Relative Value Large Cap Fund

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07162

42.86% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

11.49% owned of record

Wells Fargo Bank NA Omnibus Account

1525 West WT Harris Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28288

6.01% owned of record

 

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Select Equities Fund

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

29.31% owned of record

NFS LLC Custodian

100 Magellan Way

Covington, KY 41015

15.50% owned of record

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith FBO Clients

4800 Deer Lake Drive East

Jacksonville, FL 32246

7.56% owned of record

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07102

5.46% owned of record

NFS LLC Custodian Dow Chemical

82 Devonshire

Boston, MA 02109

5.22%

Small Cap Growth Fund

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07102

20.09% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

14.20% owned of record

NFS LLC FBO

Marshall & Ilsey Trust Co.

Suite 400

Milwaukee, WI 53224

7.66% owned of record

SMID Cap Growth Fund

TCW Capital Investment Corporation

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

62.48%

Robert & Denise Hanisee

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

22.39%

 

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Mellon Bank NA Genzer IRA

245 Stony Branch Trail

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

6.24%

Value Opportunities Fund

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. FBO Customers

333 West 34th Street

New York, NY 10001

34.15% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

13.69% owned of record

Mac & Co.

Mutual Fund Operations

P.O. Box 3198

Pittsburgh, PA 15230

7.37%

Emerging Markets Equities Fund

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

63.50% owned of record

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

28.26%

Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund

TCW Capital Investment Corporation

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

94.43%

Emerging Markets Income Fund

Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan

1134 Municipal Way

Lansing, MI 48917

31.32%

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. FBO Clients

4800 Deer Lake Drive East

Jacksonville, FL 32246

12.76% owned of record

 

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Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

9.28% owned of record

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07102

6.98% owned of record

Core Fixed Income Fund

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith FBO Clients

4800 Deer Lake Drive East

Jacksonville, FL 32246

13.22% owned of record

National Fuel Gas Company Retirement Plan

6363 Main St.

Williamsville, NY 14221

9.75%

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

8.61% owned of record

High Yield Bond Fund

TD Ameritrade Inc. FBO Customers

P.O. Box 2226

Omaha, NE 68103

19.97% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

16.01% owned of record

Money Market Fund

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

17.38% owned of record

Orchard Trust Co. FBO Putnam Investments

8515 Orchard Rd.

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

13.50% owned of record

Childrens Hospital

P.O. Box 27980

Los Angeles, CA 90027

12.07%

 

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Mac & Co. Custodian

Mutual Fund Operations

P.O. Box 3198

Pittsburgh, PA 15230

7.18%

Edward D. Robson Trust

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

5.76%

SG Americas Securities LLC FBO Customers

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

5.17% owned of record

Short Term Bond Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

52.10%

LPL Financial FBO Customer Accounts

P.O. Box 509046

San Diego, CA 92150

18.94% owned of record

Total Return Bond Fund

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. FBO Clients

4800 Deer Lake Drive East

Jacksonville, FL 32246

27.97% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

11.00% owned of record

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07102

7.19% owned of record

Global Conservative Allocation Fund

Gilmore Foundation

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

53.32%

 

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Blackman McClure Living Trust

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

22.38%

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

14.87% owned of record

Phyllis Cassano

26 Michaelson Dr.

Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

5.23%

Global Moderate Allocation Fund

Daniel Donahue Trusts

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

26.42%

Mellon Bank Cust FBO Severy IRA

P.O. Box 30

San Jose, NM 87565

11.43%

Shannon Family Foundation

14081 Summit Dr.

Whittier, CA 90602

10.28%

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

9.64% owned of record

McMahon Charitable Remainder Trust

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

7.90%

Mellon Bank Cust FBO Domingo IRA

c/o Trust Company of the West

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

6.76%

 

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Global Flexible Allocation Fund

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

85.22%% owned of record

Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Foundation

32155 Cedar Valley Dr.

Westlake Village, CA 91362

14.78%

Class N

Concentrated Value Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

95.81%

Dividend Focused Fund

National Financial Services Corp. FBO Clients

200 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10281

61.51% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

11.71% owned of record

Growth Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

98.71%

Growth Equities Fund

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

49.21% owned of record

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07162

13.80% owned of record

 

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National Financial Services Corp. FBO Customers

200 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10281

8.48% owned of record

Relative Value Large Cap Fund

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. FBO Customers

333 W. 34th St.

New York, NY 10001

42.33% owned of record

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07162

14.95% owned of record

Select Equities Fund

National Financial Services Corp. FBO Customers

200 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10281

27.86% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

22.01% owned of record

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07162

5.35% owned of record

Small Cap Growth Fund

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. FBO Clients

333 West 34th Street

New York, NY 10001

23.19% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

21.60% owned of record

National Financial Services Corp. FBO Customers

200 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10281

21.13% owned of record

TD Ameritrade Inc. FBO Customers

P.O. Box 2226

Omaha, NE 68103

6.41% owned of record

 

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SMID Cap Growth Fund

TCW Capital Investment Corporation

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

100%

Value Opportunities Fund

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

7.22% owned of record

Prudential Investment Management FBO Clients

100 Mulberry St.

Newark, NJ 07102

6.47% owned of record

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. FBO Clients

333 West 34th Street

New York, NY 10001

5.05% owned of record

Emerging Markets Equities Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

97.71%

Emerging Markets Local Currency Income Fund

TCW Capital Investment Corporation

865 S. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90017

100%

Emerging Markets Income Fund

National Financial Services Corp. FBO Customers

200 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10281

25.29% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

13.70% owned of record

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. FBO Clients

333 West 34th Street

New York, NY 10001

7.15% owned of record

 

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Core Fixed Income Fund

National Financial Services Corp. FBO Customers

200 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10281

36.81% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

18.72% owned of record

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. FBO Clients

333 West 34th Street

New York, NY 10001

5.75% owned of record

High Yield Bond Fund

National Financial Services Corp. FBO Customers

200 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10281

54.20% owned of record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

26.82% owned of record

TD Ameritrade Inc. FBO Customers

P.O. Box 2226

Omaha, NE 68103

7.37% owned of record

Total Return Bond Fund

National Financial Services Corp. FBO Customers

200 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10281

24.25% owned of record

Charles Schwab Reinvestment Account

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

11.46% owned of record

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. FBO Clients

333 West 34th Street

New York, NY 10001

10.20% owned of record

 

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Global Conservative Allocation Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

44.46%

RBC Capital Markets FBO Customers

3873 South Dr.

Fort Worth, TX 76109

14.22% owned of record

LPL Financial FBO Customer Accounts

P.O. Box 509046

San Diego, CA 92150

7.61% owned of record

Global Moderate Allocation Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

97.78%

Global Flexible Allocation Fund

Societe Generale Asset Management S.A.

170 Place Henri Regnault

92043 Paris La Defense

France

100%

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

State Street Bank and Trust Company (“Administrator”) serves as the administrator of the Corporation pursuant to an Administration Agreement. Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator will provide certain accounting and administrative services to the Corporation, including: fund accounting; calculation of the daily net asset value of each Fund; monitoring the Corporation’s expense accruals; calculating monthly total return and yield figures; prospectus and statement of additional information compliance monitoring; preparing certain financial statements of the Corporation; and preparing the Corporation’s Form N-SAR. The Administrator receives an accounting and administration fee based on the combined assets of the Corporation and TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. as follows: 0.0210% of the first $10 billion in assets; 0.0100% of the next $10 billion in assets; and 0.0075% thereafter. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, the Administrator received accounting and administration fees of $3,561,000, $2,887,000; and $2,984,000.

 

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CODE OF ETHICS

The Advisor and Distributor are subject to the Code of Ethics with respect to investment transactions in which the Advisor’s officers, directors and certain other persons have a beneficial interest to avoid any actual or potential conflict or abuse of their fiduciary position. The Code of Ethics permits personnel subject to the Code to invest in securities, including securities that may be held by the Corporation. The Code of Ethics contains several restrictions and procedures designed to eliminate conflicts of interest including: (1) pre-clearance of non-exempt personal securities transactions; (2) quarterly reporting of personal securities transactions; (3) a prohibition against acquiring a security in an initial public offering, entering into uncovered short sales and writing uncovered options; (4) a ten day “black out period” prior or subsequent to a client transaction during which portfolio managers are prohibited from making certain transactions in securities which are being purchased or sold by a client of such manager; (5) a prohibition, with respect to certain investment personnel, from profiting in the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) securities, within 60 calendar days; (6) a prohibition against acquiring any security which is subject to firm wide or, if applicable, a department restriction; (7) a prohibition of the purchase of securities offered in a hedge fund, other private placement or limited offering (other than certain TCW-sponsored offerings) except with prior approval of designated officers; (8) a prohibition of a purchase, without prior disclosure to a designated officer, on behalf of a client through a private placement of a security of an issuer or its affiliate, if a member of the department purchasing the security has a beneficial interest in the issuer or affiliate; (9) a prohibition of acquiring any third party mutual fund advised or sub-advised by TCW; and (10) limitations on specified trading, redemption, and reallocation practices involving the TCW Funds and the TCW Profit Sharing and Savings Plan. The Code of Ethics also contains the following policies:

1. A policy statement on insider trading that provides generally that no officer, director or employee of TCW (1) may buy or sell a security either for themselves or others while in possession of material non-public information about the company, or (2) communicate material, non-public information to others who have no official need to know. The policy statement provides guidance about what is material non-public information, lists common examples of situations in which TCW personnel could obtain that information, and describes TCW’s procedures regarding securities maintained on its “Restricted Securities List” and for establishing Chinese Walls. It also identifies parties to contact for questions in connection with the requirements of the policy statement.

2. A policy governing gifts, payments and preferential treatment, that includes an approval process for specific categories of gifts and entertainment provided to TCW employees.

3. A policy governing an employee’s activities outside of their employment with TCW, including outside employment, service as a director or in a similar capacity, fiduciary appointments, participation in public affairs and service as treasurer of clubs, houses of worship and lodges.

4. A policy on political activities and contributions, containing general rules governing contributions and solicitation, responsibility of individuals for personal contribution limits, pre-clearance of certain contributions to state and local candidates, and rules for political activities on TCW premises and for using TCW resources.

5. A policy containing confidentiality requirements.

6. A policy encouraging employees to report illegal activity or activities not in compliance with TCW’s formal written policies and procedures, including the Code of Ethics.

Certain of the procedures listed above contain exceptions under specific circumstances. In addition, the Advisor’s Code of Ethics provides both for different compliance procedures in certain circumstances and that exemptive relief may be given from certain of its requirements, upon application.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO INFORMATION

It is the policy of the Corporation to provide certain unaudited information regarding the portfolio composition of the Funds as of month-end (the “Portfolio Holdings”) to shareholders and others upon request to the Funds, beginning on the 15th calendar day after the end of the month (or, if not a business day, the next business day thereafter). These complete holdings lists are not contained on the Funds’ website. Top ten quarter-end holdings lists for each TCW U.S. Equity Fund and the TCW Emerging Markets Equities, TCW Emerging Markets Income and TCW High Yield Bond Funds are posted on the Funds’ website at www.tcw.com.

Shareholders and others who wish to obtain Portfolio Holdings for a particular month may make a request by contacting the Funds between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Friday, toll free at (877) 829-4768 beginning on the 15th day following the end of that month (or, if not a business day, the next business day thereafter). Requests for Portfolio holdings may be made on a monthly basis pursuant to this procedure, or standing requests for Portfolio Holdings may be accepted.

 

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Persons making requests will be asked to provide their name and a mailing address, e-mail address or fax number. The Funds reserve the right to refuse to fulfill a request if they believe that providing Portfolio Holdings would be contrary to the best interests of the Funds. Such decisions are made by personnel of the Advisor of the Title of Senior Vice President or higher.

In addition to the policy stated above, the Funds may disclose Portfolio Holdings at other times to analysts or ratings agencies. Personnel of the Advisor of a title of Senior Vice President or higher are permitted to authorize the release of the Funds’ Portfolio Holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the procedures. The disclosure of Portfolio Holdings in this context is conditioned on the recipient agreeing to treat such Portfolio Holdings as confidential (provided that analysts and rating agencies may publish portfolio positions upon the consent of personnel of the Advisor of the title of Senior Vice President or higher, under circumstances where such personnel determine that such information is publicly available through the Funds’ website or by other means, or will become publicly available through such publication), and to not allow the Portfolio Holdings to be used by it or its employees in connection with the purchase or sale of shares of the Funds. In addition, Portfolio Holdings are provided or otherwise available to third-party service providers of the Funds, including the Funds’ custodian, pricing services, broker-dealers to facilitate trading and administrators, as necessary for the provision of services to the Funds. No compensation is received by the Funds or the Advisor in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information.

The Advisor and/or the Corporation currently have entered into ongoing arrangements with the following parties:

 

Name

 

Information Disclosed

 

Frequency

 

Lag Time

Service Providers

     

State Street Bank and Trust Company

  Complete portfolio holdings   Daily   (1)

Fund Rating Agencies

     

Lipper

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Morningstar

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Standard & Poor’s

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Weisenberger

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Consultants and Analysts

     

Americh Massena & Associates Inc.

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Bloomberg

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Bridgewater Advisers

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Callan Associates

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly/Quarterly   15 days after month/quarter end

Cambridge Associates

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly/Quarterly   15 days after month/quarter end

Canterbuy Consulting

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly/Quarterly   15 days after month/quarter end

Charles Schwab & Co.

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

EPFR

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Evaluation Associates

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly/Quarterly   15 days after month/quarter end

eVestment Alliance

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly/Quarterly   15 days after month end

FactSet Research Systems

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Fidelity

  Top 10 portfolio holdings and complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

H&H Investment Advisory

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Informa Investment Solutions

  Complete portfolio holdings   Quarterly   15 days after quarter end

JP Morgan Chase

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Litman/Gregory Asset Management

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Malcolm Gissen

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Money Managers Review

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Morgan Stanley

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Nelsons

  Complete portfolio holdings   Quarterly   15 days after quarter end

No-Load Fund Analyst

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

PSN

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Rocaton Investment Advisors

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Vestek

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Weisenberger

  Complete portfolio holdings   Monthly   15 days after month end

Wilshire Associates

  Complete portfolio holdings   Quarterly   15 days after quarter end

Yanni Partners

  Complete portfolio holdings   Quarterly   15 days after quarter end

 

(1) 

Information will typically be provided on a real time basis or as soon thereafter as possible.

 

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Separate account and unregistered product clients (“Clients”) of the Advisor or its affiliates have access to their portfolio holdings, and prospective clients have access to representative portfolio holdings. These Clients and prospective clients are not subject to the Corporation’s Portfolio Holdings Policy. Some of these Clients have substantially similar or identical investment objectives and strategies to certain Funds. They, therefore, have similar, and in certain cases, nearly identical portfolio holdings as those Funds.

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

The following information is a summary of the proxy voting guidelines of the Advisor. The Board of Directors of the Corporation has delegated the Corporation’s proxy voting authority to the Advisor except for with respect to the Asset Allocation Funds. The Asset Allocation Funds, in their capacity as a shareholder of the Underlying Funds, may be requested to vote on matters pertaining to the Underlying Funds. If an Underlying Fund calls a shareholder meeting and solicits proxies, the Asset Allocation Funds will vote their shares in the Underlying Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders in the Underlying Fund, unless the Board authorizes the Advisor, on behalf of the Asset Allocation Funds, to vote in some other manner.

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Guidelines

The proxy voting guidelines of the Advisor are available:

 

  1. By calling 800-FUND-TCW (877-829-4768) to obtain a hard copy; or

 

  2. By going to the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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When the Corporation receives a request for a description of the Advisor’s proxy voting guidelines, it will deliver the description that is disclosed in the Corporation’s Statement of Additional Information. This information will be sent out via first class mail (or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery) within three business days of receiving the request.

The Advisor, on behalf of the Corporation, shall prepare and file Form N-PX with the SEC not later than August 31 of each year, which shall include the Corporation’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 of that year. The Corporation’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available:

 

  1. By calling 800-FUND-TCW (800-386-3829) to obtain a hard copy; or

 

  2. By going to the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.

When the Corporation receives a request for the Corporation’s proxy voting record, it will send the information disclosed in the Corporation’s most recently filed report on Form N-PX via first class mail (or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery) within three business days of receiving the request.

The Corporation also discloses its proxy voting record on its website as soon as is reasonably practicable after its report on Form N-PX is filed with the SEC.

TCW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY

SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

Introduction

Certain affiliates of The TCW Group, Inc. (these affiliates are collectively referred to as “TCW”) act as investment advisors for a variety of clients, including mutual funds. If TCW has responsibility for voting proxies in connection with these investment advisory duties, or has the responsibility to specify to an agent of the client how to vote the proxies, TCW exercises such voting responsibilities for its clients through the corporate proxy voting process. TCW believes that the right to vote proxies is a significant asset of its clients’ holdings. In order to provide a basis for making decisions in the voting of proxies for its clients, TCW has established a proxy voting committee (the “Proxy Committee”) and adopted these proxy voting guidelines and procedures (the “Guidelines”). The Proxy Committee generally meets quarterly (or at such other frequency as determined by the Proxy Committee), and its duties include establishing proxy voting guidelines and procedures, overseeing the internal proxy voting process, and reviewing proxy voting issues. The members of the Proxy Committee include TCW personnel from the investment, compliance, legal and marketing departments. TCW also uses outside proxy voting services (each an “Outside Service”) to help manage the proxy voting process. An Outside Service facilitates TCW’s voting according to the Guidelines (or, if applicable, according to guidelines submitted by TCW’s clients) and helps maintain TCW’s proxy voting records. All proxy voting and record keeping by TCW is, of course, dependent on the timely provision of proxy ballots by custodians, clients and other third parties. Under specified circumstances described below involving potential conflicts of interest, an Outside Service may also be requested to help decide certain proxy votes. In certain limited circumstances, particularly in the area of structured financing, TCW may enter into voting agreements or other contractual obligations that govern the voting of shares. In the event of a conflict between any such contractual requirements and the Guidelines, TCW will vote in accordance with its contractual obligations.

Philosophy

The Guidelines provide a basis for making decisions in the voting of proxies for clients of TCW. When voting proxies, TCW’s utmost concern is that all decisions be made solely in the interests of the client and with the goal of maximizing the value of the client’s investments. With this goal in mind, the Guidelines cover various categories of voting decisions and generally specify whether TCW will vote for or against a particular type of proposal. TCW’s underlying philosophy, however, is that its portfolio managers, who are primarily responsible for evaluating the individual holdings of TCW’s clients, are best able to determine how to further client interests and goals. The portfolio managers may, in their discretion, take into account the recommendations of TCW management, the Proxy Committee, and an Outside Service.

 

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Overrides and Conflict Resolution

Individual portfolio managers, in the exercise of their best judgment and discretion, may from time to time override the Guidelines and vote proxies in a manner that they believe will enhance the economic value of clients’ assets, keeping in mind the best interests of the beneficial owners. A portfolio manager choosing to override the Guidelines must deliver a written rationale for each such decision to TCW’s Proxy Specialist (the “Proxy Specialist”), who will maintain such documentation in TCW’s proxy voting records and deliver a quarterly report to the Proxy Committee of all votes cast other than in accordance with the Guidelines. If the Proxy Specialist believes there is a question regarding a portfolio manager’s vote, she will obtain the approval of TCW’s Director of Research (the “Director of Research”) for the vote before submitting it. The Director of Research will review the portfolio manager’s vote and make a determination. If the Director of Research believes it appropriate, he or she may elect to convene the Proxy Committee.

It is unlikely that serious conflicts of interest will arise in the context of TCW’s proxy voting, because TCW does not engage in investment banking or the managing or advising of public companies. In the event a potential conflict of interest arises in the context of voting proxies for TCW’s clients, the primary means by which TCW will avoid a conflict is by casting such votes solely in the interests of its clients and in the interests of maximizing the value of their portfolio holdings. In this regard, if a potential conflict of interest arises, but the proxy vote to be decided is predetermined hereunder to be cast either in favor or against, then TCW will vote accordingly. On the other hand, if a potential conflict of interest arises, and there is no predetermined vote, or the Guidelines themselves refer such vote to the portfolio manager for decisions, or the portfolio manager would like to override a predetermined vote, then TCW will undertake the following analysis.

First, if a potential conflict of interest is identified because the issuer soliciting proxy votes is itself a client of TCW’s (or because an affiliate of such issuer, such as a pension or profit sharing plan sponsored by such issuer, is a client of TCW’s), then the Proxy Specialist will determine whether such relationship may be deemed not to be material to TCW. A relationship will be deemed not to be material, and no further conflict analysis will be required if the assets managed for that client by TCW represent, in the aggregate, 0.25% (25 basis points) or less of TCW’s total assets under management. On the other hand, if the assets managed for that client by TCW exceed, in the aggregate, 0.25% (25 basis points) of TCW’s total assets under management then the Proxy Committee will investigate whether the relationship should be deemed to be material under the particular facts and circumstances. If the relationship is deemed not to be material, then no further conflict analysis will be required. If a material conflict is deemed to have arisen, then TCW will refrain completely from exercising its discretion with respect to voting the proxy with respect to such vote and will, instead, refer that vote to an Outside Service for its independent consideration as to how the vote should be cast.

Second, a potential conflict of interest may arise because an employee of TCW sits on the Board of a public company. The Proxy Specialist is on the distribution list for an internal chart that shows any Board seats in public companies held by TCW personnel. If the Proxy Specialist confirms that such Board member is not the portfolio manager and, that the portfolio manager has not spoken with such Board member, then such conflict of interest will not be deemed to be material. If, on the other hand, either the particular Board member is the portfolio manager or there has been communication concerning such proxy vote between the portfolio manager and the particular Board member, then the Proxy Specialist will provide the Proxy Committee with the facts and vote rationale so that it can determine and vote the securities. The vote by the Proxy Committee will be documented.

Third, a potential conflict of interest may arise if the issuer is an affiliate of TCW. It is currently not anticipated that this would be the case, but if this were to arise TCW will refrain completely from exercising its discretion with respect to voting the proxy with respect to such a vote and will, instead, refer that vote to an Outside Service for its independent consideration as to how the vote should be cast.

Finally, if any other portfolio manager conflict is identified with respect to a given proxy vote, the Proxy Committee will remove such vote from the conflicted portfolio manager and will itself consider and cast the vote.

 

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Proxy Voting Information and Recordkeeping

Upon request, TCW provides proxy voting records to its clients. These records state how votes were cast on behalf of client accounts, whether a particular matter was proposed by the company or a shareholder, and whether or not TCW voted in line with management recommendations. TCW is prepared to explain to clients the rationale for votes cast on behalf of client accounts. To obtain proxy voting records, a client should contact the Proxy Specialist.

TCW or an Outside Service will keep records of the following items: (i) these Proxy Voting Guidelines and any other proxy voting procedures; (ii) proxy statements received regarding client securities (unless such statements are available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system); (iii) records of votes cast on behalf of clients (if maintained by an Outside Service, that Outside Service will provide copies of those records promptly upon request); (iv) records of written requests for proxy voting information and TCW’s response (whether a client’s request was oral or in writing); and (v) any documents prepared by TCW that were material to making a decision how to vote, or that memorialized the basis for the decision. Additionally, TCW or an Outside Service will maintain any documentation related to an identified material conflict of interest.

TCW or an Outside Service will maintain these records in an easily accessible place for at least five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on such record. For the first two years, TCW or an Outside Service will store such records at its principal office.

International Proxy Voting

While TCW utilizes these Proxy Voting Guidelines for both international and domestic portfolios and clients, there are some significant differences between voting U.S. company proxies and voting non-U.S. company proxies. For U.S. companies, it is relatively easy to vote proxies, as the proxies are automatically received and may be voted by mail or electronically. In most cases, the officers of a U.S. company soliciting a proxy act as proxies for the company’s shareholders.

For proxies of non-U.S. companies, however, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies. The major difficulties and costs may include: (i) appointing a proxy; (ii) knowing when a meeting is taking place; (iii) obtaining relevant information about proxies, voting procedures for foreign shareholders, and restrictions on trading securities that are subject to proxy votes; (iv) arranging for a proxy to vote; and (v) evaluating the cost of voting. Furthermore, the operational hurdles to voting proxies vary by country. As a result, TCW considers whether or not to vote an international proxy based on the particular facts and circumstances. However, when TCW believes that an issue to be voted is likely to affect the economic value of the portfolio securities, that its vote may influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and that the benefits of voting the proxy exceed the expected costs, TCW will make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

Guidelines

The proxy voting decisions set forth below refer to proposals by company management except for the categories of “Shareholder Proposals” and “Social Issue Proposals.” The voting decisions in these latter two categories refer to proposals by outside shareholders.

Governance

 

   

For director nominees in uncontested elections

 

   

For management nominees in contested elections

 

   

For ratifying auditors, except against if the previous auditor was dismissed because of a disagreement with the company or if the non-audit services exceed 51% of fees

 

   

For changing the company name

 

   

For approving other business

 

   

For adjourning the meeting

 

   

For technical amendments to the charter and/or bylaws

 

   

For approving financial statements

 

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Capital Structure

 

   

For increasing authorized common stock

 

   

For decreasing authorized common stock

 

   

For amending authorized common stock

 

   

For the issuance of common stock, except against if the issued common stock has superior voting rights

 

   

For approving the issuance or exercise of stock warrants

 

   

For authorizing preferred stock, except against if the board has unlimited rights to set the terms and conditions of the shares

 

   

For increasing authorized preferred stock, except against if the board has unlimited rights to set the terms and conditions of the shares

 

   

For decreasing authorized preferred stock

 

   

For canceling a class or series of preferred stock

 

   

For amending preferred stock

 

   

For issuing or converting preferred stock, except against if the shares have voting rights superior to those of other shareholders

 

   

For eliminating preemptive rights

 

   

For creating or restoring preemptive rights

 

   

Against authorizing dual or multiple classes of common stock

 

   

For eliminating authorized dual or multiple classes of common stock

 

   

For amending authorized dual or multiple classes of common stock

 

   

For increasing authorized shares of one or more classes of dual or multiple classes of common stock, except against if it will allow the company to issue additional shares with superior voting rights

 

   

For a stock repurchase program

 

   

For a stock split

 

   

For a reverse stock split, except against if the company does not intend to proportionally reduce the number of authorized shares

Mergers and Restructuring

 

   

For merging with or acquiring another company

 

   

For recapitalization

 

   

For restructuring the company

 

   

For bankruptcy restructurings

 

   

For liquidations

 

   

For reincorporating in a different state

 

   

For a leveraged buyout of the company

 

   

For spinning off certain company operations or divisions

 

   

For the sale of assets

 

   

Against eliminating cumulative voting

 

   

For adopting cumulative voting

Board of Directors

 

   

For limiting the liability of directors

 

   

For setting the board size

 

   

For allowing the directors to fill vacancies on the board without shareholder approval

 

   

Against giving the board the authority to set the size of the board as needed without shareholder approval

 

   

For a proposal regarding the removal of directors, except against if the proposal limits the removal of directors to cases where there is legal cause

 

   

For non-technical amendments to the company’s certificate of incorporation, except against if an amendment would have the effect of reducing shareholders’ rights

 

   

For non-technical amendments to the company’s by laws, except against if an amendment would have the effect of reducing shareholder’s rights

 

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Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

   

Against a classified board

 

   

Against amending a classified board

 

   

For repealing a classified board

 

   

Against ratifying or adopting a shareholder rights plan (poison pill)

 

   

Against redeeming a shareholder rights plan (poison pill)

 

   

Against eliminating shareholders’ right to call a special meeting

 

   

Against limiting shareholders’ right to call a special meeting

 

   

For restoring shareholders’ right to call a special meeting

 

   

Against eliminating shareholders’ right to act by written consent

 

   

Against limiting shareholders’ right to act by written consent

 

   

For restoring shareholders’ right to act by written consent

 

   

Against establishing a supermajority vote provision to approve a merger or other business combination

 

   

For amending a supermajority vote provision to approve a merger or other business combination, except against if the amendment would increase the vote required to approve the transaction

 

   

For eliminating a supermajority vote provision to approve a merger or other business combination

 

   

Against adopting supermajority vote requirements (lock-ins) to change certain bylaw or charter provisions

 

   

Against amending supermajority vote requirements (lock-ins) to change certain bylaw or charter provisions

 

   

For eliminating supermajority vote requirements (lock-ins) to change certain bylaw or charter provisions

 

   

Against expanding or clarifying the authority of the board of directors to consider factors other than the interests of shareholders in assessing a takeover bid

 

   

Against establishing a fair price provision

 

   

Against amending a fair price provision

 

   

For repealing a fair price provision

 

   

For limiting the payment of greenmail

 

   

Against adopting advance notice requirements

 

   

For opting out of a state takeover statutory provision

 

   

Against opt into a state takeover statutory provision

Compensation

 

   

For adopting a stock incentive plan for employees, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 15% of outstanding common stock or if the potential dilution from all company plans, including the one proposed, is more than 20% of outstanding common stock

 

   

For amending a stock incentive plan for employees, except refer if the minimum potential dilution from all company plans, including the one proposed, is more than 20% of outstanding common stock

 

   

For adding shares to a stock incentive plan for employees, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 15% of outstanding common stock or if the potential dilution from all company plans, including the one proposed, is more than 20% of outstanding common stock

 

   

For limiting per-employee option awards

 

   

For extending the term of a stock incentive plan for employees

 

   

Refer on assuming stock incentive plans

 

   

For adopting a stock incentive plan for non-employee directors, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 5% of outstanding common equity or if the minimum potential dilution from all plans, including the one proposed, is more than 10% of outstanding common equity

 

   

For amending a stock incentive plan for non-employee directors, except refer if the minimum potential dilution from all plans, including the one proposed, is more than 10% of outstanding common equity

 

   

For adding shares to a stock incentive plan for non-employee directors, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 5% of outstanding common equity or if the minimum potential dilution from all plans, including the one proposed, is more than 10% of the outstanding common equity

 

   

For adopting an employee stock purchase plan, except against if the proposed plan allows employees to purchase stock at prices of less than 75% of the stock’s fair market value

 

   

For amending an employee stock purchase plan, except against if the proposal allows employees to purchase stock at prices of less than 75% of the stock’s fair market value

 

 

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For adding shares to an employee stock purchase plan, except against if the proposed plan allows employees to purchase stock at prices of less than 75% of the stock’s fair market value

 

   

For adopting a stock award plan, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 5% of the outstanding common equity or if the minimum potential dilution from all plans, including the one proposed, is more than 10% of the outstanding common equity

 

   

For amending a stock award plan, except against if the amendment shortens the vesting requirements or lessens the performance requirements

 

   

For adding shares to a stock award plan, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 5% of the outstanding common equity or if the minimum potential dilution from all plans, including the one proposed, is more than 10% of the outstanding common equity

 

   

For adopting a stock award plan for non-employee directors, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 5% of the outstanding common equity or if the minimum potential dilution from all plans, including the one proposed, is more than 10% of the outstanding common equity

 

   

For amending a stock award plan for non-employee directors, except refer if the minimum potential dilution from all plans is more than 10% of the outstanding common equity.

 

   

For adding shares to a stock award plan for non-employee directors, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 5% of the outstanding common equity or if the minimum potential dilution from all plans, including the one proposed, is more than 10% of the outstanding common equity

 

   

For approving an annual bonus plan

 

   

For adopting a savings plan

 

   

For granting a one-time stock option or stock award, except refer if the plan dilution is more than 15% of the outstanding common equity

 

   

For adopting a deferred compensation plan

 

   

For approving a long-term bonus plan

 

   

For approving an employment agreement or contract

 

   

For amending a deferred compensation plan

 

   

For exchanging underwater options (options with a per-share exercise price that exceeds the underlying stock’s current market price)

 

   

For amending an annual bonus plan

 

   

For reapproving a stock option plan or bonus plan for purposes of OBRA

 

   

For amending a long-term bonus plan

Shareholder Proposals

 

   

For requiring shareholder ratification of auditors

 

   

Against requiring the auditors to attend the annual meeting

 

   

Against limiting consulting by auditors

 

   

Against requiring the rotation of auditors

 

   

Against restoring preemptive rights

 

   

For asking the company to study sales, spin-offs, or other strategic alternatives

 

   

For asking the board to adopt confidential voting and independent tabulation of the proxy ballots

 

   

Against asking the company to refrain from counting abstentions and broker non-votes in vote tabulations

 

   

Against eliminating the company’s discretion to vote unmarked proxy ballots.

 

   

For providing equal access to the proxy materials for shareholders

 

   

Against requiring a majority vote to elect directors

 

   

Against requiring the improvement of annual meeting reports

 

   

Against changing the annual meeting location

 

   

Against changing the annual meeting date

 

   

Against asking the board to include more women and minorities as directors.

 

   

Against seeking to increase board independence

 

   

Against limiting the period of time a director can serve by establishing a retirement or tenure policy

 

   

Against requiring minimum stock ownership by directors

 

   

Against providing for union or employee representatives on the board of directors

 

   

For increasing disclosure regarding the board’s role in the development and monitoring of the company’s long-term strategic plan

 

   

For increasing the independence of the nominating committee

 

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For creating a nominating committee of the board

 

   

Against urging the creation of a shareholder committee

 

   

Against asking that the chairman of the board of directors be chosen from among the ranks of the non-employee directors

 

   

Against asking that a lead director be chosen from among the ranks of the non-employee directors

 

   

For adopting cumulative voting

 

   

Against requiring directors to place a statement of candidacy in the proxy statement

 

   

Against requiring the nomination of two director candidates for each open board seat

 

   

Against making directors liable for acts or omissions that constitute a breach of fiduciary care resulting from a director’s gross negligence and/or reckless or willful neglect

 

   

For repealing a classified board

 

   

Against asking the board to redeem or to allow shareholders to vote on a poison pill shareholder rights plan

 

   

For eliminating supermajority provisions

 

   

For reducing supermajority provisions

 

   

Against repealing fair price provisions

 

   

For restoring shareholders’ right to call a special meeting

 

   

For restoring shareholders’ right to act by written consent

 

   

For limiting the board’s discretion to issue targeted share placements or requiring shareholder approval before such block placements can be made

 

   

For seeking to force the company to opt out of a state takeover statutory provision

 

   

Against reincorporating the company in another state

 

   

For limiting greenmail payments

 

   

Against advisory vote on compensation

 

   

Against restricting executive compensation

 

   

For enhancing the disclosure of executive compensation

 

   

Against restricting director compensation

 

   

Against capping executive pay

 

   

Against calling for directors to be paid with company stock

 

   

Against calling for shareholder votes on executive pay

 

   

Against calling for the termination of director retirement plans

 

   

Against asking management to review, report on, and/or link executive compensation to non-financial criteria, particularly social criteria

 

   

Against seeking shareholder approval to reprice or replace underwater stock options

 

   

For banning or calling for a shareholder vote on future golden parachutes

 

   

Against seeking to award performance-based stock options

 

   

Against establishing a policy of expensing the costs of all future stock options issued by the company in the company’s annual income statement

 

   

Against requesting that future executive compensation be determined without regard to any pension fund income

 

   

Against approving extra benefits under Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs)

 

   

Against requiring option shares to be held

 

   

For creating a compensation committee

 

   

Against requiring that the compensation committee hire its own independent compensation consultants-separate from the compensation consultants working with corporate management-to assist with executive compensation issues

 

   

For increasing the independence of the compensation committee

 

   

For increasing the independence of the audit committee

 

   

For increasing the independence of key committees

Social Issue Proposals

 

   

Against asking the company to develop or report on human rights policies

 

   

For asking the company to review its operations’ impact on local groups, except against if the proposal calls for action beyond reporting

 

   

Against asking the company to limit or end operations in Burma

 

   

For asking management to review operations in Burma

 

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For asking management to certify that company operations are free of forced labor

 

   

Against asking management to implement and/or increase activity on each of the principles of the U.S. Business Principles for Human Rights of Workers in China.

 

   

Against asking management to develop social, economic, and ethical criteria that the company could use to determine the acceptability of military contracts and to govern the execution of the contracts

 

   

Against asking management to create a plan of converting the company’s facilities that are dependent on defense contracts toward production for commercial markets

 

   

Against asking management to report on the company’s government contracts for the development of ballistic missile defense technologies and related space systems

 

   

Against asking management to report on the company’s foreign military sales or foreign offset activities

 

   

Against asking management to limit or end nuclear weapons production

 

   

Against asking management to review nuclear weapons production

 

   

Against asking the company to establish shareholder-designated contribution programs

 

   

Against asking the company to limit or end charitable giving

 

   

For asking the company to increase disclosure of political spending and activities

 

   

Against asking the company to limit or end political spending

 

   

For requesting disclosure of company executives’ prior government service

 

   

Against requesting affirmation of political nonpartisanship

 

   

For asking management to report on or change tobacco product marketing practices, except against if the proposal calls for action beyond reporting

 

   

Against severing links with the tobacco industry

 

   

Against asking the company to review or reduce tobacco harm to health

 

   

For asking management to review or promote animal welfare, except against if the proposal calls for action beyond reporting

 

   

For asking the company to report or take action on pharmaceutical drug pricing or distribution, except against if the proposal asks for more than a report

 

   

Against asking the company to take action on embryo or fetal destruction

 

   

For asking the company to review or report on nuclear facilities or nuclear waste, except against if the proposal asks for cessation of nuclear-related activities or other action beyond reporting

 

   

For asking the company to review its reliance on nuclear and fossil fuels, its development or use of solar and wind power, or its energy efficiency, except vote against if the proposal asks for more than a report.

 

   

Against asking management to endorse the Ceres principles

 

   

For asking the company to control generation of pollutants, except against if the proposal asks for action beyond reporting or if the company reports its omissions and plans to limit their future growth or if the company reports its omissions and plans to reduce them from established levels

 

   

For asking the company to report on its environmental impact or plans, except against if management has issued a written statement beyond the legal minimum

 

   

For asking management to report or take action on climate change, except against if management acknowledges a global warming threat and has issued company policy or if management has issued a statement and committed to targets and timetables or if the company is not a major emitter of greenhouse gases

 

   

For asking management to report on, label, or restrict sales of bioengineered products, except against if the proposal asks for action beyond reporting or calls for a moratorium on sales of bioengineered products

 

   

Against asking the company to preserve natural habitat

 

   

Against asking the company to review its developing country debt and lending criteria and to report to shareholders on its findings

 

   

Against requesting the company to assess the environmental, public health, human rights, labor rights, or other socioeconomic impacts of its credit decisions

 

   

For requesting reports and/or reviews of plans and/or policies on fair lending practices, except against if the proposal calls for action beyond reporting

 

   

Against asking the company to establish committees to consider issues related to facilities closure and relocation of work

 

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For asking management to report on the company’s affirmative action policies and programs, including releasing its EEO-1 forms and providing statistical data on specific positions within the company, except against if the company releases its EEO-1 reports

 

   

Against asking management to drop sexual orientation from EEO policy

 

   

Against asking management to adopt a sexual orientation non-discrimination policy

 

   

For asking management to report on or review Mexican operations

 

   

Against asking management to adopt standards for Mexican operations

 

   

Against asking management to review or implement the MacBride principles

 

   

Against asking the company to encourage its contractors and franchisees to implement the MacBride principles

 

   

For asking management to report on or review its global labor practices or those of its contractors, except against if the company already reports publicly using a recognized standard or if the resolution asks for more than a report

 

   

Against asking management to adopt, implement, or enforce a global workplace code of conduct based on the International Labor Organization’s core labor conventions

 

   

For requesting reports on sustainability, except against if the company has already issued a report in GRI format

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

As discussed in each Prospectus, the Corporation will not calculate the net asset value of the Funds on certain holidays, weekends and when there is no activity in a Fund’s shares. On those days, securities held by a Fund may nevertheless be actively traded, and the value of the Fund’s shares could be significantly affected.

A Fund determines its net asset value per share by subtracting its liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends payable) from its total assets (the market value of the securities the Fund holds plus cash and other assets, including income accrued but not yet received) and dividing the result by the total number of shares outstanding. The assets of each Asset Allocation Fund consist primarily of shares of the Underlying Funds, which are valued at their respective net asset values.

HOW TO BUY AND REDEEM SHARES

Shares in a Fund may be purchased and redeemed in the manner described in the Prospectus and in this Statement of Additional Information.

Use of Sub-Transfer Agency Accounting or Administrative Services

Certain financial intermediaries have contracted with the Distributor to perform certain sub-transfer agent accounting or administrative services for certain clients or retirement plan investors who have invested in the Funds. In consideration of the provision of these sub-transfer agency accounting or administrative services, the financial intermediaries will receive sub-transfer agency accounting or administrative fees, a portion of which may be paid by the Funds.

Purchases Through Broker-Dealers and Financial Organizations

Shares of the Funds may be purchased and redeemed through certain broker-dealers and financial organizations and their authorized intermediaries. If purchases and redemption’s of a Fund’s shares are arranged and settlement is made at an investor’s election through a registered broker-dealer, other than the Distributor, the broker-dealer may in its discretion, charge a fee for that service.

Computation of Public Offering Prices

The Funds offer their shares to the public on a continuous basis. The public offering price per share of each Fund is equal to its net asset value per share next computed after receipt of a purchase order. See “Determination of Net Asset Value” above.

 

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Distributions in Kind

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of a Fund to make a redemption payment wholly in cash, the Fund may pay, in accordance with SEC rules, any portion of a redemption in excess of the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net assets by distribution in kind of portfolio securities in lieu of cash. Shareholders receiving distributions in kind may incur brokerage commissions or other costs when subsequently disposing of shares of those securities.

HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES

A shareholder may exchange all or part of its shares of one Fund for shares of another Fund (subject to receipt of any required state securities law clearances with respect to certain Funds in the shareholder’s state of residence). An exchange of shares is treated for federal income tax purposes as a redemption (sale) of shares given in exchange by the shareholder, and an exchanging shareholder may, therefore, realize a taxable gain or loss in connection with the exchange. See “Distributions and Taxes” below.

The exchange privilege enables a shareholder to acquire shares in a Fund with different investment objectives or policies when the shareholder believes that a shift between Funds is an appropriate investment decision. Upon receipt of proper instructions and all necessary supporting documents, shares submitted for exchange are redeemed at the then-current net asset value and the proceeds are immediately invested, at a price as described above, in shares of the Fund being acquired. A Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange request.

As described in each Prospectus, the exchange privilege may be terminated or revised by the Funds.

PURCHASES-IN-KIND

The Funds may, at the sole discretion of the Advisor, accept securities in exchange for shares of a Fund. Securities which may be accepted in exchange for shares of any Fund must: (1) meet the investment objectives and policies of the Fund; (2) be acquired for investment and not for resale; (3) be liquid securities which are not restricted as to transfer either by law or liquidity of market (determined by reference to liquidity policies established by the Board of Directors); and (4) have a value which is readily ascertainable as evidenced by, for example, a listing on a recognized stock exchange.

DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

Each of the Funds intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). A Fund that is a regulated investment company and distributes to its shareholders at least 90% of its taxable net investment income (including, for this purpose, its net realized short-term capital gains) and 90% of its tax-exempt interest income (reduced by certain expenses), will not be liable for federal income taxes to the extent its taxable net investment income and its net realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, are distributed to its shareholders. However, a Fund will be taxed on that portion of taxable net investment income and long-term and short-term capital gains that it retains. Furthermore, a Fund will be subject to United States corporate income tax (and possibly state or local income or franchise tax) with respect to such distributed amounts in any year that it fails to qualify as a regulated investment company or fails to meet the 90% distribution requirement.

To qualify as a regulated investment company, in addition to the 90% distribution requirement described above, a Fund must: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business in investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holdings so that at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash items, U.S. Government Securities and other securities, limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Securities) or in the securities of two or more issuers (other than U.S. Government Securities) which the Fund controls (i.e., holds at least 20% of the combined voting power) and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses or in the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.

 

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If a Fund invests in foreign currency or forward foreign exchange contracts, gains from such foreign currency and forward foreign exchange contracts relating to investments in stocks, securities or foreign currencies are considered to be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income test described in clause (a) above, although regulations may require that such gains are directly related to the Fund’s principal business of investing in stock or securities. It is currently unclear, however, who will be treated as the issuer of certain foreign currency instruments or how foreign currency contracts will be valued for purposes of the asset diversification requirements applicable to the Fund described in clause (c) above. Until such time as these uncertainties are resolved, each Fund will utilize the more conservative, or limited, definition or approach with respect to determining permissible investments in its portfolio.

Investments in foreign currencies, forward contracts, options, futures contracts and options thereon may subject a Fund to special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), may accelerate recognition of income to a Fund, and may defer Fund losses. These rules also (a) could require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they had been closed out in a fully taxable transaction) and (b) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. Certain hedging activities may cause a dividend that would otherwise be subject to the lower tax rate applicable to a “qualifying dividend” to instead be taxed at the tax rate applicable to ordinary income.

As a general rule, a Fund’s gain or loss on a sale or exchange of an investment will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund has held the investment for more than one year and will be a short-term capital gain or loss if it has held the investment for one year or less. Furthermore, as a general rule, a shareholder’s gain or loss on a sale or redemption of Fund shares will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder has held his or her Fund shares for more than one year and will be a short-term capital gain or loss if he or she has held his or her Fund shares for one year or less. For federal, state and local income tax purposes, an exchange by a shareholder of shares in one Fund or securities for shares in a Fund will be treated as a taxable sale for a purchase price equal to the fair market value of the shares received.

Any loss realized on the disposition by a shareholder of its shares in a Fund will be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other Fund shares, including replacement through the reinvesting of dividends and capital gains distributions in the Fund, within a period (of 61 days) beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be increased to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on the sale of a Fund share held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of capital gain dividends (as defined below) received by the shareholder with respect to such share.

Any realized gains will be distributed as described in the Prospectus. See “Distributions and Taxes” in the Prospectus. Distributions of long-term capital gains (“capital gain dividends”), if any, will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long a shareholder has held Fund shares, and will be designated as capital gain dividends in a written notice mailed to the shareholder after the close of the Fund’s prior taxable year. Current tax law generally provides for a maximum tax rate for individual taxpayers of 15% on long-term capital gains and from certain qualifying dividends on corporate stock. These rate reductions do not apply to corporate taxpayers.

Note that distributions of earnings from dividends paid by certain “qualified foreign corporations” can also qualify for the lower tax rates on qualifying dividends. A shareholder will also have to satisfy a more than 60-day holding period with respect to any distributions of qualifying dividends in order to obtain the benefit of the lower tax rate. Distributions of earnings from non-qualifying dividend interest income, other types of ordinary income and short-term capital gains will be taxed at the ordinary income tax rate applicable to the taxpayer.

 

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None of the Asset Allocation Funds will be able to offset gains distributed by one Underlying Fund in which it invests against losses in another Underlying Fund in which such Asset Allocation Fund invests. Redemptions of shares in an Underlying Fund, including those resulting from changes in the allocation among Underlying Funds, could also cause additional distributable gains to shareholders of an Asset Allocation Fund. A portion of any such gains may be short-term capital gains that would be distributable as ordinary income to shareholders of the Asset Allocation Fund. Further, a portion of losses on redemptions of shares in the Underlying Funds may be deferred under the wash sale rules. As a result of these factors, the use of the fund of funds structure by the Asset Allocation Funds could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. For tax years beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Asset Allocation Funds will also not be able to pass through from the Underlying Funds any potential benefit from the foreign tax credit or income from certain federal obligations (that may be exempt from state tax). For tax years beginning after December 22, 2010, the Asset Allocation Funds may pass through these benefits provided that at least 50% of such Fund’s total assets are invested in other regulated investment companies at the end of each quarter of the tax year.

For tax years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemption or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of a trust or estate) exceeds a threshold amount.

A Fund (and in the case of the Asset Allocation Funds, the Underlying Funds) may be subject to taxes in foreign countries in which each invests. If such a Fund invests in an entity which is classified as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) for U.S. tax purposes, the application of certain technical tax provisions applying to such companies could result in the imposition of federal income tax with respect to such investments at the Fund level which could not be eliminated by distributions to the shareholders of the Fund. It is not anticipated that any taxes at the Fund level with respect to investments in PFICs will be significant. Note that distributions from a PFIC are not eligible for the reduced rate of tax on “qualifying dividends.”

In computing its net taxable (and distributable) income and/or gains, a Fund may choose to take a dividend paid deduction for a portion of the proceeds paid to redeeming shareholders. This method (sometimes referred to as “equalization”) would permit the Fund to avoid distributing to continuing shareholders taxable dividends representing earnings included in the net asset value of shares redeemed. Using this method will not affect the Fund’s total return. Since there are some unresolved technical tax issues relating to use of equalization by a Fund, there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the Fund’s methodology and/or calculations which could possibly result in the imposition of tax, interest or penalties on the Fund.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, a nondeductible excise tax of 4% is imposed on a Fund to the extent the Fund does not distribute by the end of any calendar year at least 98.2% of its ordinary income for that calendar year and at least 98% of the net amount of its capital gains (both long-term and short-term) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such calendar year (or December 31 if the Fund so elects), plus any undistributed amounts of taxable income for prior years. For this purpose, however, any income or gain retained by the Fund that is subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed by year-end. Each Fund intends to meet these distribution requirements to avoid the excise tax liability.

Dividends generally are taxable to shareholders at the time they are paid. However, dividends declared in October, November and December and made to shareholders of record in such a month are treated as paid and are taxable as of December 31, provided that the Fund pays the dividend during January of the following year.

If a shareholder fails to furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, fails to report fully dividend or interest income, or fails to certify that it has provided a correct taxpayer identification number and that it is not subject to “backup withholding,” then the shareholder may be subject to a 28% “backup withholding” tax with respect to: (a) taxable dividends and distributions, and, (b) the proceeds of any redemptions of Fund shares. An individual’s taxpayer identification number is his social security number. The 28% “backup withholding” tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against a taxpayer’s regular federal income tax liability.

Dividends to shareholders who are non-resident aliens may be subject to a 30% United States withholding tax under provisions of the Code applicable to foreign individuals and entities unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is provided under applicable treaty law. Non-resident shareholders should consult their own tax advisors. Note that the 15% rate of tax applicable to certain dividends (discussed above) does not apply to dividends paid to foreign shareholders.

 

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The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations presently in effect. For the complete provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Internal Revenue Code sections and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The Internal Revenue Code and these Regulations are subject to change by legislative or administrative action.

Each shareholder will receive annual information from its Fund regarding the tax status of Fund distributions. Shareholders are urged to consult their attorneys or tax advisors with respect to the applicability of federal, state, local, estate and gift taxes and non-U.S. taxes to their investment in a Fund.

INVESTMENT RESULTS

A Funds may, from time to time, include their yield, effective yield, average annual total return, average annual total return after taxes on distributions and redemptions in advertisements or shareholder reports or other communications to shareholders or prospective investors. The Funds also may, with respect to periods of less than one year, provide total return information for that period that is not annualized. The Funds may also show quotations of total return for other periods. Any such information would be accompanied by standardized total return information. Performance is calculated separately for each class of shares of a Fund. Since each class of shares own expenses and distributions, the performance for each class of shares over the same period will vary.

A Fund’s and each class of shares’ performance will vary from time to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its investment portfolio and operating expenses. Any performance quotation should not be considered representation of a Fund’s or a class of shares’ performance for any period in the future.

The Fund’s total return may be calculated on an “average annual total return” basis, and may also be calculated on an “aggregate total return” basis, for various periods. Average annual total return reflects the average annual percentage change in the value of an investment in the Fund over the particular measuring period. Aggregate total return reflects the cumulative percentage change in value over the measuring period. Average annual total return figures provided for the Fund will be computed according to a formula prescribed by the SEC. The formula for an average annual total return can be expressed as follows:

P(1+T)n=ERV

Where:

P    =    hypothetical initial payment of $1,000

T    =    average annual total return

n    =    number of years

ERV Ending Redeemable Value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the beginning of the 1, 5 or 10 year (or other) periods or the life of the Fund

The formula for calculating aggregate total return can be expressed as follows:

Aggregate            Total Return

The calculation of average annual total return and aggregate total return assumes reinvestment of all income dividends and capital gain distributions on the reinvestment dates during the period and includes all recurring fees charged to all shareholder accounts.

The ERV assumes complete redemption of the hypothetical investment at the end of the measuring period and reflects deduction of all nonrecurring charges at the end of the measuring period covered by the computation. A Fund’s net investment income changes in response to fluctuations in interest rates and the expenses of the Fund.

 

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In addition, the Corporation may quote its after tax total return.

After-Tax Pre Liquidation Calculations

 

   

To calculate Total Return

 

  TR=   {EMV} - 1   
    {BMV}   

 

   

To calculate the Ending Market Value

 

  EMV =   {BMV + S RS} * ENAV   
    {BNAV            }   
  BMV =   $1,000   
  BS     =   BMV   
    BNAV   

 

   

To calculate Reinvested Shares

 

  RS1PTDD   
              EXNAV (or RP)   
  PTDD = S All TTDD   
 

TTDD (BS * TTDPS) * (1 - Tax Rate)

 

Repeat this calculation for the following applicable tax types: OI, ST, MT, LT, ROC, Non Tax.

 

For OI tax type, apply the following calculation to include Benefit of FTC

  

 

 

(BS*OIDPS) -[(((BS*OIDPS) + (BS*FTC per share))*

(OI Tax Rate) - (BS* FTC per share)]

 

* Apply the applicable tax rate in the year that the distribution event occurred.

 

Where:

  

 

  TR   =   total return
  EMV   =   ending market value
  BMV   =   beginning market value
  BNAV   =   beginning NAV
  ENAV   =   ending NAV
  RS   =   reinvested shares
  RSn   =   reinvested shares per event
  BS   =   beginning shares
  DPS   =   distribution per share
  DD   =   distribution dollars
  EXNAV   =   ex date NAV
  RP   =   reinvest price
  PTDD   =   post tax distribution
  TTDD   =   tax type distribution dollars
  TTDPS   =   Tax type distribution per share
  n   =   length of time in years
  ST   =   short term
  MT   =   mid term
  LT   =   long term
  ROC   =   return on capital
  OI   =   ordinary income
  FTC   =   foreign tax credit

 

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After-Tax Post Liquidation Calculations

The Post Liquidation Calculation is essentially the After-Tax Pre Liquidation Calculation that reflects the additional tax liability of the shareholder selling all of their shares at the end of the performance period. After-Tax Liquidation Returns reflect the impact of capital gains or losses associated with redemption of the shares.

A Fund’s performance will vary from time to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its portfolio and its operating expenses. Consequently, any given performance quotation should not be considered representative of a Fund’s performance for any specified period in the future. In addition, because performance will fluctuate, it may not provide a basis for comparing an investment in the Fund with certain bank deposits or other investments that pay a fixed yield or return for a stated period of time.

Performance Rankings

Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in publishing information about the Corporation’s shares, including data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., CDA Technologies, Inc., Morningstar, Inc. or similar independent services which monitor the performance of mutual funds or with other appropriate indexes of investment securities. The performance information may also include evaluations of the Funds published by nationally recognized ranking services and by financial publications that are nationally recognized, such as Barron’s, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, Institutional Investor, Money and The Wall Street Journal. The performance of the Fund’s classes of shares may be compared in publications to the performance of various market indices or other investments and averages, performance rankings or other benchmarks prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services.

In reports or other communications to shareholders and in advertising material, the performance of the Fund may be compared to recognized unmanaged indices or averages of the performance of similar securities. Also, the performance of the Fund and its classes of shares may be compared to that of other funds of comparable size and objectives as listed in the rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc. or similar independent mutual fund ratings services, and the Fund may use evaluations published by nationally recognized independent services and publications. Any given performance comparison should not be considered representative of the Fund’s performance for any future period.

In advertising and sales literature the Fund and its classes of shares may publish various statistics describing its investment portfolio including, but not limited to, the Fund’s average Price to Book or Price to Earning ratios, beta, alpha, R-squared or standard deviation.

 

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SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS

The Funds offer two classes of shares: Class I shares and Class N shares. The Class I shares are offered at the current net asset value. The Class N shares are also offered at the current net asset value, but will be subject to distribution or service fees imposed under the Distribution Plan. Shares of each class of a Fund represents an equal proportionate share in the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of that Fund and, generally, have identical voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights, other than the payment of distribution fees imposed under the Distribution Plan. All shares issued will be fully paid and nonassessable and will have no preemptive or conversion rights. Each share has one vote and fractional shares have fractional votes. As a Maryland corporation, the Corporation is not required to hold an annual shareholder meeting in any year in which the selection of directors is not required to be acted on under the 1940 Act. Shareholder approval will be sought only for certain changes in the operation of the Funds and for the election of directors under certain circumstances. Directors may be removed by a majority of all votes entitled to be cast by shareholders at a meeting. A special meeting of the shareholders will be called to elect or remove directors if requested by the holders of ten percent of the Corporation’s outstanding shares. All shareholders of the Funds will vote together with all other shareholders of the Funds and with all shareholders of all other funds that the Corporation may form in the future on all matters affecting the Corporation, including the election or removal of directors. For matters where the interests of separate Funds or classes of a Fund are not identical, the matter will be voted on separately by each affected Fund or class.

For matters affecting only one Fund or class of a Fund, only the shareholders of that Fund or class will be entitled to vote thereon. Voting is not cumulative. Upon request in writing by ten or more shareholders who have been shareholders of record for at least six months and hold at least the lesser of shares having a net asset value of $25,000 or one percent of all outstanding shares, the Corporation will provide the requesting shareholders either access to the names and addresses of all shareholders of record or information as to the approximate number of shareholders of record and the approximate cost of mailing any proposed communication to them. If the Corporation elects the latter procedure, and the requesting shareholders tender material for mailing together with the reasonable expenses of the mailing, the Corporation will either mail the material as requested or submit the material to the Securities and Exchange Commission for a determination that the mailing of the material would be inappropriate.

TRANSFER AGENT AND CUSTODIANS

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201, serves as transfer agent for the Corporation. State Street Bank & Trust Company, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02117, serves as custodian for the Corporation. Chase Bank, 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004; Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260; and The Bank of New York Mellon, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 act as limited custodians under the terms of certain repurchase and futures agreements.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Deloitte & Touche LLP, Two California Plaza, 350 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90071-3462

LEGAL COUNSEL

Dechert LLP, 1775 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-2401

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The audited financial statements and financial highlights for the period ended October 31, 2010, including the financial reports of the independent registered public accounting firm on those financial statements and highlights, appearing in the Corporation’s Annual Report to Shareholders are incorporated by reference and made a part of this document.

 

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APPENDIX A

Description of S&P and Moody’s Ratings

S&P

AAA - Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

AA - Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.

A - Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.

BBB - Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.

Fixed income securities rated AAA, AA, A and BBB are considered investment grade.

BB - Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB- Rating.

B - Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.

CCC - Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

CC-The rating CC is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating.

C - The rating C is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

CI - The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.

D - Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) - The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major categories.

Moody’s

Aaa - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt-edge.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.

 

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Aa - Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.

A - Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

Baa - Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured, interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

Fixed income securities which are rated Aaa, Aa, A and Baa are considered investment grade.

Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during other good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

Moody’s applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through B. The modifier 1 indicates that the issue ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

 

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