N-14 1 n14_ftintlsmcap.htm

 

File No. 333-[  ]

 

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 18, 2020

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-14

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Pre-Effective Amendment No. [  ]

 

Post-Effective Amendment No. [  ]

 

JNL Series Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

1 Corporate Way

Lansing, Michigan 48951

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(517) 381-5500

(Registrant’s Area Code and Telephone Number)

 

225 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

(Mailing Address)

 

With copies to:

 

EMILY J. BENNETT, ESQ.

JNL Series Trust

1 Corporate Way

Lansing, Michigan 48951

PAULITA PIKE, ESQ.

Ropes & Gray LLP

191 North Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

 


Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

 

 

It is proposed that this Registration Statement will become effective on January 19, 2021, pursuant to Rule 488 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Title of securities being registered: Class A and Class I Shares of beneficial interest in the series of the registrant designated as the JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund.

 

No filing fee is required because the registrant is relying on Section 24(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, pursuant to which it has previously registered an indefinite number of shares (File Nos. 033-87244 and 811-08894).

 

 
 

 

JNL SERIES TRUST

 

CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

This Registration Statement contains the following papers and documents:

 

Cover Sheet

 

Contents of Registration Statement

 

Letter to Contract Owners

 

Notice of Special Meeting

 

Contract Owner Voting Instructions

 

Part A - Proxy Statement/Prospectus

 

Part B - Statement of Additional Information

 

Part C - Other Information

 

Signature Page

 

Exhibits

 

 

 
 

 

JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK

 

1 Corporate Way

Lansing, Michigan 48951

 

February 12, 2021

 

Dear Contract Owner:

 

Enclosed is a notice of a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund (the “Franklin Fund” or the “Acquired Fund”), a series of the JNL Series Trust (the “Trust”). The Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Acquired Fund is scheduled to be held at the offices of Jackson National Life Insurance Company, 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, Michigan 48951, on March 26, 2021, at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Time (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the shareholders of the Acquired Fund will be asked to approve the proposal described below.

 

The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) called the Meeting to request shareholder approval of the reorganization (the “Reorganization”) of the Acquired Fund into the JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund (the “Multi-Manager Fund” or the “Acquiring Fund”), also a series of the Trust. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund are each sometimes referred to herein as a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds.”

 

Both the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund are managed by Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (“JNAM”), and each is sub-advised by one or more investment sub-advisers. If the Reorganization is approved and implemented, each person that invests indirectly in the Acquired Fund will automatically become an investor indirectly in the Acquiring Fund.

 

The Board considered that the Acquired Fund was launched to provide long-term capital appreciation. The Board also considered that as of September 30, 2020, the Acquired Fund’s trailing one-, three-, and five-year performance rankings have been in the bottom decile relative to peers. The Board considered JNAM’s statement that the Acquired Fund’s disappointing performance had been largely the result of an investment sleeve experiencing poor stock selection and distinct macroeconomic headwinds. The Board noted that in addition to the Acquired Fund’s poor absolute and relative performance results, the Acquired Fund’s sub-adviser had experienced analyst turnover and changes to its investment process. Thus, the Board considered the recommendation of JNAM to merge the Acquired Fund into the Acquiring Fund given that JNAM believes that the Acquiring Fund’s multi-manager structure is expected to provide Acquired Fund shareholders with improved risk-adjusted performance, greater manager diversification, and potentially fewer capacity constraints than the Acquired Fund.

 

After considering JNAM’s recommendation, the Board concluded that: (i) the Reorganization will benefit the shareholders of the Acquired Fund; (ii) the Reorganization is in the best interests of the Acquired Fund; and (iii) the interests of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization. No one factor was determinative, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Board did not determine any considerations related to this Reorganization to be adverse. The Board, after careful consideration, approved the Reorganization.

 

Pending shareholder approval, effective as of the close of business on April 23, 2021, or on such later date as may be deemed necessary in the judgment of the Board in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization (the “Closing Date”), you will invest indirectly in shares of the Acquiring Fund in an amount equal to the dollar value of your interest in the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date. As of the date hereof, it is not expected that the Closing Date will be postponed. If the Closing Date is postponed to allow for additional time to solicit shareholder votes, shareholders will remain shareholders of their respective Fund(s). No sales charge, redemption fees, or other transaction fees will be imposed in the Reorganization. There will, however, be portfolio repositioning expenses associated with the Reorganization. The Acquired Fund will bear the transaction expenses due to the portfolio repositioning. Such costs are estimated to be $579,155 (0.12% of net assets). There is no tax impact to contract owners as a result of portfolio repositioning. The Reorganization will not cause any fees or charges under your contract to be greater after the Reorganization than before the Reorganization, and the Reorganization will not alter your rights under your contract or the obligations of the insurance company that issued the contract. Following the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund will be the accounting and performance survivor.

 

 
 

 

You may wish to take actions relating to your future allocation of premium payments under your insurance contract to the various investment divisions (the “Divisions”) of the separate account. You may execute certain changes prior to the Reorganization, in addition to participating in the Reorganization with regard to the Acquiring Fund, such as allocating your premium payments to other Divisions.

 

All actions with regard to the Acquired Fund need to be completed by the Closing Date. In the absence of new instructions prior to the Closing Date, future premium payments previously allocated to the Acquired Fund Division will be allocated to the Acquiring Fund Division. The Acquiring Fund Division will be the Division for future allocations under the Dollar Cost Averaging, Earnings Sweep, and Rebalancing Programs (together, the “Programs”). In addition to the Acquiring Fund Division, there are other Divisions investing in mutual funds that seek long-term capital appreciation. If you want to transfer all or a portion of your Contract value out of the Acquired Fund Division prior to the Reorganization, you may do so and that transfer will not be treated as a transfer for the purpose of determining how many subsequent transfers may be made in any period or how many may be made in any period without charge. In addition, if you want to transfer all or a portion of your Contract value out of the Acquiring Fund Division after the Reorganization, you may do so within 60 days following the Closing Date and that transfer will not be treated as a transfer for the purpose of determining how many subsequent transfers may be made in any period or how many may be made in any period without charge. You will be provided with an additional notification of this free-transfer policy on or about April 26, 2021.

 

If you want to change your allocation instructions as to your future premium payments or the Programs or if you require summary descriptions of the other underlying funds and Divisions available under your contract or additional copies of the prospectuses for other funds underlying the Divisions, please contact:

 

For Jackson variable annuity policies:

 

Annuity Service Center
P.O. Box 24068
Lansing, Michigan 48909-4068
1-800-644-4565
www.jackson.com

 

For Jackson variable universal life policies:

 

Jackson® Service Center

P.O. Box 24068
Lansing, Michigan 48909-4068
1-800-644-4565
www.jackson.com

 

For Jackson New York variable annuity policies:

 

Jackson of NY Service Center
P.O. Box 24068
Lansing, Michigan 48909-4068
1-800-599-5651
www.jackson.com

 

An owner of a variable life insurance policy or variable annuity contract or certificate that participates in the Acquired Fund through the Divisions of separate accounts established by Jackson National Life Insurance Company or Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York (each, an “Insurance Company”) is entitled to instruct the applicable Insurance Company how to vote the Acquired Fund shares related to the ownership interest in those accounts as of the close of business on January 29, 2021. The attached Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement and Prospectus concerning the Meeting describe the matters to be considered at the Meeting.

 

 

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You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting. Because it is important that your vote be represented whether or not you are able to attend, you are urged to consider these matters and to exercise your right to vote your shares by completing, dating, signing, and returning the enclosed voting instruction card in the accompanying return envelope at your earliest convenience or by relaying your voting instructions via telephone or the Internet by following the enclosed instructions. Of course, we hope that you will be able to attend the Meeting, and if you wish, you may vote your shares in person, even if you may have already returned a voting instruction card or submitted your voting instructions via telephone or the Internet. At any time prior to the Meeting, you may revoke your voting instructions by providing the Insurance Company with a properly executed written revocation of such voting instructions, properly executing later-dated voting instructions by a voting instruction card, telephone, or the Internet, or appearing and voting in person at the Meeting. Please respond promptly in order to save additional costs of proxy solicitation and to make sure you are represented.

 

    Very truly yours,
     
    /s/ Mark D. Nerud
     
    Mark D. Nerud
    Trustee, President, and Chief Executive Officer
    JNL Series Trust

 

 

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JNL SERIES TRUST

 

JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund

 

1 Corporate Way

Lansing, Michigan 48951

________________________

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MARCH 26, 2021

________________________

 

To the Shareholders:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund (the “Franklin Fund” or the “Acquired Fund”), a series of JNL Series Trust (the “Trust”), will be held on March 26, 2021 at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Time, at the offices of Jackson National Life Insurance Company, 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, Michigan 48951 (the “Meeting”).

 

The Meeting will be held to act on the following proposals:

 

1. To approve the Plan of Reorganization, adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which provides for the reorganization of the Franklin Fund into the JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund, also a series of the Trust.

 

2. To transact other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

 

Please note that owners of variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts or certificates (the “Contract Owners”) issued by Jackson National Life Insurance Company or Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York (each, an “Insurance Company”) who have invested in shares of the Acquired Fund through the investment divisions of a separate account or accounts of an Insurance Company (“Separate Account”) will be given the opportunity, to the extent required by law, to provide the applicable Insurance Company with voting instructions on the above proposals.

 

You should read the Proxy Statement and Prospectus attached to this notice prior to completing your proxy or voting instruction card. The record date for determining the number of shares outstanding, the shareholders entitled to vote, and the Contract Owners entitled to provide voting instructions at the Meeting and any adjournments thereof has been fixed as the close of business on January 29, 2021. If you attend the Meeting, you may vote or give your voting instructions in person.

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.

 

PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD PROMPTLY.

 

Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Meeting, you should vote or give voting instructions by promptly completing, dating, signing, and returning the enclosed proxy or voting instruction card for the Acquired Fund in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. You also can vote or provide voting instructions through the Internet or by telephone using the 12-digit control number that appears on the enclosed proxy or voting instruction card and following the simple instructions. At any time prior to the Meeting, you may revoke your voting instructions by providing the Insurance Company with a properly executed written revocation of such voting instructions, properly executing later-dated voting instructions by a voting instruction card, telephone, or the Internet, or appearing and voting in person at the Meeting. If you are present at the Meeting, you may change your vote or voting instructions, if desired, at that time. The Board recommends that you vote or provide voting instructions to vote FOR the proposal.

 

    By order of the Board,
     
    /s/ Mark D. Nerud
     
    Mark D. Nerud
    Trustee, President, and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

February 12, 2021

Lansing, Michigan

 

 
 

 

JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK

 

CONTRACT OWNER VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

REGARDING A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF

 

JNL/FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP FUND

A SERIES OF THE JNL SERIES TRUST

 

TO BE HELD ON MARCH 26, 2021

 

DATED: FEBRUARY 12, 2021

 

GENERAL

 

These Contract Owner voting instructions are being furnished by Jackson National Life Insurance Company (“Jackson National”), or Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York (each, an “Insurance Company” and, together, the “Insurance Companies”), to owners of their variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts or certificates (the “Contracts”) (the “Contract Owners”) who, as of January 29, 2021 (the “Record Date”), had net premiums or contributions allocated to the investment divisions of their separate accounts (the “Separate Accounts”) that are invested in shares of the JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund (the “Franklin Fund” or “Acquired Fund”), a series of the JNL Series Trust (the “Trust”).

 

The Trust is a Massachusetts business trust registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company.

 

Each Insurance Company is required to offer Contract Owners the opportunity to instruct it, as the record owner of all of the shares of beneficial interest in the Acquired Fund (the “Shares”) held by its Separate Accounts, as to how it should vote on the reorganization proposal (the “Proposal”) to be considered at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Acquired Fund referred to in the preceding Notice and at any adjournments (the “Meeting”). The enclosed Proxy Statement and Prospectus, which you should retain for future reference, concisely sets forth information about the proposed reorganization involving the Acquired Fund and another series of the Trust that a Contract Owner should know before completing the enclosed voting instruction card.

 

These Contract Owner Voting Instructions and the accompanying voting instruction card are being mailed to Contract Owners on or about February 18, 2021.

 

HOW TO INSTRUCT AN INSURANCE COMPANY

 

To instruct an Insurance Company as to how to vote the Shares held in the investment divisions of its Separate Accounts, Contract Owners are asked to promptly complete their voting instructions on the enclosed voting instruction card(s) and sign, date, and mail the voting instruction card(s) in the accompanying postage-paid envelope. Contract Owners also may provide voting instructions by phone at 1-866-256-0779 or by Internet at our website at www.proxypush.com/JNL.

 

If a voting instruction card is not marked to indicate voting instructions but is signed, dated, and returned, it will be treated as an instruction to vote the Shares in favor of the Proposal.

 

The number of Shares held in the investment division of a Separate Account corresponding to the Acquired Fund for which a Contract Owner may provide voting instructions was determined as of the Record Date by dividing (i) a Contract’s account value (minus any Contract indebtedness) allocable to that investment division by (ii) the net asset value of one Share of the Acquired Fund. At any time prior to an Insurance Company’s voting at the Meeting, a Contract Owner may revoke his or her voting instructions with respect to that investment division by providing the Insurance Company with a properly executed written revocation of such voting instructions, properly executing later-dated voting instructions by a voting instruction card, telephone or the Internet, or appearing and voting in person at the Meeting.

 

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HOW AN INSURANCE COMPANY WILL VOTE

 

An Insurance Company will vote the Shares for which it receives timely voting instructions from Contract Owners in accordance with those instructions. Shares in each investment division of a Separate Account for which an Insurance Company receives a voting instruction card that is signed, dated, and timely returned but is not marked to indicate voting instructions will be treated as an instruction to vote the Shares in favor of the Proposal. Shares in each investment division of a Separate Account for which an Insurance Company receives no timely voting instructions from a Contract Owner, or that are attributable to amounts retained by an Insurance Company or its affiliate as surplus or seed money, will be voted by the applicable Insurance Company either for or against approval of the Proposal, or as an abstention, in the same proportion as the Shares for which Contract Owners (other than the Insurance Company) have provided voting instructions to the Insurance Company. Similarly, the Insurance Companies and their affiliates will vote their own shares and will vote shares that are held by the Fund of Funds whose shares are held by a Separate Account in the same proportion as voting instructions timely given by Contract Owners. As a result of proportionate voting, a small number of Contract Owners could determine the outcome of the Proposal. Please see “Additional Information about the Funds – Tax Status” below.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Insurance Companies are not aware of any matters, other than the Proposal, to be acted on at the Meeting. If any other matters come before the Meeting, an Insurance Company will vote the Shares upon such matters in its discretion. Voting instruction cards may be solicited by employees of Jackson National or its affiliates as well as officers and agents of the Trust. The principal solicitation will be by mail, but voting instructions may also be solicited by telephone, personal interview, the Internet, or other permissible means.

 

The Meeting may be adjourned whether or not a quorum is present, by the chairperson of the Meeting from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place as determined by the chairperson of the Meeting for any reason, including failure of a Proposal to receive sufficient votes for approval. No shareholder vote shall be required for any adjournment. No notice need be given that the Meeting has been adjourned other than by announcement at the Meeting. Any business that might have been transacted at the original Meeting may be transacted at any adjourned Meeting.

 

It is important that your Contract be represented. Please promptly mark your voting instructions on the enclosed voting instruction card; then sign, date, and mail the voting instruction card in the accompanying postage-paid envelope. You may also provide your voting instructions by telephone at 1-866-256-0779 or by Internet at our website at www.proxypush.com/JNL.

 

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PROXY STATEMENT

 

for

 

JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund, a series of JNL Series Trust

 

and

 

PROSPECTUS

 

for

 

JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund, a series of JNL Series Trust

 

Dated

 

February 12, 2021

 

1 Corporate Way

Lansing, Michigan 48951

(517) 381-5500

 

 

This Proxy Statement and Prospectus (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) is being furnished to owners of variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts or certificates (the “Contracts”) (the “Contract Owners”) issued by Jackson National Life Insurance Company (“Jackson National”) or Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York (each, an “Insurance Company” and together, the “Insurance Companies”) who, as of January 29, 2021, had net premiums or contributions allocated to the investment divisions of an Insurance Company’s separate accounts (the “Separate Accounts”) that are invested in shares of beneficial interest in the JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund (the “Franklin Fund” or the “Acquired Fund”), a series of the JNL Series Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The purpose of this Proxy Statement/Prospectus is for shareholders of the Franklin Fund to vote on a Plan of Reorganization, adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which provides for the reorganization of the Franklin Fund into the JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund (the “Multi-Manager Fund” or the “Acquiring Fund”), also a series of the Trust.

 

This Proxy Statement/Prospectus also is being furnished to the Insurance Companies as the record owners of shares and to other shareholders that were invested in the Acquired Fund as of January 29, 2021. Contract Owners are being provided the opportunity to instruct the applicable Insurance Company to approve or disapprove the proposal contained in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus in connection with the solicitation by the Board of proxies to be used at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Acquired Fund to be held at 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, Michigan 48951, on March 26, 2021, at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Time, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”).

 

THE SEC HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

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The proposal described in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus is as follows:

 

  Proposal Shareholders Entitled to Vote on the Proposal
  1.   To approve the Plan of Reorganization, adopted by the Board, which provides for the reorganization of the Franklin Fund into the Multi-Manager Fund.

Shareholders of the

Franklin Fund

 

The reorganization referred to in the above proposal is referred to herein as the “Reorganization.”

 

This Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which you should retain for future reference, contains important information regarding the proposal that you should know before voting or providing voting instructions. Additional information about the Trust has been filed with the SEC and is available upon oral or written request without charge. This Proxy Statement/Prospectus is being provided to the Insurance Companies and mailed to Contract Owners on or about February 18, 2021. It is expected that one or more representatives of each Insurance Company will attend the Meeting in person or by proxy and will vote shares held by the Insurance Company in accordance with voting instructions received from its Contract Owners and in accordance with voting procedures established by the Trust.

 

The following documents have been filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement/Prospectus:

 

1. The Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Trust, each dated April 27, 2020, as supplemented, with respect to the Acquired Fund (File Nos. 033-87244 and 811-08894);

 

2. The Annual Report to Shareholders of the Trust with respect to the Acquired Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (File Nos. 033-87244 and 811-08894);

 

3. The Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders of the Trust with respect to the Acquired Fund for the period ended June 30, 2020 (File Nos. 033-87244 and 811-08894);

 

4. The Statement of Additional Information dated February 12, 2021, relating to the Reorganization (File No. 333-[ ]).

 

For a free copy of any of the above documents, please call or write to the phone numbers or address below.

 

Contract Owners can learn more about the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund in any of the documents incorporated into this Proxy Statement/Prospectus, including the Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report listed above, which have been furnished to Contract Owners. Contract Owners may request a copy thereof, without charge, by calling 1-800-644-4565 (Jackson Service Center) or 1-800-599-5651 (Jackson NY Service Center), by writing the JNL Series Trust, P.O. Box 30314, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7814, or by visiting www.jackson.com.

 

The Trust is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Accordingly, it must file certain reports and other information with the SEC. You can copy and review proxy materials, reports, and other information about the Trust at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. Proxy materials, reports, and other information about the Trust are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You may obtain copies of this information, at the prescribed rates, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, SEC Office of Consumer Affairs and Information Services, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549-1520.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY 1
The Proposed Reorganization 1
PROPOSAL:   APPROVAL OF THE PLAN OF REORGANIZATION WITH RESPECT TO THE REORGANIZATION OF THE FRANKLIN FUND INTO THE MULTI-MANAGER FUND. 2
Comparative Fee and Expense Tables 4
Expense Examples 4
Portfolio Turnover 5
Comparison of Investment Adviser and Sub-Advisers 5
Comparison of Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies 5
Comparison of Principal Risk Factors 9
Comparison of Fundamental Policies 10
Comparative Performance Information 11
Capitalization 13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REORGANIZATION 14
Terms of the Plan of Reorganization 14
Description of the Securities to Be Issued 14
Board Considerations 14
Description of Risk Factors 16
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganization 16
Contingency Plan 17
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS 17
Management of the Trust 17
The Trust 17
The Adviser 17
Management Fees 18
The Sub-Advisers 20
Portfolio Management 22
Additional Information 23
Classes of Shares 23
Distribution Arrangements 24
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Financial Intermediaries 24
Investment in Trust Shares 24
“Market Timing” Policy 26
Share Redemption 26
Dividends and Other Distributions 27
Tax Status 27
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 28
VOTING INFORMATION 30
The Meeting 30
Quorum and Voting 30
Required Vote 30
Contract Owner Voting Instructions 30
Proxy and Voting Instruction Solicitations 31
Adjournments 31
Revocation of Voting Instructions 31
32
APPENDIX A A-1
APPENDIX B B-1
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION C-1

 

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SUMMARY

 

You should read this entire Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully. For additional information, you should consult the Plan of Reorganization, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix A.

 

The Proposed Reorganization

 

The proposed Reorganization is as follows:

 

  Proposal Shareholders Entitled to Vote on the Proposal
  1.   To approve the Plan of Reorganization, adopted by the Board, which provides for the Reorganization of the Franklin Fund into the Multi-Manager Fund.

Shareholders of the

Franklin Fund

 

This Proxy Statement/Prospectus is soliciting shareholders with amounts invested in the Acquired Fund as of January 29, 2021, to approve the Plan of Reorganization, whereby the Acquired Fund will be reorganized into the Acquiring Fund. (The Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund are each sometimes referred to herein as a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds.”)

 

The Acquired Fund has two share classes, designated Class A and Class I shares (“Acquired Fund Shares”). The Acquiring Fund also has two share classes, designated Class A and Class I shares (“Acquiring Fund Shares”).

 

The Plan of Reorganization provides for:

 

· the transfer of all of the assets of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares having an aggregate net asset value equal to the Acquired Fund’s net assets;

 

· the Acquiring Fund’s assumption of all the liabilities of the Acquired Fund;

 

· the distribution to the shareholders (for the benefit of the Separate Accounts, as applicable, and thus the Contract Owners) of those Acquiring Fund Shares; and

 

· the complete termination of the Acquired Fund.

 

A comparison of the investment objective(s), principal investment policies and strategies, and principal risks of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund is included in the “Comparison of Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies,” “Comparison of Principal Risk Factors,” and “Comparison of Fundamental Policies” sections below. The Funds have identical distribution procedures, purchase procedures, exchange rights, and redemption procedures, which are discussed in “Additional Information about the Funds” below. Each Fund offers its shares to Separate Accounts and certain other eligible investors. Shares of each Fund are offered and redeemed at their net asset value without any sales load. You will not incur any sales loads or similar transaction charges as a result of the Reorganization.

 

The Reorganization is expected to be effective as of the close of business on April 23, 2021, or on such later date as may be deemed necessary in the judgment of the Board in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization (the “Closing Date”). As a result of the Reorganization, a shareholder invested in shares of the Acquired Fund would become an owner of shares of the Acquiring Fund. Such shareholder would hold, immediately after the Closing Date, Acquiring Fund Shares having an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset value of the Acquired Fund Shares that were held by the shareholder as of the Closing Date. Similarly, each Contract Owner whose Contract values are invested indirectly in shares of the Acquired Fund through the Investment Divisions of a Separate Account would become indirectly invested in shares of the Acquiring Fund through the Investment Divisions of a Separate Account. The Contract value of each such Contract Owner would be invested indirectly through the Investment Divisions of a Separate Account, immediately after the Closing Date, in shares of the Acquiring Fund having an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset value of the Acquired Fund Shares in which the Contract Owner invested indirectly through the Investment Divisions of a Separate Account as of the Closing Date. Following the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund will be the accounting and performance survivor. It is expected that the Reorganization will not be a taxable event for federal income tax purposes for Contract Owners. Please see “Additional Information about the Reorganization – Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganization” below for further information.

 

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The Board unanimously approved the Plan of Reorganization with respect to the Franklin Fund. Accordingly, the Board is submitting the Plan of Reorganization for approval by the Acquired Fund’s shareholders. In considering whether to approve the proposal (“Proposal”), you should review the Proposal for the Acquired Fund in which you were invested on the Record Date (as defined under “Voting Information”). In addition, you should review the information in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus that relates to the Proposal and the Plan of Reorganization generally.

 

The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Proposal to approve the Plan of Reorganization.

 

PROPOSAL: APPROVAL OF THE PLAN OF REORGANIZATION WITH RESPECT TO THE REORGANIZATION OF THE FRANKLIN FUND INTO THE MULTI-MANAGER FUND.

 

This Proposal requests the approval of Franklin Fund shareholders of the Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which the Franklin Fund will be reorganized into the Multi-Manager Fund.

 

In considering whether you should approve this Proposal, you should note that:

 

· The Funds have the same investment objectives. Both Funds seek long-term capital appreciation. For a detailed comparison of each Fund’s investment policies and strategies, see “Comparison of Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies” below and Appendix B.

 

· The Funds have different principal investment strategies. The Franklin Fund is managed by affiliated co-sub-advisers, while the Multi-Manager Fund is managed by unaffiliated sub-advisers. Under normal market conditions, the Franklin Fund invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in investments of smaller companies located outside the U.S., including those of emerging or developing markets. The Franklin Fund defines “smaller companies” as those that, at the time of purchase of the investment, have market capitalizations that do not exceed the greater of (i) $5 billion or the equivalent in local currencies or (ii) the highest market capitalization in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Small Cap Index or the All Country World ex US (ACWIxUS) Small Cap Index. The Franklin Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of companies that operate as real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and similar REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S, whereas the Multi-Manager Fund does not have this strategy. The Multi-Manager Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in international small cap strategies. The sleeves of the Multi-Manager Fund invest in securities of small capitalization companies located in developed, emerging and frontier markets. The WCM Investment Management, LLC (“WCM”) sleeve of the Multi-Manager Fund considers small capitalization companies to be companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies included in the Morgan Stanley Capital Index ACWI ex U.S. Small Cap Index (the “Index”), and the Causeway Capital Management LLC (“Causeway”) sleeve of the Multi-Manager Fund considers smaller market capitalization companies as those that have market capitalizations that do not exceed the highest market capitalization of a company within the Index. Both Funds invest in small capitalization companies and depositary receipts. Both Funds may have significant investments in a particular sector or country, although the Multi-Manager Fund generally will invest in the securities of companies domiciled in at least three different countries.

 

Effective April 26, 2021, Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited (“Baillie Gifford”) will be appointed as a sub-adviser to the Multi-Manager Fund, and the Baillie Gifford sleeve will consider smaller companies to be those with a market capitalization of approximately $2 billion or lower. For a detailed comparison of each Fund’s investment policies and strategies, see “Comparison of Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies” below and Appendix B.

 

· The Funds have the same fundamental policies. For a detailed comparison of each Fund’s fundamental investment policies, see “Comparison of Fundamental Policies” below.

 

· While there are some similarities in the risk profiles of the Funds, there are also some differences of which you should be aware. Each Fund’s principal risks include depositary receipts risk, emerging markets and less developed countries risk, equity securities risk, foreign regulatory risk, foreign securities risk, investment style risk, market risk, and mid-capitalization and small-capitalization investing risk. However, the Franklin Fund is also subject to accounting risk, company risk, concentration risk, cyclical opportunities risk, European investment risk, exchange-traded funds investing risk, financial services risk, liquidity risk, managed portfolio risk, real estate investment risk, small-capitalization investing risk, and stock risk, which are not principal risks of investing in the Multi-Manager Fund. In addition, the principal risks of investing in the Multi-Manager Fund include

 

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allocation risk and frontier market countries risk. For a detailed comparison of each Fund’s risks, see both “Comparison of Principal Risk Factors” below and Appendix B.

 

· Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (“JNAM” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser and administrator for each Fund and would continue to manage and administer the Multi-Manager Fund after the Reorganization. JNAM has received an exemptive order from the SEC that generally permits JNAM, with approval from the Board, to appoint, dismiss, and replace each Fund’s unaffiliated sub-adviser(s) and to amend the advisory agreements between JNAM and the unaffiliated sub-advisers, without obtaining shareholder approval. However, any amendment to an advisory agreement between JNAM and the Trust that would result in an increase in the management fee rate specified in that agreement (i.e., the aggregate management fee) charged to a Fund will be submitted to shareholders for approval. JNAM has appointed Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC (“Franklin”) and Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC (“Templeton Investment”), affiliated co-sub-advisers, to manage the assets of the Franklin Fund. JNAM has appointed Causeway and WCM to each manage a sleeve of the Multi-Manager Fund. Effective April 26, 2021, Baillie Gifford will be appointed as a sub-adviser to the Multi-Manager Fund. It is anticipated that Baillie Gifford, Causeway, and WCM will act as sub-advisers for their respective sleeves of the Multi-Manager Fund after the Reorganization. For a detailed description of JNAM, Franklin, Templeton Investment, Causeway, and WCM, please see “Additional Information about the Funds - The Adviser” and “Additional Information about the Funds - The Sub-Advisers” below.

 

· The Franklin Fund and Multi-Manager Fund had net assets of approximately $431.21 million and $247.65 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2020. Thus, if the Reorganization had been in effect on that date, the combined Fund (the “Combined Fund”) would have had net assets of approximately $678.27 million (net of estimated transaction expenses).

 

· Class A Shareholders of the Franklin Fund will receive Class A shares of the Multi-Manager Fund, and Class I Shareholders of the Franklin Fund will receive Class I shares of the Multi-Manager Fund pursuant to the Reorganization. Shareholders will not pay any sales charges in connection with the Reorganization. Please see “Comparative Fee and Expense Tables,” “Additional Information about the Reorganization,” and “Additional Information about the Funds” below for more information.

 

· Following the Reorganization, the total annual fund operating expense ratio and management fee for the Multi-Manager Fund are expected to be lower than that of the Franklin Fund currently. For a more detailed comparison of the fees and expenses of the Funds, please see “Comparative Fee and Expense Tables” and “Additional Information about the Funds” below.

 

· The maximum management fee for the Franklin Fund is equal to an annual rate of 0.800% of its average daily net assets, while the maximum management fee for the Multi-Manager Fund is equal to an annual rate of 0.750% of its average daily net assets. The minimum management fee for the Franklin Fund is equal to an annual rate of 0.680% of its average daily net assets over $5 billion, while the minimum management fee for the Multi-Manager Fund is equal to an annual rate of 0.705% of its average daily net assets over $5 billion. As of December 31, 2019, the actual management fees of the Franklin Fund and the Multi-Manager Fund were 0.790% and 0.750% respectively. In addition, both the Franklin Fund and the Multi-Manager Fund each pay an administrative fee to JNAM at the rate of 0.15% of its average daily net assets. For a more detailed description of the fees and expenses of the Funds, please see “Comparative Fee and Expense Tables” and “Additional Information about the Funds” below.

 

· Following the Reorganization, the Combined Fund will be managed in accordance with the investment objective, policies and strategies of the Multi-Manager Fund. It is currently anticipated that approximately 3.31% of the Franklin Fund’s holdings will be transferred to the Multi-Manager Fund in connection with the Reorganization and that, prior to the Reorganization, JNAM will use a transition manager to align or sell approximately 96.69% of the Franklin Fund’s holdings and allocate the resulting proceeds to the sleeves managed by the Multi-Manager Fund’s sub-advisers in accordance with the Multi-Manager Fund’s principal investment strategies. It is not expected that the Multi-Manager Fund will revise any of its investment policies following the Reorganization to reflect those of the Franklin Fund.

 

· The costs and expenses associated with the Reorganization relating to the solicitation of proxies, including preparing, filing, printing, and mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and related disclosure documents, and the related legal fees, including the legal fees incurred in connection with the analysis under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) of the tax treatment of this transaction, and the costs associated with the preparation of the tax opinion, and obtaining a consent of independent registered public accounting firm will be

 

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borne by JNAM whether or not the Reorganization is consummated. No sales or other charges will be imposed on Contract Owners in connection with the Reorganization.

 

· The Franklin Fund will bear transaction expenses, which typically include, but are not limited to, trade commissions, related fees and taxes, and any foreign exchange spread costs, where applicable (the “Transaction Costs”), associated with the Reorganization. Such Transaction Costs are estimated to be $579,155 (0.12% of net assets). Please see “Additional Information about the Reorganization” below for more information.

 

· The Reorganization is not expected to be a taxable event for federal income tax purposes for owners of variable contracts whose contract values are determined by investment in shares of the Franklin Fund. Provided that the Contracts qualify to be treated as life insurance contracts under Section 7702(a) of the Code or annuity contracts under Section 72 of the Code, the Reorganization will not be a taxable event for federal income tax purposes for Contract Owners regardless of the tax status of the Reorganization, and any dividend declared, allocations or distributions in connection with the Reorganization will not be taxable to Contract Owners. The Insurance Companies, as shareholders, and Contract Owners are urged to consult with their own tax advisers as to the specific consequences to them of the Reorganizations, including the applicability and effect of any possible state, local, non-U.S. and other tax consequences of the Reorganization. Please see “Additional Information about the Reorganization – Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganization” below for more information.

 

Comparative Fee and Expense Tables

 

The following tables show the current fees and expenses of each Fund and the estimated pro forma fees and expenses of Class A and Class I shares of the Acquiring Fund after giving effect to the proposed Reorganization. The fee and expense information is presented as of December 31, 2019. The tables below do not reflect any fees and expenses related to the Contracts, which would increase overall fees and expenses. See a Contract prospectus for a description of those fees and expenses.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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

 

Acquired Fund:

Franklin Fund

Acquiring Fund:

Multi-Manager Fund

Pro Forma Multi-Manager Fund (assuming expected operating expenses if the Reorganization is approved)
  Class A Class I Class A Class I Class A Class I
Management Fee 0.79 % 0.79 % 0.75 % 0.75 % 0.75 % 0.75 %
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.30 % 0.00 % 0.30 % 0.00 % 0.30 % 0.00 %
Other Expenses 1 0.16 % 0.16 % 0.16 % 0.16 % 0.16 % 0.16 %
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 2 0.01 % 0.01 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.26 % 0.96 % 1.21 % 0.91 % 1.21 % 0.91 %
1  “Other Expenses” include an Administrative Fee of 0.15 % for both Funds, which is payable to JNAM.
2 For the Acquired Fund, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect expenses of investing in other investment companies.  Accordingly, the expense ratio presented in the Financial Highlights section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will not correlate to the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses disclosed above.

 

Expense Examples

 

This example is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Funds with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. This example does not reflect fees and expenses related to the Contracts, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The example assumes that:

 

  • You invest $10,000 in a Fund for the time periods indicated;
  • Your investment has a 5% annual return;
  • The Fund’s operating expenses remain the same as they were as of December 31, 2019; and
  • You redeem your investment at the end of each time period.

 

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

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  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Franklin Fund (Acquired Fund)        
Class A $128 $400 $692 $1,523
Class I $98 $306 $531 $1,178
Multi-Manager Fund (Acquiring Fund)        
Class A $123 $384 $665 $1,466
Class I $93 $290 $504 $1,120

Pro Forma Multi-Manager Fund

(assuming expected operating expenses if the Reorganization is approved)

       
Class A $123 $384 $665 $1,466
Class I $93 $290 $504 $1,120

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

Each Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Examples, affect a Fund’s performance. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2020, the portfolio turnover rates for the Franklin Fund and the Multi-Manager Fund were 21% and 43%, respectively, of the average value of each portfolio. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the portfolio turnover rate for the Franklin Fund and the Multi-Manager Fund were 26% and 74%, respectively, of the average value of each portfolio.

 

Comparison of Investment Adviser and Sub-Advisers

 

The following table compares the investment adviser and sub-advisers of the Franklin Fund with that of the Multi-Manager Fund.

 

Acquired Fund Acquiring Fund
Franklin Fund Multi-Manager Fund

Investment Adviser

Jackson National Asset Management, LLC

Investment Sub-Advisers

Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC

Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC

Investment Adviser

Jackson National Asset Management, LLC

Investment Sub-Advisers

Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited*

Causeway Capital Management LLC

WCM Investment Management, LLC

* Effective April 26, 2021, Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited will be appointed as a sub-adviser to the Multi-Manager Fund.

 

Comparison of Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies

 

The following table compares the investment objectives and principal investment strategies of the Franklin Fund with those of the Multi-Manager Fund. The Funds have the same investment objectives, but different principal investment strategies. The Franklin Fund is managed by affiliated co-sub-advisers, while the Multi-Manager Fund is managed by unaffiliated sub-advisers. Under normal market conditions, The Franklin Fund invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in investments of smaller companies located outside the U.S., including those of emerging or developing markets. The Franklin Fund defines “smaller companies” as those that, at the time of purchase of the investment, have market capitalizations that do not exceed the greater of (i) $5 billion or the equivalent in local currencies or (ii) the highest market capitalization in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Small Cap Index or the All Country World ex US (ACWIxUS) Small Cap Index. The Franklin Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of companies that operate as REITs and similar REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S, whereas the Multi-Manager Fund does not have this strategy. The Multi-Manager Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in international small cap strategies. The sleeves of the Multi-Manager Fund invest in securities of small capitalization companies located in developed, emerging and frontier markets. The WCM sleeve of the Multi-Manager Fund considers small capitalization companies to be companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies included in the Index,

 

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and the Causeway sleeve of the Multi-Manager Fund considers smaller market capitalization companies as those that have market capitalizations that do not exceed the highest market capitalization of a company within the Index. Effective April 26, 2021, Baillie Gifford will be appointed as a sub-adviser to the Multi-Manager Fund, and the Baillie Gifford sleeve will consider smaller companies to be those with a market capitalization of approximately $2 billion or lower.

 

Both Funds invest in small capitalization companies and depositary receipts. Both Funds may have significant investments in a particular sector or country, although the Multi-Manager Fund generally will invest in the securities of companies domiciled in at least three different countries. The Board may change the investment objective of a Fund without a vote of the Fund’s shareholders. For more detailed information about each Fund’s investment strategies and risks, see below and Appendix B.

 

Acquired Fund Acquiring Fund
Franklin Fund Multi-Manager Fund

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in investments of smaller companies located outside the U.S., including those of emerging or developing markets. For this Fund, smaller companies are defined as those that, at the time of purchase of the investment, have market capitalizations that do not exceed the greater of (i) $5 billion or the equivalent in local currencies or (ii) the highest market capitalization in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Small Cap Index or the All Country World ex US (ACWIxUS) Small Cap Index.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in international small cap strategies, sometimes referred to as “sleeves,” managed by unaffiliated investment managers (“Sub-Advisers”). Both Sub-Advisers generally provide day-to-day management for a portion of the Fund’s assets.

Each Sub-Adviser may use different investment strategies in managing Fund assets, acts independently from the others, and uses its own methodology for selecting investments. Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (“JNAM” or “Adviser”) is responsible for identifying and retaining the Sub-Advisers for the selected strategies and for monitoring the services provided by the Sub-Advisers. JNAM provides qualitative and quantitative supervision as part of its process for selecting and monitoring the Sub-Advisers. JNAM is also responsible for selecting the Fund’s investment strategies and for determining the amount of Fund assets to allocate to each Sub-Adviser. Based on JNAM’s ongoing evaluation of the Sub-Advisers, JNAM may adjust allocations among Sub-Advisers.

The Fund, from time to time, may have significant investments in a particular sector or country.

Below are the principal investment strategies for each sleeve, but the Sub-Advisers may also implement other investment strategies in keeping with their respective sleeve’s objective.

WCM International Small Cap Growth Strategy

·       WCM Investment Management, LLC (“WCM”) constructs the strategy by investing in equity securities or depositary receipts of small capitalization companies domiciled

 

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Acquired Fund Acquiring Fund
Franklin Fund Multi-Manager Fund

        outside of the United States, including in emerging and frontier market countries. WCM considers small capitalization companies to be companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies included in the Morgan Stanley Capital Index (“MSCI”) ACWI ex U.S. Small Cap Index (“Index”) at the time of purchase. Because small capitalization companies are defined by reference to the Index, the range of market capitalization of companies in which the WCM International Small Cap Growth Strategy invests may vary with market conditions. WCM will consider the market capitalization range by country. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the WCM International Small Cap Growth Strategy at the Sub-Adviser’s discretion.

Causeway International Small Cap Strategy

·      Causeway Capital Management LLC (“Causeway”) constructs the strategy by investing primarily in common stocks of companies with smaller market capitalizations located in developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. Smaller market capitalization companies have market capitalizations that do not exceed the highest market capitalization of a company within the Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2019, the Index included companies with market capitalizations of up to $9.2 billion and included companies in both developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. Investments in companies include both developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. Some of these companies, although small compared with larger U.S. companies, might be large companies in their local markets. The Causeway International Small Cap Strategy may invest in a wide range of industries. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the Causeway International Small Cap Strategy at the Sub-Adviser’s discretion.

No corresponding strategy. Emerging and frontier countries or markets are those countries or markets with low-to-middle-income economies as classified by the World Bank or included in any of the MSCI emerging markets or frontier markets indices. The Sub-Advisers consider a company to be in an emerging or frontier country or market if the company has been registered,

 

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Acquired Fund Acquiring Fund
Franklin Fund Multi-Manager Fund

 

incorporated, or organized under the laws of, has headquarters or its principal offices in, or has its stock exchange listing or its securities principally traded in, the emerging or frontier country or market, or if the company derives at least 50% of its revenues, net profits or incremental revenue growth (typically over the past five years) from, or has at least 50% of assets or production capacities in, the emerging or frontier country or market. The Sub-Advisers consider a company to be domiciled in a country if the company is registered, incorporated or organized under the laws of that country, has headquarters or its principal place of business in that country, or has its stock exchange listing or its securities principally traded in that country.
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of companies that operate as real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and similar REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S. No corresponding strategy.
The Fund also invests in depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that give their holders the right to receive securities issued by a foreign or domestic company. The Fund’s equity investments include common stock and depositary receipts. The Fund’s investments in depositary receipts may include American, European, Canadian and Global Depositary Receipts (“ADRs,” “EDRs,” “CDRs”, and “GDRs,” respectively), and other similar securities. ADRs are receipts that represent interests in foreign securities held on deposit by U.S. banks. EDRs and GDRs have the same qualities as ADRs, except that they may be traded in several international trading markets.
The Fund may also invest a portion of its assets in equity securities of larger foreign companies. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in the securities of issuers located in any one country. The Fund generally will invest in the securities of companies domiciled in at least three different countries. However, from time to time, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies domiciled in one or a few countries. The Fund may make significant investments in certain sectors or group of sectors from time to time.
In choosing individual equity investments, the Fund’s Sub-Advisers utilize a fundamental “bottom-up” approach involving in-depth proprietary analysis of individual equity securities. This includes an assessment by the Sub-Advisers of the potential impacts of material environmental, social and governance factors on the long-term risk and return profile of a company. In narrowing down the universe of eligible investments, the Sub-Advisers employ a quantitative and qualitative approach to identify smaller international companies that the Sub-Advisers believe have the potential to generate attractive returns. No corresponding strategy.

 

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Comparison of Principal Risk Factors

 

While there are some similarities in the risk profiles of the Funds, there are also some differences of which you should be aware. Each Fund’s principal risks include depositary receipts risk, emerging markets and less developed countries risk, equity securities risk, foreign regulatory risk, foreign securities risk, investment style risk, market risk, and mid-capitalization and small-capitalization investing risk. However, the Franklin Fund is also subject to accounting risk, company risk, concentration risk, cyclical opportunities risk, European investment risk, exchange-traded funds investing risk, financial services risk, liquidity risk, managed portfolio risk, real estate investment risk, small-capitalization investing risk, and stock risk, which are not principal risks of investing in the Multi-Manager Fund. In addition, the principal risks of investing in the Multi-Manager Fund include allocation risk and frontier market countries risk, which are not principal risks of investing in the Franklin Fund. For a detailed comparison of each Fund’s risks, see both the table below and Appendix B.

 

An investment in a Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of a Fund’s shares will change, and an investor could lose money by investing in a Fund. The following table compares the principal risks of an investment in each Fund. For additional information about each principal risk and other applicable risks, see Appendix B.

 

  Acquired Fund Acquiring Fund
Risks Franklin Fund Multi-Manager Fund
Accounting risk X  
Allocation risk   X
Company risk X  
Concentration risk X  
Currency risk X  
Cyclical opportunities risk X  
Depositary receipts risk X X
Emerging markets and less developed countries risk X X
Equity securities risk X X
European investment risk X  
Exchange-traded funds investing risk X  
Financial services risk X  
Foreign regulatory risk X X
Foreign securities risk X X
Frontier market countries risk   X
Investment style risk X X
Liquidity risk X  
Managed portfolio risk X  

 

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  Acquired Fund Acquiring Fund
Risks Franklin Fund Multi-Manager Fund
Market risk X X
Mid-capitalization and small-capitalization investing risk X X
Real estate investment risk X  
Small-capitalization investing risk X  
Stock risk X  

 

Comparison of Fundamental Policies

 

Each Fund is subject to certain fundamental policies and restrictions that may not be changed without shareholder approval. The following table compares the fundamental policies of the Franklin Fund with those of the Multi-Manager Fund.

 

Acquired Fund Acquiring Fund
Franklin Fund Multi-Manager Fund
  (1)  The Fund is a “diversified company,” as such term is defined under the 1940 Act. Same.
  (2) The Fund may not invest more than 25% of the value of its assets in any particular industry (other than U.S. Government securities and/or foreign sovereign debt securities).    Same.
  (3) The Fund may not invest directly in real estate or interests in real estate; however, the Fund may own debt or equity securities issued by companies engaged in those businesses. Same.
  (4) The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities other than foreign currencies unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities (but this limitation shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures, swaps and forward contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities). Same.
  (5) The Fund may not lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets would be lent to other parties (but this limitation does not apply to purchases of commercial paper, debt securities or repurchase agreements).

Same.

 

 

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Acquired Fund Acquiring Fund
Franklin Fund Multi-Manager Fund
  (6) The Fund may not act as an underwriter of securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities of the Fund. Same.
  (7) The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Same.  
  (8) The Fund may not borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and any applicable exemptive relief. Same.  

 

Comparative Performance Information

 

The performance information shown below provides some indication of the risks of investing in each Fund by showing changes in each Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how each Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of such Fund. Each Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

The returns shown in the bar charts and tables below do not include charges imposed under the Contracts.  If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

 

Following the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund will be the accounting and performance survivor.

 

Franklin Fund – Calendar Year Total Returns

(Acquired Fund)

 

Class A

 

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2013): 16.68%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2018): -16.67%

 

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Class I

 

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2013): 16.77%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2018): -16.61%

 

Multi-Manager Fund– Calendar Year Total Returns

(Acquiring Fund)

 

Class A

 

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2019): 14.60%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2019): -1.15%

 

Class I

 

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2019): 14.71%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2019): -0.94%

 

 

Acquired Fund – Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2019            
  1 year   5 year   10 year  
Franklin Fund (Class A) 18.39 % 5.21 % 7.34 %
MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index (Net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 24.96 % 8.85 % 8.74 %

 

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Acquired Fund – Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2019            
  1 year   5 year   10 year  
Franklin Fund (Class I) 18.85 % 5.48 % 7.58 %
MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index (Net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 24.96 % 8.85 % 8.74 %

 

 

Acquiring Fund – Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2019      
  1 year  

Life of Fund

(August 13, 2018)

Multi-Manager Fund (Class A) 31.72 % 4.60 %
MSCI All Country World Index ex USA Small Cap NR USD Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 22.42 % 3.20 %

 

  

Acquiring Fund – Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2019      
  1 year  

Life of Class

(August 13, 2018)

Multi-Manager Fund (Class I) 32.06 % 4.89 %
MSCI All Country World Index ex USA Small Cap NR USD Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 22.42 % 3.20 %

 

Capitalization

 

The following table shows the capitalization of each Fund as of June 30, 2020, and of the Multi-Manager Fund on a pro forma combined basis as of June 30, 2020 after giving effect to the proposed Reorganization. The actual net assets of the Franklin Fund and the Multi-Manager Fund on the Closing Date will differ due to fluctuations in net asset values, subsequent purchases, and redemptions of shares. No assurance can be given as to how many shares of the Multi-Manager Fund will be received by shareholders of Franklin Fund on the Closing Date, and the following table should not be relied upon to reflect the number of shares of the Multi-Manager Fund that will actually be received.

 

 

 

Net Assets

Net Asset Value Per Share Shares Outstanding
Franklin Fund (Acquired Fund) – Class A $428,801,518 7.48 57,345,611
Multi-Manager Fund (Acquiring Fund) – Class A $3,006,347 10.50 286,446
Adjustments $(575,926) (a) 0 (16,562,221) (b)
Pro forma Multi-Manager Fund – Class A (assuming the Reorganization is approved) $431,231,939 10.50 41,069,836
Franklin Fund (Acquired Fund) – Class I $2,404,044 7.58 317,271
Multi-Manager Fund (Acquiring Fund) – Class I $244,639,167 10.56 23,173,732
Adjustments $(3,229) (a) 0 (89,921) (b)
Pro forma Multi-Manager Fund – Class I (assuming the Reorganization is approved) $247,039,982 10.56 23,401,082
(a) The costs and expenses associated with the Reorganization relating to the solicitation of proxies, including preparing, filing, printing, and mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and related disclosure documents, and the related legal fees, including the legal fees incurred in connection with the analysis under the Code of the tax treatment of this Reorganization as well as the costs associated with the preparation of the tax opinion and obtaining a consent of independent registered public accounting firm, will be borne by JNAM whether or not the Reorganization is consummated. No sales or other charges will be imposed on Contract Owners in connection with the Reorganization. It is currently anticipated that approximately 3.31% of the Acquired Fund’s holdings will be transferred to the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganization and that, prior to the Reorganization, JNAM will use a transition manager to align or sell approximately 96.69% of the Acquired Fund’s holdings and invest the proceeds in securities that the Acquiring Fund wishes to hold. The Acquired Fund will bear the Transaction Costs associated with the Reorganization. Such Transaction Costs are estimated to be $579,155 (0.12% of net assets).
(b) The adjustment to the pro forma shares outstanding number represents a decrease in shares outstanding of the Acquiring Fund to reflect the exchange of shares of the Acquired Fund.

 

The Reorganization provides for the acquisition of all the assets and all the liabilities of the Franklin Fund by the Multi-Manager Fund. If the Reorganization had taken place on June 30, 2020, shareholders of the Franklin Fund would have received 40,783,390 and 227,350 Class A and Class I shares, respectively, of the Multi-Manager Fund.

 

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After careful consideration, the Board unanimously approved the Plan of Reorganization with respect to the Franklin Fund. Accordingly, the Board has submitted the Plan of Reorganization for approval by the Franklin Fund’s shareholders. The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” this Proposal.

 

*          *          *          *          *

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REORGANIZATION

 

Terms of the Plan of Reorganization

 

The terms of the Plan of Reorganization are summarized below. For additional information, you should consult the Plan of Reorganization, a copy of which is attached as Appendix A.

 

If shareholders of the Acquired Fund approve the Plan of Reorganization, then the assets of the Acquired Fund will be acquired by, and in exchange for, Class A and Class I shares, respectively, of the Acquiring Fund and the liabilities of the Acquired Fund will be assumed by the Acquiring Fund. The Acquired Fund will then be terminated by the Trust, and the Class A and Class I shares of the Acquiring Fund distributed to the Class A and Class I shareholders, respectively, of the Acquired Fund in the redemption of the Class A and Class I Acquired Fund Shares. Immediately after completion of the Reorganization, the number of shares of the Acquiring Fund then held by former shareholders of the Acquired Fund may be different than the number of shares of the Acquired Fund that had been held immediately before completion of the Reorganization, but the total investment will remain the same (i.e., the total value of the Acquiring Fund shares held immediately after the completion of the Reorganization will be the same as the total value of the Acquired Fund shares formerly held immediately before completion of the Reorganization).

 

It is anticipated that the Reorganization will be consummated as of the close of business on April 23, 2021, or on such later date as may be deemed necessary in the judgment of the Board and in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization, subject to the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the closing. It is not anticipated that the Acquired Fund will hold any investment that the Acquiring Fund would not be permitted to hold (“non-permitted investments”).

 

Description of the Securities to Be Issued

 

The Class A shareholders of the Acquired Fund will receive Class A shares of the Acquiring Fund, and the Class I shareholders of the Acquired Fund will receive Class I shares of the Acquiring Fund in accordance with the procedures provided for in the Plan of Reorganization. Each such share will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust when issued and will have no preemptive or conversion rights.

 

The Trust may issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of the Acquiring Fund and divide or combine such shares into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust.  Each share of the Acquiring Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that Fund with each other share.  The Trust reserves the right to create and issue any number of Fund shares.  In that case, the shares of the Acquiring Fund would participate equally in the earnings, dividends, and assets of the Fund.  Upon liquidation of the Acquiring Fund, shareholders are entitled to share proportionally (according to the net asset value of their shares of the Acquiring Fund) in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders. The Acquiring Fund is a series of the Trust.

 

The Trust currently offers two classes of shares, Class A and Class I shares, for the Acquiring Fund. Each series of the Trust has adopted a distribution plan in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Pursuant to the distribution plan, Class A shares of the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund are charged a Rule 12b-1 fee at the annual rate of 0.30% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Class A shares of the respective Fund. Because these distribution/service fees are paid out of the Funds’ assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase your cost of investing and may cost more than paying other types of charges. Class I shares are not charged a Rule 12b-1 fee.

 

Board Considerations

 

At a meeting of the Board held on December 1-3, 2020 (the “Board Meeting”), the Board, including all of the independent trustees, who are not interested persons of the Funds (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) (the “Independent Trustees”), considered information relating to the proposed reorganization of the Acquired Fund, a series of the Trust, into the Acquiring Fund, also a series of the Trust (the “Reorganization”). Before approving the Reorganization, the Independent Trustees reviewed the foregoing information with their independent

 

  14  
 

 

legal counsel and with management, reviewed with independent legal counsel applicable law and their duties in considering such matters, and met with independent legal counsel in a private session without management present.

 

The Board considered that the Acquired Fund was launched to provide long-term capital appreciation. The Board also considered that as of September 30, 2020, the Acquired Fund’s trailing one-, three-, and five-year performance rankings have been in the bottom decile relative to peers. The Board considered JNAM’s statement that the Acquired Fund’s disappointing performance had been largely the result of an investment sleeve experiencing poor stock selection and distinct macroeconomic headwinds. The Board noted that, in addition to the Acquired Fund’s poor absolute and relative performance results, there had been personnel changes at the Acquired Fund’s sub-adviser and changes to the sub-adviser’s investment process. The Board considered that the Reorganization is part of an overall rationalization of the Trust’s offerings and is designed to eliminate inefficiencies arising from offering overlapping funds that serve as investment options for the Contracts issued by the Insurance Companies and certain non-qualified plans. The Board noted that the objective of the Reorganization is to seek to ensure that a consolidated family of investments offers a streamlined, complete, and competitive set of underlying investment options to serve the interests of shareholders and Contract Owners. The Board considered JNAM’s statement that, despite the smaller size of the Acquiring Fund, JNAM believes the Reorganization is appropriate and beneficial to Acquired Fund shareholders due to the better performance record and lower expenses of the Acquiring Fund. Thus, the Board considered the recommendation of JNAM to merge the Acquired Fund into the Acquiring Fund given that JNAM believes that the Acquiring Fund’s multi-manager structure is expected to provide Acquired Fund shareholders with improved risk-adjusted performance, greater manager diversification, and potentially fewer capacity constraints than the Acquired Fund.

 

The Board considered a number of principal factors presented at the time of the Board Meeting in reaching its determinations, including the following:

 

·         Investment Objectives and Investment Strategies. The Board considered that the Reorganization will permit the Contract Owners and others with beneficial interest in the Acquired Fund to continue to invest in a professionally managed fund with similar investment goals, noting that the Acquired Fund’s and Acquiring Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Board also considered management’s statement that while the Acquiring Fund has a relatively short track record, JNAM has high levels of conviction in both of the sub-advisers and their respective parent organizations. As described below, the Board also considered how the Acquired Fund’s shareholders will benefit from the Reorganization. For a full description of the investment objectives and investment strategies of the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund, see “Comparison of Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies.”

 

· Operating Expenses. The Board considered that, if approved by the Acquired Fund’s shareholders, the Reorganization is expected to result in a Combined Fund with a total annual fund operating expense ratio and management fee that are expected to be lower than those of the Acquired Fund currently. The Board further noted that the Acquiring Fund’s total annual fund operating expense ratio and management fee are expected to be remain the same as a result of the Reorganization. See “Comparative Fee and Expense Tables.”

 

· Larger Asset Base. The Board considered that the Reorganization may benefit Contract Owners and others with beneficial interests in the Acquired Fund by allowing them to invest in the Combined Fund that has a larger asset base than that of the Acquired Fund currently. The Board noted that as of September 30, 2020, the Acquired Fund had assets of $457.82 million as compared to assets of $256.19 million for the Acquiring Fund. The Board considered management’s assertion that the Acquired Fund’s shareholders would be better served by merging the Acquired Fund into the Acquiring Fund and that reorganizing the Acquired Fund into the Acquiring Fund may be the best way to offer Contract Owners and other investors the ability to achieve economies of scale. The Board discussed whether it is in the best interests of the Acquired Fund shareholders for the Acquired Fund to be merged into a fund with less assets and considered whether Causeway and WCM will be equipped to properly manage a combined fund with more assets than the Acquiring Fund. The Board also noted JNAM’s statement that the Combined Fund may also realize greater economies of scale and that it will offer the potential benefit of increased investment opportunities and more diversified portfolios of securities.

 

· Performance. The Board considered that the Acquiring Fund has outperformed the Acquired Fund for the three-month, one-year, since-inception periods ended September 30, 2020. The Board noted that during the 2019 calendar year, on a gross-of-fees basis, the Acquiring Fund returned 33.32% while the Franklin Fund returned 19.88%.

 

· Investment Adviser and Other Service Providers. The Board considered that the Funds currently have the same investment adviser and administrator, JNAM, and many of the same service providers, with the exception of having different sub-advisers and custodians. Specifically, the Board considered that the Acquired Fund is co-

 

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sub-advised by Franklin and Templeton Investment, and that the sub-advisers for the Acquiring Fund are Causeway and WCM. The Board also considered that, effective April 26, 2021, Baillie Gifford will be appointed as a sub-adviser to the Acquiring Fund. See “Comparison of Investment Adviser and Sub-Advisers.” The Board also noted that the custodian for the Acquired Fund is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, and the custodian for the Acquiring Fund is State Street Bank & Trust Company. The Board also considered that the transfer agent for the Acquiring Fund, JNAM, and the Distributor for shares of the Acquiring Fund, Jackson National Life Distributors LLC, are the same as for the Acquired Fund and will remain the same immediately after the Reorganization.

 

· Federal Income Tax Consequences.  The Board considered that the Reorganization is not expected to be a taxable event for federal income tax purposes for Contract Owners.

 

· Costs of Reorganization. The Board considered that the costs and expenses associated with the Reorganization relating to the solicitation of proxies, including preparing, filing, printing, and mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and related disclosure documents, the related legal fees, including the legal fees incurred in connection with the analysis under the Code of the tax treatment of this transaction, as well as the costs associated with the preparation of the tax opinion, and obtaining a consent of independent registered public accounting firm will be borne by JNAM whether or not the Reorganization is consummated. No sales or other charges will be imposed on Contract Owners in connection with the Reorganization. The Board considered that it is currently anticipated that approximately 3.31% of the Acquired Fund’s holdings will be transferred to the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganization and that, prior to the Reorganization, JNAM will use a transition manager to align or sell approximately 96.69% of the Acquired Fund’s holdings and allocate the resulting proceeds to the sleeves managed by the Acquiring Fund’s sub-advisers in accordance with the Acquiring Fund’s principal investment strategies. Thus, the Board also considered that the Acquired Fund will bear the Transaction Costs associated with the Reorganization and that Transaction Costs are estimated to be to be $579,155 (0.12% of net assets).

 

In summary, in determining whether to recommend approval of the Reorganization, the Board considered factors including (1) the terms and conditions of the Reorganization and whether the Reorganization would result in dilution of the Acquired Fund’s and Acquiring Fund’s shareholders’, Contract Owners’, and plan participants’ interests; (2) the compatibility of the Funds’ investment objectives, investment strategies, and investment restrictions, as well as shareholder services offered by the Funds; (3) the expense ratios and information regarding the fees and expenses of the Funds; (4) the advantages and disadvantages to the Acquired Fund’s and Acquiring Fund’s shareholders, Contract Owners, and plan participants of having a larger asset base in the Combined Fund; (5) the relative historical performance of the Funds; (6) the management of the Funds; (7) the federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization; and (8) the costs of the Reorganization. No one factor was determinative and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Board did not determine any considerations related to the Reorganization to be adverse.

 

The Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that the Reorganization would be in the best interests of the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund and that the interests of the Acquired Fund’s and Acquiring Fund’s Contract Owners and other investors would not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization. The Board voted unanimously to approve the Reorganization and recommended its approval by Contract Owners and others with beneficial interests in the Acquired Fund.

 

Description of Risk Factors

 

A Fund’s performance may be affected by one or more risk factors. For a detailed description of each Fund’s risk factors, please see “More Information on Strategies and Risk Factors” in Appendix B.

 

Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganization

 

As a condition to the consummation of the Reorganization, each Fund will have received one or more opinions of Ropes & Gray LLP, dated on or before the effective date of the Reorganization, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of the existing provisions of the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations issued thereunder, current administrative rules, pronouncements and court decisions, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Reorganization will not be a taxable event for Contract Owners whose contract values are determined by investment in shares of the Acquired Fund. The opinion will be based on certain factual certifications made by officers of the Funds, the Adviser and the Insurance Companies offering the Contracts, and will also be based on reasonable assumptions.

None of the Trust, the Acquired Fund, or the Acquiring Fund has sought a tax ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), but each is acting in reliance upon the opinions of counsel discussed in the previous paragraph. The

 

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opinions are not binding on the IRS and do not preclude the IRS from adopting a contrary position. Contract Owners should consult their own tax advisors concerning the potential tax consequences, including state and local income taxes.

 

Contingency Plan

 

If the Reorganization is not approved by shareholders, the Funds will continue to operate as they currently do and the Board will consider what actions are appropriate and in the best interests of Contract Owners that have assets invested in the Acquired Fund.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS

 

Management of the Trust

 

This section provides information about the Trust, the Adviser, and the sub-advisers for the Funds.

 

The Trust

 

The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company. Under Massachusetts law and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the management of the business and affairs of the Trust is the responsibility of its Board. Each Fund is a series of the Trust.

 

The Adviser

 

JNAM, located at 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, Michigan 48951, serves as the investment adviser to the Trust and provides the Funds with professional investment supervision and management. JNAM is registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Advisers Act”). The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jackson National Life Insurance Company (“Jackson”), a U.S.-based financial services company. Jackson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jackson Financial Inc., which is a subsidiary of Prudential plc. Prudential plc is a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom. Prudential plc is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, or with The Prudential Assurance Company Ltd, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom. Athene Co-Invest Reinsurance Affiliate 1A Ltd., a Bermuda Class C insurer under the Bermuda Insurance Act 1978, owns a minority interest in Jackson Financial Inc. Prudential plc is also the ultimate parent of PPM America, Inc.

 

JNAM acts as investment adviser to the Trust pursuant to an Investment Advisory and Management Agreement. Under the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, JNAM is responsible for managing the affairs and overseeing the investments of the Funds and determining how voting and other rights with respect to securities owned by the Funds will be exercised. JNAM also provides recordkeeping, administrative and exempt transfer agent services to the Funds and oversees the performance of services provided to the Funds by other service providers, including the custodian and shareholder servicing agent. JNAM is authorized to delegate certain of its duties with respect to a Fund to a sub-adviser, subject to the approval of the Board, and is responsible for overseeing that sub-adviser’s performance. JNAM is solely responsible for payment of any fees to the sub-adviser.

 

JNAM plays an active role in advising and monitoring each Fund and sub-adviser. When appropriate, JNAM recommends to the Board potential sub-advisers for a Fund. For those Funds managed by a sub-adviser, JNAM monitors each sub-adviser’s Fund management team to determine whether its investment activities remain consistent with the Funds’ investment strategies and objectives. JNAM also monitors changes that may impact the sub-adviser’s overall business, including the sub-adviser’s operations and changes in investment personnel and senior management, and regularly performs due diligence reviews of each sub-adviser. In addition, JNAM obtains detailed, comprehensive information concerning each Fund’s and sub-adviser’s performance and Fund operations. JNAM is responsible for providing regular reports on these matters to the Board.

 

The Investment Advisory and Management Agreement continues in effect for each Fund from year to year after its initial two-year term so long as its continuation is approved at least annually by (i) a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to such agreement or interested persons of any such party except in their capacity as Trustees of the Trust, and (ii) the shareholders of the affected Fund or the Board. It may be terminated at any time upon 60 days’ notice by JNAM, or by a majority vote of the outstanding shares of a Fund with respect to that Fund, and will terminate automatically upon its assignment. The Investment Advisory and Management Agreement provides that JNAM shall not be liable for any error of judgment, or for any loss suffered by any Fund in connection with the matters to which the agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of

 

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JNAM in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the agreement.  As compensation for its services, the Trust pays JNAM a separate fee in respect of each Fund as described in each Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Management Fees

 

As compensation for its advisory services, JNAM receives a fee from the Trust computed separately for the Funds, accrued daily and payable monthly.  The fee JNAM receives from each Fund is set forth below as an annual percentage of the net assets of the Fund.

 

The table below shows the advisory fee rate schedule for each Fund as set forth in the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and the aggregate annual fee the Fund paid to JNAM for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Each Fund’s advisory fee rate schedule is subject to contractual breakpoints that reduce the advisory fee rate should the Fund’s average daily net assets exceed specified amounts.

 

Fund Assets

Advisory Fee

(Annual Rate Based on Average Daily Net Assets of each Fund)

Aggregate Fee Paid to Adviser based on Average Daily Net Assets as of December 31, 2019
Franklin Fund

$0 to $500 million

$500 million to $1 billion

$1 billion to $3 billion

$3 billion to $5 billion

Over $5 billion

0.800%

0.750%

0.700%

0.690%

0.680%

0.79%

 

Multi-Manager Fund

$0 to $1 billion

$1 billion to $3 billion

$3 billion to $5 billion

Over $5 billion

0.750%

0.725%

0.715%

0.705%

0.75%

 

 

A discussion of the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2019 and will be available in the Trust’s Annual Report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

JNAM selects, contracts with, and compensates the sub-advisers to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Funds. JNAM monitors the compliance of the sub-advisers with the investment objectives and related policies of the Funds, reviews the performance of the sub-advisers, and reports periodically on such performance to the Board. Under the terms of each of the sub-advisory agreements, the sub-adviser is responsible for supervising and managing the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the assigned Fund and for directing the purchase and sale of the Fund’s investment securities, subject to the oversight and supervision of JNAM and the Board.  The sub-advisers formulate a continuous investment program for a Fund consistent with its investment strategies, objectives and policies outlined in its Prospectus.  Each sub-adviser implements such program by purchases and sales of securities and regularly reports to JNAM and the Board with respect to the implementation of such program. As compensation for its sub-advisory services, each sub-adviser receives a fee from JNAM, computed separately for the applicable Fund, stated as an annual percentage of the Fund’s net assets. JNAM currently is obligated to pay the sub-advisers out of the advisory fee it receives from the applicable Fund.

 

The Acquiring Fund has co-sub-advisers. JNAM has entered into separate investment sub-advisory agreements with each of the Acquiring Fund’s sub-advisers. Each co-sub-adviser independently selects the investments for the portion of the Acquiring Fund that is allocated to it and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Acquiring Fund’s assets allocated to it. Pursuant to each sub-advisory agreement, JNAM pays each co-sub-adviser for providing services to JNAM with respect to the Acquiring Fund at a monthly fee at an annual rate equal to a percentage of the Fund’s assets allocated to it.

 

JNAM and the Trust, together with other investment companies of which JNAM is investment adviser, have received an exemptive order (the “Order”) that allows JNAM to hire, replace or terminate unaffiliated sub-advisers or materially amend a sub-advisory agreement with an unaffiliated sub-adviser with the approval of the Board, but without the approval of shareholders.  However, any amendment to an advisory agreement between JNAM and the Trust that would result in an increase in the management fee rate specified in that agreement (i.e., the aggregate management fee) charged to a Fund will be submitted to shareholders for approval. Under the terms of the Order, if a new sub-

 

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adviser is hired by JNAM, the affected Fund will provide shareholders with information about the new sub-adviser and the new sub-advisory agreement within ninety (90) days of the change. The Order allows the Funds to operate more efficiently and with greater flexibility.  JNAM provides oversight and evaluation services to the Funds, including, but not limited to the following services: performing initial due diligence on prospective sub-advisers for the Funds; monitoring the performance of sub-advisers; communicating performance expectations to the sub-advisers; and ultimately recommending to the Board whether a sub-adviser’s contract should be renewed, modified or terminated.

 

JNAM does not expect to recommend frequent changes of sub-advisers. Although JNAM will monitor the performance of the sub-advisers, there is no certainty that the sub-advisers or the Funds will obtain favorable results at any given time.

 

As compensation for the services for their respective Funds, the co-sub-advisers to the Acquired Fund, Franklin and Templeton Investment, and the sub-advisers to the Acquiring Fund, Causeway and WCM, each receive a sub-advisory fee that is payable by JNAM. The following table shows the amount of sub-advisory fees that JNAM paid the sub-advisers (out of JNAM’s advisory fees) for the services provided by the respective sub-advisers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019:

 

Fund Sub-Advisers Aggregate Fees Paid to Sub-Advisers
Dollar Amount As a Percentage of Average Daily Net Assets as of December 31, 2019
Franklin Fund 1

Franklin

Templeton Investment

$3,206,195 0.55%
Multi-Manager Fund 2

Causeway

WCM

$1,499,801 0.55%
1 For the purpose of calculating the sub-adviser fee for the JNL/Franklin Templeton Income Fund, the JNL/Franklin Templeton Global Multisector Bond Fund, the JNL/Franklin Templeton Growth Allocation Fund, and the Franklin Fund, a fee discount is applied based on the combined average daily net assets of the portfolios.
2 Effective April 26, 2021, Baillie Gifford will be appointed as a sub-adviser to the Multi-Manager Fund.
         

A discussion of the basis for the Board’s approval of the sub-advisory agreements is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2019 and will be available in the Trust’s Annual Report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition to the investment advisory fee, each Fund currently pays to JNAM (the “Administrator”) an administrative fee as an annual percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund, accrued daily and paid monthly, as set forth below.

 

Fund Assets

Administrative Fee

(Annual Rate Based on

Average Net Assets)

Franklin Fund

$0 to $3 billion

Assets over $3 billion

0.15%

0.13%

Multi-Manager Fund

$0 to $3 billion

Assets over $3 billion

0.15%

0.13%

 

In return for the administrative fee, the Administrator provides or procures all necessary administrative functions and services for the operation of each Fund.  In addition, the Administrator, at its own expense, provides or procures routine legal, audit, fund accounting, custody (except overdraft and interest expense), printing and mailing, a portion of the Chief Compliance Officer costs and all other services necessary for the operation of each Fund.  Each Fund is responsible for trading expenses including brokerage commissions, interest and taxes, and other non-operating expenses. Each Fund is also responsible for nonrecurring and extraordinary legal fees, interest expenses, registration fees, licensing costs, directors and officers insurance, expenses related to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, and the fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees and of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (categorized as “Other Expenses” in the fee tables). 

 

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The Sub-Advisers

 

The co-sub-advisers to the Acquired Fund are Franklin and Templeton Investment. Franklin and Templeton Investment are both indirect subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

The Acquired Fund is managed by a team of dedicated professionals focused on investments in international securities, both of small capitalization companies and mid- large-capitalization companies. The portfolio managers of the Acquired Fund have equal authority over all aspects of the Acquired Fund’s investment portfolio, including but not limited to, purchases and sales of individual securities, portfolio risk assessment, and the management of daily cash balances in accordance with anticipated investment management requirements. The degree to which each portfolio manager may perform these functions, and the nature of these functions, may change from time to time.

 

The following table describes the Acquired Fund’s co-sub-advisers, portfolio managers, and each portfolio manager’s business experience. Information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts they manage and their ownership of securities of the Acquired Fund is available in the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Franklin Fund (Acquired Fund)
Sub-Advisers & Portfolio Managers Portfolio Managers’ Business Experience

Franklin Templeton

Institutional, LLC

600 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10020

 

Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC

300 S.E. 2nd Street

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

 

Portfolio Managers

Edwin Lugo, CFA

Harlan Hodes, CPA

Pankaj Nevatia, CPA

Edwin Lugo, CFA (Senior Vice President of Franklin Equity Group) is a senior vice president and the lead portfolio manager for the Franklin Global Small-Cap Team, including European, non-U.S. and global separate accounts and mutual funds. In addition, he researches small- and mid-capitalization companies. Prior to joining Franklin Templeton in 2006, Mr. Lugo was an equity owner and a vice president with Brown Capital, leading growth investing in the International Division. Previously, he was a vice president, research analyst and portfolio manager with Templeton. Mr. Lugo entered the financial services industry in 1990. Mr. Lugo holds an M.B.A. in finance from Columbia University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder, a board member of the CollegeBound Foundation and an alumnus of the Robert A. Toigo Foundation.

 

Harlan Hodes, CPA (Executive Vice President of Templeton Investment) manages the U.S. retail Templeton Global Small Companies Fund and small-cap institutional portfolios, including Templeton International Smaller Companies Fund and TIF Foreign Smaller Companies Fund. In addition, he has global research responsibilities for small-cap consumer goods. He joined Templeton Investment in 2001. Mr. Hodes holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. for the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

Pankaj Nevatia, CPA (Vice President of Franklin Equity Group) is a vice president, portfolio manager and research analyst for Franklin Equity Group. He participates in the management of the Franklin International Small Cap and Global Small Mid Cap strategies, including mutual funds and separate accounts, in addition to generalist research responsibilities for global small and mid-capitalization stocks. Prior to joining Franklin Templeton in 2010, Mr. Nevatia worked in the Global Growth Equities Division at AllianceBernstein and in equity research at Cowen and Company. He entered the financial services industry in 2004. Mr. Nevatia holds an M.B.A. from Fordham University, and a postgraduate diploma in computer applications and a B.Com from Bharathiar University in India. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.

 

The current sub-advisers to the Acquiring Fund are Causeway and WCM. Each sub-adviser manages a sleeve of the Acquiring Fund. Effective April 26, 2021, Baillie Gifford will be appointed as a sub-adviser to the Acquiring Fund.

 

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Causeway is a Delaware limited liability company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Causeway Capital Holdings LLC.

 

WCM is an independent, money management firm, founded in 1976. WCM provides investment management and sub-advisory services to public as well as various institutional and sub-advised accounts.

 

The following table describes the Acquiring Fund’s sub-advisers, portfolio managers, and each portfolio manager’s business experience. Information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts they manage and their ownership of securities of the Acquiring Fund is available in the Trust’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Multi-Manager Fund (Acquiring Fund)
Sub-Advisers & Portfolio Managers Portfolio Managers’ Business Experience

Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited

Calton Square, 1 Greenside Row, Edinburgh EH1 3AN, Scotland

 

Portfolio Managers

Praveen Kumar

Brian Lum, CFA

Milena Mileva

Steve Vaughan, CFA

 

Praveen Kumar joined Baillie Gifford in 2008 and is a portfolio manager in the Japanese Equities Team. He is the lead manager for the Manager’s Japanese Smaller Companies Strategy and a member of the Manager’s International Smaller Companies Portfolio Construction Group. Mr Kumar graduated BEng in Computer Science from Bangalore University in 2001 and gained an MBA from the University of Cambridge in 2008.

 

Brian Lum is a portfolio manager in the Manager’s International Growth Research Team and became a member of the International Growth Portfolio Construction Group in May 2015. He also Chairs the Manager’s International Smaller Companies Portfolio Construction Group. Mr. Lum joined Baillie Gifford in 2006 and initially worked in the North American and Emerging Markets departments, before spending a number of years focused on investment in smaller companies. He is a CFA Charterholder. Mr. Lum graduated MSci and BA (Hons) in Physics from the University of Cambridge in 2006.

 

Milena Mileva joined Baillie Gifford in 2009 and is a portfolio manager in the UK Equities Team. She is a member of the Manager’s Pan-European Portfolio Construction Group and a member of the Manager’s International Smaller Companies Portfolio Construction Group. Ms. Mileva graduated BA in Social & Political Science from the University of Cambridge in 2007 and MPhil in Politics from the University of Oxford in 2009.

 

Steve Vaughan joined Baillie Gifford in 2012 and is a portfolio manager in the Smaller Companies Equities Team. Mr. Vaughan is a member of the Manager’s Pan European Smaller Companies Portfolio Construction Group and a member of the Manager’s International Smaller Companies Portfolio Construction Group. He is a CFA Charterholder. Prior to joining Baillie Gifford, Mr. Vaughan was an Officer in the British Army for nine years. He graduated BA (Hons) in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford in 2001 and MA in International Relations from the University of Exeter in 2012.

Causeway Capital

Management LLC

11111 Santa Monica Boulevard

15th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90025

 

Portfolio Managers

Arjun Jayaraman, PhD, CFA

MacDuff Kuhnert, CFA

Joe Gubler, CFA

 

 

Arjun Jayaraman, PhD, CFA, is head of the quantitative research group at the Causeway. He has been a portfolio manager at the Causeway since January 2006. From 2004 to 2005, Dr. Jayaraman was a portfolio manager for quantitative strategies at PanAgora Asset Management. He was the lead portfolio manager of its non-U.S. large cap core equity portfolios and was the co-portfolio manager of its global large cap core equity portfolios. From 2000-2004, Dr. Jayaraman managed similar portfolios at Putnam Investments in addition to working closely with the teams that managed Putnam’s traditional non-U.S. strategies. Dr. Jayaraman has a BA in Economics from Columbia University, a PhD from New York University (Stern School of Business) and is a CFA charterholder.

 

MacDuff Kuhnert, CFA, is a director of the Causeway and performs quantitative research. He joined the Causeway in July 2001. His

 

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Multi-Manager Fund (Acquiring Fund)
Sub-Advisers & Portfolio Managers Portfolio Managers’ Business Experience

 

responsibilities include product development, asset allocation, risk management, and the design and implementation of proprietary valuation models and other quantitative tools. From 1996 to July 2001, Mr. Kuhnert worked for HW-MLIM as a quantitative research associate, where he created and developed advanced quantitative models used in the international value investment process. Mr. Kuhnert has a BA in Chemistry from Dartmouth College. He is a CFA charterholder and member of the Los Angeles Society of Financial Analysts and the Los Angeles Quantitative Investment Association.

 

Joe Gubler, CFA, is a director of the Causeway and performs quantitative research. He joined the Causeway in April 2005. From 2002 to April 2005, Mr. Gubler worked as Director of Engineering for the MonsterTRAK division of Monster.com. He was responsible for a cross functional team that developed, enhanced, and maintained the software that powers the monstertrak.com website. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Gubler developed database-enabled web applications for a wide range of companies, including the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Recording Industry Association of America, Disney, NameSafe.com, and Array Networks. While studying astrophysics at UC San Diego, Mr. Gubler worked as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s stellar interferometry group. Mr. Gubler has a BS, cum laude, in Physics from UC Irvine, an MS in Physics from UC San Diego, and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management. He is a CFA charterholder.

WCM Investment

Management, LLC

281 Brooks Street,

Laguna Beach, California 92651

 

Portfolio Managers

Sanjay Ayer, CFA

Gregory S. Ise, CFA

 

 

Sanjay Ayer, CFA is Portfolio Manager and Business Analyst. Mr. Ayer joined WCM in 2007. He is a member firm’s Investment Strategy Group (ISG) and his primary responsibilities include portfolio management and equity research. Prior to WCM, Mr. Ayer was an Equity Analyst at Morningstar, Inc. in Chicago from 2002 to 2006, where he covered the gaming, cruise and online travel industries.

 

Gregory S. Ise, CFA is Portfolio Manager and Business Analyst. Mr. Ise joined WCM in 2014. He is a member firm’s Investment Strategy Group (ISG) and his primary responsibilities include portfolio management and equity research. Prior to joining WCM, Mr. Ise was a Senior International Research Analyst at Rainier Investment Management (“RIM”) from 2012 to 2014, where he helped launch the firm’s first international small cap open-end mutual fund. Prior to RIM, he was a Vice President and Analyst at Allianz Global Investors from 2006 to 2011, where he contributed to the global and international small cap open-end mutual funds.

 

Portfolio Management

 

The allocations for the Acquiring Fund are made by JNAM. The individuals responsible for application of the Fund’s strategy, executing trades and allocation of capital to the various strategies for the Fund are William Harding, Sean Hynes, and Mark Pliska.

 

Multi-Manager Fund (Acquiring Fund)
Sub-Advisers & Portfolio Managers Portfolio Managers’ Business Experience

Jackson National Asset

Management, LLC

225 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Portfolio Managers

William Harding, CFA

William Harding, CFA, is Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for JNAM since July 2014. Mr. Harding was a Vice President, Head of Investment Management from October 2012 to June 2014. Mr. Harding leads the Investment Management function responsible for oversight of sub-advisor performance and risk, due diligence and manager research. Mr. Harding was previously the Head of Manager Research for Morningstar Inc.’s Investment Management division and  

 

  22  
 

 

Multi-Manager Fund (Acquiring Fund)
Sub-Advisers & Portfolio Managers Portfolio Managers’ Business Experience

Sean Hynes, CFA, CAIA

Mark Pliska, CFA

has over 20 years of investment experience including asset allocation, manager research, portfolio management, and performance evaluation. Mr. Harding graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. He holds an MBA from Loyola University Chicago and he is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

 

Sean Hynes, CFA, CAIA, is Assistant Vice President, Investment Management for JNAM since April 2013. Mr. Hynes provides leadership for the performance analysis and due diligence review of external investment managers. He develops and maintains key relationships with asset managers and provides leadership and direction to Investment Management staff. Prior to joining JNAM, Mr. Hynes was an Investment Manager for Morningstar Investment Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar Inc., and a research associate for Managers Investment Group. Mr. Hynes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a CFA and CAIA charterholder.

 

Mark Pliska, CFA, is a Portfolio Manager for JNAM. Mr. Pliska is responsible for manager research, portfolio construction, and asset allocation of Funds. Prior to joining JNAM in 2011, Mr. Pliska worked as an Investment Analyst for Plan Sponsor Advisors from 2008 to 2011, where he was responsible for the selection and monitoring of investment managers, client reporting, and asset allocation for defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and prior to that, Mr. Pliska was a Research Analyst for DWM Financial Group from 2006 to 2008. Mr. Pliska is a National Merit Scholar and holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Kansas.

* Additional portfolio managers for the Multi-Manager Fund are listed in the “Additional Information about the Funds – The Sub-Advisers” above.

 

The Trust’s Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed, and ownership of securities in the Acquiring Fund.

 

Additional Information

 

Classes of Shares

The Trust has adopted a multi-class plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act.  Under the multi-class plan, the Funds have two classes of shares, Class A and Class I. As discussed in “Distribution Arrangements” below, the Class A shares of the Funds are subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee equal to 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares. Class I shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee. Under the multi-class structure, the Class A shares and Class I shares of the Funds represent interests in the same portfolio of securities and are substantially the same except for “class expenses.”  

 

The expenses of the Funds are borne by each class of shares based on the net assets of the Fund attributable to each Class, except that class expenses are allocated to the appropriate class.  “Class expenses” include any distribution, administrative or service expense allocable to that class, pursuant to the distribution plan described below, and any other expenses that JNAM determines, subject to ratification or approval by the Board, to be properly allocable to that class, including: (i) printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing to the shareholders of a particular class (or Contract Owners funded by shares of such class) materials such as Prospectuses, shareholder reports and (ii) professional fees relating solely to one class.

 

  23  
 

 

Distribution Arrangements

 

Jackson National Life Distributors LLC (“JNLD” or the “Distributor”), 300 Innovation Dr., Franklin, Tennessee 37067, is the principal underwriter of the Funds of the Trust. JNLD is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jackson. Jackson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jackson Financial Inc., which is a subsidiary of Prudential plc. Prudential plc is a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom. Prudential plc is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, or with The Prudential Assurance Company Ltd., a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom. Athene Co-Invest Reinsurance Affiliate 1A Ltd., a Bermuda Class C insurer under the Bermuda Insurance Act 1978, owns a minority interest in Jackson Financial Inc.

 

JNLD is responsible for promoting sales of each Fund’s shares. The Distributor also is the principal underwriter of the variable annuity insurance products issued by Jackson National and its subsidiaries. On behalf of the Funds, the Trust has adopted, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, an Amended and Restated Distribution Plan (“Plan”) with respect to the Class A shares of each Fund. The Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, must approve, at least annually, the continuation of the Plan. Under the Plan, each Fund pays a Rule 12b-1 fee to JNLD, as principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class A shares, as compensation for distribution, administrative or other service activities incurred by JNLD and its affiliates with respect to Class A shares. Class I shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.  To the extent consistent with the Plan and applicable law, the Distributor may use the Rule 12b-1 fee to compensate broker-dealers, administrators, financial intermediaries or others for providing or assisting in providing distribution and related additional services.

 

The Distributor and/or an affiliate have the following relationships with one or more of the sub-advisers and/or their respective affiliates:  

 

· The Distributor receives payments from certain of the sub-advisers to assist in defraying the costs of certain promotional and marketing meetings in which those sub-advisers participate.  The amounts paid depend on the nature of the meetings, the number of meetings attended, the costs expected to be incurred, and the level of the sub-adviser’s participation.  

 

· The Distributor acts as distributor of variable insurance contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by the Insurance Companies. The compensation consists of commissions, trail commissions, and other compensation or promotional incentives as described in the Prospectus or statement of additional information for the variable insurance contracts and variable life insurance policies.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Financial Intermediaries

 

Only Separate Accounts of the Insurance Companies and series, including fund of funds, of registered investment companies in which either or both of the Insurance Companies invest may purchase shares of the Funds. You may invest indirectly in the Funds through your purchase of a variable annuity or life insurance contract issued by Separate Accounts of the Insurance Companies that invests directly, or through a fund of funds, in these Funds. Any minimum initial or subsequent investment requirements and redemption procedures are governed by the applicable Separate Account through which you invest indirectly. If an investor invests in the Funds under a variable insurance contract or a plan that offers a variable insurance contract as a plan option through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a financial institution), the Funds and their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and the salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

Investment in Trust Shares

 

Shares of the Funds are presently offered only to Separate Accounts of the Insurance Companies to fund the benefits under certain Contracts, to non-qualified retirement plans, and to other regulated investment companies. The Separate Accounts, through their various sub-accounts that invest in designated Funds, purchase the shares of the Funds at their net asset value (“NAV”) using premiums received on Contracts issued by the insurance company. Shares of the Funds are not available to the general public for direct purchase.

 

Purchases are effected at NAV next determined after the purchase order is received by JNAM as the Funds’ transfer agent in proper form. There is no sales charge.  

 

  24  
 

 

The Funds are managed by sub-advisers who manage publicly available mutual funds that have similar names and investment objectives. While some of the Funds may be similar to or modeled after publicly available mutual funds, Contract Owners should understand that the Funds are not otherwise directly related to any publicly available mutual fund. Consequently, the investment performance of publicly available mutual funds and any corresponding Fund may differ substantially.

 

The price of each Fund’s shares is based on its NAV. The NAV of each Fund’s shares is generally determined by JNAM once each day on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open (a “Business Day”) at the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). However, consistent with legal requirements, calculation of each Fund’s NAV may be suspended on days determined by the Board during times of NYSE market closure, which may include times during which the SEC issues policies or protocols associated with such closure pursuant to Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act.  The NAV per share of each Fund is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets of a Fund, deducting its liabilities, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding.  To the extent circumstances prevent the use of the primary calculation methodology previously described, the Adviser may use alternative methods to calculate the NAV. Generally, the value of exchange-listed or exchange-traded securities is based on their respective market prices, and fixed income securities are valued based on prices provided by an independent pricing service.

 

Domestic fixed-income and foreign securities are normally priced using data reflecting the closing of the principal markets or market participants for those securities, which may be earlier than the NYSE close. Information that becomes known to the Funds or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not normally be used to retroactively adjust the price of a security or the NAV determined earlier that day.

 

The Board has adopted procedures pursuant to which JNAM may determine, subject to Board oversight, the “fair value” of a security for which a current market price is not available or the current market price is considered unreliable or inaccurate.  Under these procedures, the “fair value” of a security generally will be the amount, determined by JNAM in good faith, that the owner of such security might reasonably expect to receive upon its current sale.

 

The Board has established a valuation committee to review fair value determinations pursuant to the Trust’s “Valuation Guidelines.”  The valuation committee will also review the value of restricted securities, securities and assets for which a current market price is not readily available, and securities and assets for which there is reason to believe that the most recent market price does not accurately reflect current value (e.g., disorderly market transactions). In the event that the NYSE is closed unexpectedly or opens for trading but closes earlier than scheduled, the valuation committee will evaluate if trading activity on other U.S. exchanges and markets for equity securities is otherwise reflective of normal market activity. To the extent an NYSE closure is determined to be accompanied by a disruption of normal market activity, the valuation committee may utilize the time the NYSE closed for purposes of measuring and calculating the Funds’ NAVs. To the extent an NYSE closure is determined to not have resulted in a disruption of normal market activity, the valuation committee may utilize the time the NYSE was scheduled to close for purposes of measuring and calculating the Funds’ NAVs.

 

The Funds may invest in securities primarily listed on foreign exchanges and that trade on days when the Fund does not price its shares.  As a result, a Fund’s NAV may change on days when shareholders are not able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares.

 

Because the calculation of a Fund’s NAV does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the closing prices of the majority of foreign portfolio securities used in the calculation, there exists a risk that the value of foreign portfolio securities will change after the close of the exchange on which they are traded, but before calculation of the Fund’s NAV (“time-zone arbitrage”). Accordingly, the Trust’s procedures for valuing of portfolio securities also authorize JNAM, subject to oversight by the Board, to determine the “fair value” of such foreign securities for purposes of calculating a Fund’s NAV. JNAM will “fair value” foreign securities held by a Fund if it determines that a “significant event” has occurred subsequent to the close of trading in such securities on the exchanges or markets on which the securities owned by a Fund principally are traded, but prior to the time of the Fund’s NAV calculation, which reasonably can be expected to affect the value of such security. Under the Trust’s valuation procedures, a “significant event” affecting a single issuer might include, but is not limited to, an announcement by the issuer, a competitor, a creditor, a major holder of the issuer’s securities, a major customer or supplier, or a governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory authority relating to the issuer, the issuer’s products or services, or the issuer’s securities, and a “significant event” affecting multiple issuers might also include, but is not limited to, a substantial price movement in other securities markets, an announcement by a governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory authority relating to securities markets, political or economic matters, or monetary or credit policies, a natural disaster such as an earthquake, flood or storm, or the outbreak of civil strife or military hostilities. When fair valuing foreign equity

 

  25  
 

 

securities, the Adviser adjusts the closing prices of foreign portfolio equity securities (except foreign equity securities traded in North America and South America) based upon pricing models provided by a third party vendor in order to reflect the “fair value” of such securities for purposes of determining a Fund’s NAV. Foreign equity securities traded in North America and South America may be fair valued utilizing international adjustment factors in response to local market holidays, exchange closures, or other events as deemed necessary in order to reflect the “fair value” of such securities for purposes of determining a Fund’s NAV. These procedures seek to minimize the opportunities for “time zone arbitrage” in Funds that invest all or substantial portions of their assets in foreign securities, thereby seeking to make those Funds significantly less attractive to “market timers” and other investors who might seek to profit from time zone arbitrage and seeking to reduce the potential for harm to other Fund investors resulting from such practices.  However, these procedures may not completely eliminate opportunities for time zone arbitrage because it is not possible to predict in all circumstances whether post-closing events will have a significant impact on securities prices.

 

All investments in the Trust are separately credited to the shareholder’s account in the form of full and fractional shares of the designated Fund (rounded to the nearest 1/1000 of a share).  The Trust does not issue share certificates.

 

“Market Timing” Policy

 

Fund shares may only be purchased by Separate Accounts of the Insurance Companies, the Insurance Companies themselves, unqualified retirement plans and certain other regulated investment companies.

 

The interests of a Fund’s long-term shareholders may be adversely affected by certain short-term trading activity by other Contract Owners invested in the Separate Accounts. Such short-term trading activity, when excessive, has the potential to, among other things, compromise efficient portfolio management, generate transaction and other costs, and dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders.  This type of excessive short-term trading activity is referred to herein as “market timing.”   The Funds are not intended to serve as vehicles for market timing.  The Board has adopted policies and procedures with respect to market timing.

 

The Funds, directly and through its service providers, and the insurance company and qualified retirement plan service providers (collectively, “service providers”) take various steps designed to deter and curtail market timing with the cooperation of the Insurance Companies. For example, in the event of a round trip transfer, complete or partial redemptions by a shareholder from a sub-account investing in a Fund is permitted; however, once a complete or partial redemption has been made from a sub-account that invests in a Fund, through a sub-account transfer, shareholders will not be permitted to transfer any value back into that sub-account (and the corresponding Fund) within fifteen (15) calendar days of the redemption. The Funds will treat as short-term trading activity any transfer that is requested into a sub-account that was previously redeemed within the previous fifteen (15) calendar days, whether the transfer was requested by the shareholders or a third party authorized by the shareholder

 

In addition to identifying any potentially disruptive trading activity, the Funds’ Board has adopted a policy of “fair value” pricing to discourage investors from engaging in market timing or other excessive trading strategies for international funds. The “fair value” pricing policy applies to all Funds where a significant event (as described above) has occurred. The “fair value” pricing policy is described under “Investment in Trust Shares” above.

 

The policies and procedures described above are intended to deter and curtail market timing in the Funds.  However, there can be no assurance that these policies, together with those of the Insurance Companies, and any other insurance company that may invest in the Funds in the future, will be totally effective in this regard. The Funds rely on the Insurance Companies to take the appropriate steps, including daily monitoring of separate account trading activity, to further deter market timing. If they are ineffective, the adverse consequences described above could occur.

 

A description of Jackson National’s anti-market timing policies and procedures can be found in the appropriate variable insurance contract Prospectus (the “Separate Account Prospectus”). The rights of the Separate Accounts to purchase and redeem shares of a Fund are not affected by any Fund’s anti-market timing policies if they are not in violation of the Separate Accounts’ anti-market timing policies and procedures.

 

Share Redemption

 

A Separate Account redeems shares of a Fund to make benefit or withdrawal payments under the terms of its Contracts.  Redemptions typically are processed on any day on which the Trust and the NYSE are open for business and are effected at net asset value next determined after the redemption order is received by JNAM, the Fund’s transfer agent, in proper form.

 

  26  
 

 

The Trust may suspend the right of redemption only under the following circumstances:

 

· When the NYSE is closed (other than weekends and holidays) or trading is restricted;
· When an emergency exists, making disposal of portfolio securities or the valuation of net assets not reasonably practicable; or
· During any period when the SEC has by order permitted a suspension of redemption for the protection of shareholders.

 

The Funds typically expect that a Fund will hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. The Funds may also use the proceeds of orders to purchase Fund shares or the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests, if consistent with the management of each Fund. These redemption methods will be used regularly and may also be used in stressed market conditions. The Funds have in place a line of credit intended to provide short-term financing, if necessary, subject to certain conditions, in connection with stressed market conditions or atypical redemption activity. The Funds, pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC and a master Interfund Lending agreement, also have the ability to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another.

 

In the case of a liquidity event, a Fund’s share price and/or returns may be negatively impacted. If a liquidity event occurs, JNAM will notify the Board of the liquidity event and take corrective action. Corrective action may include, among other things, use of the Fund’s line of credit or Interfund Lending Program.

 

Redemptions will generally be in the form of cash, although a Fund reserves the right to redeem in kind from another Fund.  If a Fund redeems shares in kind from another Fund, it may bear transaction costs and will bear market risks until such time as such securities are converted to cash.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

The Funds generally distribute most or all of their net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, no less frequently than annually. For both Funds, distributions other than in redemption of Fund shares, if any, are automatically reinvested at net asset value in shares of the distributing class of that Fund.

 

Tax Status

The Acquired Fund intends (and the Acquiring Fund intends to continue) to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a “regulated investment company” (also known as a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code.  As a regulated investment company, each Fund intends to distribute all its net investment income and net capital gains to shareholders no less frequently than annually and, therefore, does not expect to be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes.  The interests in the Funds are generally owned by one or more Separate Accounts that hold such interests pursuant to Contracts, by various funds of the Trust, which are partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and by Jackson National.

 

Each Fund is treated as a corporation separate from the Trust for purposes of the Code.  Therefore, the assets, income, and distributions of each Fund are considered separately for purposes of determining whether or not the Fund qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.

 

Because the shareholders of the Funds are Separate Accounts of variable insurance contracts, certain partnerships, the owners of which are Separate Accounts, and Jackson National, there are no tax consequences to those shareholders from buying, holding, exchanging, and selling shares of the Funds, provided certain requirements are met.  Distributions from the Funds are not taxable to those shareholders.  However, owners of Contracts should consult the applicable Separate Account Prospectus for more detailed information on tax issues related to the Contracts.

 

The Funds intend (and the Acquiring Fund intends to continue) to comply with the diversification requirements currently imposed by the Code and U.S. Treasury regulations thereunder, on separate accounts of insurance companies as a condition of maintaining the tax-advantaged status of the Contracts issued by Separate Accounts.  The Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and sub-advisory agreement require the Funds to be operated in compliance with these diversification requirements.  The Adviser or sub-advisers may depart from the investment strategy of a Fund only to the extent necessary to meet these diversification requirements.

 

  27  
 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the financial performance of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund for the past five years or, if shorter, the period of the Fund’s operations. The following tables provide selected per share data for one share of each Fund. The total returns in the financial highlights table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions) held for the entire period. The information does not reflect any charges imposed under a Contract.  If charges imposed under a variable contract were reflected, the returns would be lower.  You should refer to the appropriate Contract prospectus regarding such charges. Following the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund will be the accounting and performance survivor.

 

The annual information below has been derived from financial statements audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto, together with the report of KPMG LLP thereon, in the Trust’s Annual Report. The information for the period ended June 30, 2020 has not been audited. The unaudited interim financial statements as of June 30, 2020, reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period presented. Each Fund’s financial statements are included in the Trust’s Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report, which are available upon request.


 

  28  
 

 

JNL Series Trust – Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund

Financial Highlights

For a Share Outstanding

The information for the period ended June 30, 2020 has not been audited.


       
Increase (decreae) from
investment operations
  Distributions from         Supplemental data       Ratios(a)    
Period ended Net asset value, beginning of period($)

Net investment

income (loss)($)(b)

Net realized &

unrealized gains

(losses)($)

Total from

investment

operations($)

 

Net investment

income($)

Net realized

gains on investment transactions($)

Net asset value,

end of period($)

Total return(%)(c) Net assets, end of period (in thousands)($) Portfolio turnover (%)(d)  

Net expenses

to average net assets(%)(e)

Total expenses

to average net

assets(%)(e)

Net investment

income (loss) to

average net assets(%)(f)

 
JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund (Acquired Fund)(g)                            
Class A                                          
06/30/20   9.81   0.04   (2.37)   (2.33)         7.48   (23.75)   428,802   21     1.26   1.26   1.02  
12/31/19   8.55   0.13   1.43   1.56     (0.06)   (0.24)   9.81   18.39   597,575   26     1.25   1.25   1.38  
12/31/18   11.51   0.14   (2.38)   (2.24)     (0.26)   (0.46)   8.55   (19.78)   553,186   26     1.24   1.24   1.29  
12/31/17   8.81   0.10   2.74   2.84     (0.11)   (0.03)   11.51   32.29   746,026   26     1.27   1.27   0.92  
12/31/16   9.25   0.11   (0.22)   (0.11)     (0.14)   (0.19)   8.81   (1.17)   498,894   18     1.30   1.30   1.26  
12/31/15   9.55   0.11   0.27   0.38     (0.09)   (0.59)   9.25   3.81   573,414   22     1.30   1.30   1.07  
                                                           
Class I                                          
06/30/20   9.93   0.05   (2.40)   (2.35)         7.58   (23.67)   2,404   21     0.96   0.96   1.38  
12/31/19   8.65   0.15   1.46   1.61     (0.09)   (0.24)   9.93   18.85   2,616   26     0.95   0.95   1.62  
12/31/18   11.63   0.16   (2.39)   (2.23)     (0.29)   (0.46)   8.65   (19.55)   1,445   26     0.94   0.94   1.47  
12/31/17 8.90   0.12   2.77   2.89     (0.13)   (0.03)   11.63   32.49   637   26     1.03   1.03   1.13  
12/31/16   9.34   0.13   (0.22)   (0.09)     (0.16)   (0.19)   8.90   (0.96)   287   18     1.10   1.10   1.43  
12/31/15   9.63   0.14   0.26   0.40     (0.10)   (0.59)   9.34   4.05   241   22     1.10   1.10   1.33  
                                                           
 
JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund (Acquiring Fund)                            
Class A                                          
06/30/20   10.59   0.04   (0.13)   (0.09)         10.50   (0.85)   3,007   43     1.23   1.23   0.91  
12/31/19   8.08   0.08   2.48   2.56     (0.05)     10.59   31.72   6,196   74     1.21   1.21   0.85  
12/31/18 * 10.00   0.02   (1.94)   (1.92)         8.08   (19.20)   462   24     1.22   1.22   0.64  
                                                           
Class I                                          
06/30/20   10.63   0.06   (0.13)   (0.07)         10.56   (0.66)   244,639   43     0.93   0.93   1.19  
12/31/19   8.09   0.14   2.45   2.59     (0.05)     10.63   32.06   280,665   74     0.91   0.91   1.52  
12/31/18 * 10.00   0.03   (1.94)   (1.91)         8.09   (19.10)   251,462   24     0.92   0.92   0.97  
                                                           
 
* The JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund commenced operations on August 13, 2018.
Prior to September 25, 2017, the Fund offered Class B shares. Effective September 25, 2017, Class B shares were renamed to Class I shares.
(a) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Calculated using the average shares method. Net investment income(loss) per share and ratios of net investment income(loss) to average net assets for Class I shares can be less than Class A shares for certain Funds or can be significantly more than Class A shares for certain Funds because the net assets for Class I shares increased significantly after the Funds of Funds investment in the underlying fund was sold in Class A and purchased in Class I effective September 25, 2017 and also as a result of the timing of income received in the Fund before and after September 25, 2017.
(c) Total return assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the period. Total return is not annualized for periods less than one year and does not reflect payment of the expenses that apply to the variable accounts or any annuity charges and if it did performance would be lower.
(d) Portfolio turnover is not annualized for periods of less than one year. Securities sold short are considered long term investments for purposes of calculating portfolio turnover. Dollar roll and in-kind transactions are excluded for purposes of calculating portfolio turnover. Fixed income securities with maturities greater than one year that are purchased for short term investment are excluded from the portfolio turnover calculation. Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole, without distinguishing between the classes of shares issued.
(e) The expenses or expense waivers for certain Funds' Class I shares were $0.00 for one or more days during certain periods and this was a result of the net assets for the respective Class being below a level to generate an expense allocation greater than $0.005 for that day. Additionally, the expenses or expense waivers for certain Funds' Class I shares were $0.01 for one or more days during certain periods and this was a result of the net assets for the respective Class being at a level to generate an expense allocation between $0.005 and $0.01 for that day and rounded to $0.01. As a result, the ratios of net and total expenses to average net assets during the period for Class I shares can be less than or more than the anticipated ratios of net and total expenses to average net assets depending on the net assets that Class I shares acquired during the period.
(f) Net investment income(loss) per share and ratios of net investment income(loss) to average net assets for Class I shares can be less than Class A shares for certain Funds or can be significantly more than Class A shares for certain Funds because the net assets for Class I shares increased significantly after the Funds of Funds investment in the underlying fund was sold in Class A and purchased in Class I effective September 25, 2017 and also as a result of the timing of income received in the Fund before and after September 25, 2017.
(g) Prior to September 25, 2017, the Fund accrued the Rule 12b-1 fee at the maximum annual rate up to 0.20% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares of the Fund. Effective September 25, 2017, the maximum annual rate for Rule 12b-1 fees paid by the Fund changed from 0.20% to 0.30% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares of the Fund.
                                                             

 

 

 

  29  
 

 

VOTING INFORMATION

 

The following information applies to the Reorganization of the Acquired Fund into the Acquiring Fund for which you are entitled to vote.

 

The Meeting

 

The Meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on March 26, 2021, at 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, Michigan 48951, together with any adjournment thereof. The Meeting is being held to consider and vote on the Plan of Reorganization, which provides for the reorganization of the Franklin Fund into the Multi-Manager Fund, and any other business that may properly come before the Meeting. Only shareholders of the Acquired Fund are entitled to vote on this matter.

 

A copy of the Plan of Reorganization is attached hereto as Appendix A of this Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

 

The Board fixed the close of business on January 29, 2021, as the Record Date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

Quorum and Voting

 

The Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Trust, dated September 6, 2019 (the “By-Laws”), provide that except as otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated June 1, 1994 and amended and restated on September 25, 2017 (the “Declaration of Trust”), or the By-Laws, the holders of a majority of the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The presence of the Insurance Companies, through the presence of an authorized representative, constitutes a quorum. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

The By-Laws further provide that shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to the exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving its invalidity shall rest on the challenger. At all meetings of Shareholders, unless inspectors of election have been appointed, all questions relating to the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the chairman of the meeting. Any person giving voting instructions may revoke them at any time prior to their exercise by submitting to the Secretary of the Trust a superseding voting instruction form or written notice of revocation. Voting instructions can be revoked until the Meeting date. Only the Contract Owner executing the voting instructions can revoke them. The Insurance Companies will vote the shares of the Fund in accordance with all properly executed and unrevoked voting instructions. Unless otherwise specified in the proxy, the proxy shall apply to all shares of the Fund owned by the Shareholder.

 

Required Vote

 

The vote of the “majority of the outstanding voting shares” of a Fund is required to approve the Proposal. The vote of the “majority of the outstanding voting shares” means the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund entitled to vote thereon present in person or by proxy at the Meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.  Except as otherwise provided by law, if a Shareholder abstains from voting as to any matter, then the shares represented by such abstention will be treated as shares that are present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. However, abstentions will not be counted as a vote cast on such proposal. The approval of the Proposal depends upon whether a sufficient number of votes are cast for the Proposal.  Accordingly, an instruction to abstain from voting on any proposal has the same practical effect as an instruction to vote against the Proposal.

 

Contract Owner Voting Instructions

 

The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. Shares of the Trust currently are sold only to Separate Accounts of the Insurance Companies to fund the benefits of variable insurance contracts, to certain non-qualified employee benefit plans of Jackson National, or directly to the Insurance Companies. In addition, shares of the Trust are sold to certain funds of the Trust organized as funds-of-funds. Although the Insurance Companies legally own all

 

  30  
 

 

of the shares of the Fund held in their respective Separate Accounts that relate to the Contracts, a portion of the value of each Contract is invested by the Insurance Companies, as provided in the Contract, in shares of one or more funds.

 

Contract Owners have the right under the interpretations of the 1940 Act to instruct the relevant Insurance Company how to vote the shares attributable to their Contract. Contract Owners at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to notice of the Meeting and to instruct the relevant Insurance Company how to vote at the Meeting or any adjourned session. The Insurance Company will vote all such shares in accordance with the voting instructions timely given by the Contract Owners with assets invested in the Acquired Fund. Shares for which the Insurance Company receives a voting instruction card that is signed, dated, and timely returned but is not marked to indicate voting instructions will be treated as an instruction to vote the Shares in favor of the Proposal. Shares for which the Insurance Company receives no timely voting instructions from a Contract Owner will be voted by the applicable Insurance Company either for or against approval of the applicable Proposal, or as an abstention, in the same proportion as the Shares for which Contract Owners have provided voting instructions to the Insurance Company. The Insurance Companies and their affiliates will vote their own shares and shares held by other regulated investment companies in the same proportion as voting instructions timely given by Contract Owners. As a result, a small number of Contract Owners may determine the outcome of the vote.

 

Contract Owners may use the enclosed voting instructions form as a ballot to give their voting instructions for those shares attributable to their Contract as of the Record Date. The Insurance Companies have fixed the close of business on March 24, 2021 as the last day on which voting instructions will be accepted, other than those provided in person at the Meeting.

 

Proxy and Voting Instruction Solicitations

 

The Board is soliciting proxies from shareholders of the Acquired Fund. The Insurance Companies are the shareholders of record and are soliciting voting instructions from their Contract Owners as to how to vote at the Meeting. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, voting instructions may be solicited by letter, telephone or personal contact by officers or employees of the Trust, JNAM or officers or employees of the Insurance Companies.

 

JNAM, as the Trust’s administrator, has retained the services of Donnelley Financial LLC (“DFS”), 35 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. Under the agreement between JNAM and DFS, DFS’s subcontractor, Mediant Communications (“Mediant”), 400 Regency Parkway, Suite 200, Cary, North Carolina 27519 will provide proxy distribution, solicitation, and tabulation services (the “Services”). The anticipated cost of the Services to be provided by Mediant in connection with this proxy solicitation is approximately $43,035 and will be borne by JNAM whether or not the Reorganization is consummated.

 

The costs of printing and mailing of the Notice, this Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and the accompanying voting instruction card, and the solicitation of Contract Owner voting instructions, will be paid by JNAM whether or not the Reorganization is consummated. The Trust does not expect to bear any significant expenses in connection with the Meeting or the solicitation of proxies and voting instructions.

 

Adjournments

 

Any authorized voting instructions will be valid for any adjournment of the Meeting. If the Trust receives an insufficient number of votes to approve the Proposal, the Meeting may be adjourned to permit the solicitation of additional votes. The Meeting may be adjourned by the chairperson of the Meeting from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place as determined by the chairperson of the Meeting for any reason, including failure of a Proposal to receive sufficient votes for approval. No Shareholder vote shall be required for any adjournment. No notice need be given that the Meeting has been adjourned other than by announcement at the Meeting. Any business that might have been transacted at the original Meeting may be transacted at any adjourned Meeting.

 

Revocation of Voting Instructions

 

Any person giving voting instructions may revoke them at any time prior to the Meeting by submitting to the Insurance Companies a superseding voting instruction form or written notice of revocation or by appearing and voting in person at the Meeting. Only the Contract Owner executing the voting instructions can revoke them. The Insurance Companies will vote the shares of the Acquired Fund in accordance with all properly executed and un-revoked voting instructions.

 

  31  
 

 

Outstanding Shares and Principal Shareholders

The Insurance Companies will vote on the Reorganization as instructed by their Contract Owners. [As of January 29, 2021, the Trustees and officers of the Trust, as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund.]

 

Because the shares of the Funds are sold only to the separate accounts of the Insurance Companies, certain funds of the Trust organized as funds-of-funds, and certain non-qualified retirement plans, the Insurance Companies, through the Separate Accounts which hold shares in the Trust as funding vehicles for the Contracts and certain retirement plans, are the owners of record of substantially all of the shares of the Trust. In addition, Jackson National, through its general account, is the beneficial owner of shares in certain of the Funds, in some cases representing the initial capital contributed at the inception of a Fund, and in other cases representing investments made for other corporate purposes. The table below shows the number of outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund as of the Record Date that are entitled to vote at the Meeting.

 

Fund Total Number of Outstanding Shares
Franklin Fund (Class A) [To be Provided]
Franklin Fund (Class I) [To be Provided]

 

As of the Record Date, [January 29, 2021], the following person(s) owned 5% or more of the shares of the Acquired Fund either beneficially or of record:

 

Franklin Fund – Class A Shares
Contract Owner’s Name/Address Percent Ownership of Shares of the Fund Percent Ownership of Shares of the Combined Fund (assuming the Reorganization occurs)
[To be Provided] [To be Provided] [To be Provided]

 

 

Franklin Fund – Class I Shares
Contract Owner’s Name/Address Percent Ownership of Shares of the Fund Percent Ownership of Shares of the Combined Fund (assuming the Reorganization occurs)
[To be Provided] [To be Provided] [To be Provided]

 

*           *           *           *           *

 

  32  
 

 

APPENDIX A

PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

 

JNL SERIES TRUST

JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund

JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund

 

 

This Plan of Reorganization has been entered into on April 23, 2021, by JNL SERIES TRUST (the “Trust”), Massachusetts business trust, on behalf of its JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund (the “Acquired Fund”) and its JNL MULTI-MANAGER INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP FUND (the “Acquiring Fund”).

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in accord with the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and has established several separate series of shares (“funds”), with each fund having its own assets and investment policies;

 

WHEREAS, the Trust’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, has determined that participation in the transaction described herein is in the best interests of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will not be diluted as a result of the transaction described herein;

 

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 2.1 of the Trust’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated September 25, 2017 (the “Declaration of Trust”), authorizes the Board of Trustees to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, has approved the reorganization of the Acquired Fund with and into the Acquiring Fund (the “Reorganization”), subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, all the assets, liabilities, and interests of the Acquired Fund shall be transferred on the Closing Date to the Acquiring Fund, as described below; provided, however, that such transaction shall not occur unless and until this Plan of Reorganization shall have first been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Acquired Fund as provided in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act; and provided further that the Board of Trustees may terminate this Plan of Reorganization at or prior to the Closing Date:

 

  1. The Closing Date shall be April 23, 2021, or if the New York Stock Exchange or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund (each, an “Exchange”) is closed to trading or trading thereon is restricted, or trading or the reporting of trading on an Exchange or elsewhere is disrupted so that, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, accurate appraisal of the value of either the Acquired Fund’s or the Acquiring Fund’s net assets and/or the net asset value per share of Acquiring Fund shares is impracticable, the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first business day after the day when such trading has been fully resumed and such reporting has been restored;
  1. The obligations of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund to complete the transaction described herein shall be subject to receipt by the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund of an opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP dated on the Closing Date (which opinion will be subject to certain qualifications) satisfactory to both parties substantially to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, on the basis of the existing provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative rules, and court decisions, and assuming, among other assumptions, that the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies funded by insurance company separate accounts that hold shares of the Funds (for purposes of this paragraph, each a “contract” and collectively, the “contracts”) and the insurance companies issuing the contracts are properly structured under Subchapter L of the Code, the Reorganization will not be a taxable event for contract owners (the “Tax Opinion”). The Tax Opinion will be based on certain factual certifications made by officers of the Trust, on behalf of each Fund and will also be based on reasonable assumptions. The Tax Opinion may state that it is not a guarantee that the tax consequences of the Reorganization will be as described above, and that there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service or a court would agree with the opinion.

 

  A-1  
 

 

  1. On or before the Closing Date, and before effecting the Reorganization described herein, the Trust shall have received a satisfactory written opinion of legal counsel as to such transaction that the securities to be issued in connection with such transaction have been duly authorized and, when issued in accordance with this Plan of Reorganization, will have been validly issued and fully paid and will be non-assessable by the Trust on behalf of the Acquiring Fund.
  1. In exchange for all of its shares of the Acquired Fund, each shareholder of such Acquired Fund shall receive a number of shares, including fractional shares, of the corresponding share class of the Acquiring Fund equal in dollar value to the number of whole and fractional shares that such shareholder owns in such Acquired Fund. Each shareholder of such Acquired Fund shall thereupon become a shareholder of the Acquiring Fund.
  1. For purposes of this transaction, the value of the shares of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall be determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Closing Date. Those valuations shall be made in the usual manner as provided in the relevant prospectus of the Trust.
  1. Upon completion of the foregoing transaction (and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, within 24 months of the date hereof), the Acquired Fund shall be terminated and no further shares shall be issued by it. The classes of the Trust’s shares representing such Acquired Fund shall thereupon be closed and the shares previously authorized for those classes shall be reclassified by the Board of Trustees. The Trust’s Board of Trustees and management of the Trust shall take whatever actions may be necessary under Massachusetts law and the 1940 Act to effect the termination of the Acquired Fund.
  1. The costs and expenses associated with the Reorganization relating to the solicitation of proxies, including preparing, filing, printing, and mailing of the proxy statement and related disclosure documents, and the costs and expenses related to the preparation of the tax opinion and obtaining a consent of independent registered public accounting firm will be borne by Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (“JNAM”) whether or not the Reorganization is consummated. No sales or other charges will be imposed on contract owners in connection with the Reorganization. The legal expenses associated with the Reorganization, including the legal fees incurred in connection with the analysis under the Code of the tax treatment of this transaction, will also be borne by JNAM.

 

A copy of the Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees as Trustees, and is not binding on any of the Trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Trust individually, but only binding on the assets and properties of the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, respectively.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund, has caused this Plan of Reorganization to be executed and attested in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on the date first written above.

 

 

  JNL SERIES TRUST
   
   
  By: 
    Mark D. Nerud, Trustee, President, and Chief Executive Officer

 

   
  Attest: 
    Susan S. Rhee, Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary

 

 

  A-2  
 

 

APPENDIX B

 

More Information on Strategies and Risk Factors

 

Acquired Fund

 

JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund

Class A

Class I

 

Investment Objective. The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.

 

Principal Investment Strategies. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in investments of smaller companies, located outside the U.S., including those of emerging or developing markets. Under unusual circumstances and on a temporary basis, the Fund may also invest a portion of its assets in equity securities of larger foreign companies.

 

For this Fund, smaller companies are defined as those that, at the time of purchase of the investment, have market capitalizations that do not exceed the greater of (i) $5 billion or the equivalent in local currencies or (ii) the highest market capitalization in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Small Cap Index or the All Country World ex US (ACWIxUS) Small Cap Index.

 

The Fund considers international companies to be those organized under the laws of a country outside of the United States or having a principal office in a country outside of the United States, or whose securities are listed or traded principally on a recognized stock exchange or over-the-counter market outside of the United States.

 

An equity security represents a proportionate share of the ownership of a company; its value is based on the success of the company's business, any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets, and general market conditions. The Fund, from time to time, may have significant investments in a particular sector or country. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in the securities of issuers located in any one country.

 

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of companies that operate as real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and similar REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S.

 

The Fund also invests in depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that give their holders the right to receive securities issued by a foreign or domestic company.

 

In choosing individual equity investments, the Sub-Advisers utilize a fundamental “bottom-up” approach involving in-depth proprietary analysis of individual equity securities. This includes an assessment by the investment manager of the potential impacts of material environmental, social and governance factors on the long-term risk and return profile of a company. In narrowing down the universe of eligible investments, the Sub-Advisers employ a quantitative and qualitative approach to identify smaller international companies that the Sub-Advisers believe have the potential to generate attractive returns.

 

The Sub-Advisers do not select investments for the Fund that are merely representative of the small cap asset class, but instead aim to produce a portfolio of securities of exceptional companies operating in sectors that offer attractive investment opportunities. While the manager seeks to outperform the benchmark index applicable to each sleeve of the Fund, it does not seek to replicate an index with its portfolio investments for either sleeve.

 

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The following descriptions of the principal risks do not provide any assurance either of the Fund’s investment in any particular type of security, or assurance of the Fund’s success in its investment selections, techniques and risk assessments. As a managed portfolio, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective for a variety of reasons including changes in the financial condition of issuers (due to such factors as management performance, reduced demand or overall market changes), fluctuations in the financial markets, declines in overall securities prices, or the Sub-Adviser's investment techniques otherwise failing to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include:

 

  B-1  
 

 

· Market risk
· Stock risk
· Equity securities risk
· Company risk
· Accounting risk
· Managed portfolio risk
· Mid-capitalization and small-capitalization investing risk
· Concentration risk
· Foreign securities risk
· Currency risk
· Foreign regulatory risk
· Emerging markets and less developed countries risk
· European investment risk
· Financial services risk
· Investment style risk
· Depositary receipts risk
· Cyclical opportunities risk
· Exchange-traded funds investing risk
· Liquidity risk
· Real estate investment risk
· Small-capitalization investing risk

 

Please see the “Glossary of Risks” section at the end of Appendix B for a description of these risks. There may be other risks that are not listed in this Prospectus that could cause the value of your investment in the Fund to decline and that could prevent the Fund from achieving its stated investment objective. This Prospectus does not describe all of the risks of every technique, investment strategy or temporary defensive position that the Fund may use. For additional information regarding the risks of investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Additional Information About the Other Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks of the Fund (Other than Principal Strategies/Risks). There may be additional risks that may affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its stated investment objective. Those additional risks are:

 

· China and India country specific risk
· Cybersecurity risk
· Expense risk
· Investment in other investment companies risk
· Investment strategy risk
· Portfolio turnover risk
· Redemption risk
· Regulatory investment limits risk
· Sector risk
· Securities lending risk

 

Please see the “Glossary of Risks” section at the end of Appendix B for a description of these risks.

 

In addition, the performance of the Fund depends on the Sub-Adviser's abilities to effectively implement the investment strategies of the Fund.

 

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information has more information about the Fund’s authorized investments and strategies, as well as the risks and restrictions that may apply to it.

 

  B-2  
 

 

Acquiring Fund

(as of April 26, 2021)

 

JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund

Class A

Class I

 

Investment Objective. The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.

 

Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in international small cap strategies, sometimes referred to as “sleeves,” managed by unaffiliated investment managers (“Sub-Advisers”). Both Sub-Advisers generally provide day-to-day management for a portion of the Fund’s assets.

 

Each Sub-Adviser may use different investment strategies in managing Fund assets, acts independently from the others, and uses its own methodology for selecting investments. Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (“JNAM” or “Adviser”) is responsible for identifying and retaining the Sub-Advisers for the selected strategies and for monitoring the services provided by the Sub-Advisers. JNAM provides qualitative and quantitative supervision as part of its process for selecting and monitoring the Sub-Advisers. JNAM is also responsible for selecting the Fund’s investment strategies and for determining the amount of Fund assets to allocate to each Sub-Adviser. Based on JNAM’s ongoing evaluation of the Sub-Advisers, JNAM may adjust allocations among Sub-Advisers.

 

Below are the principal investment strategies for each sleeve, but the Sub-Advisers may also implement other investment strategies in keeping with their respective sleeve’s objective.

 

WCM International Small Cap Growth Strategy

 

· WCM Investment Management, LLC (“WCM”) constructs the strategy by investing in equity securities or depositary receipts of small capitalization companies domiciled outside of the United States, including in emerging and frontier market countries. Emerging and frontier countries or markets are those countries or markets with low-to-middle-income economies as classified by the World Bank or included in any of the MSCI emerging markets or frontier markets indices. WCM considers small capitalization companies to be companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies included in the Morgan Stanley Capital Index (“MSCI”) ACWI ex U.S. Small Cap Index (“Index”) at the time of purchase. Because small capitalization companies are defined by reference to the Index, the range of market capitalization of companies in which the Fund invests may vary with market conditions. WCM will consider the market capitalization range by country. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the WCM International Small Cap Growth Strategy at the Sub-Adviser’s discretion.

 

WCM uses a bottom-up approach that seeks to identify companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. WCM’s investment process seeks companies that are industry leaders with sustainable competitive advantages; corporate cultures emphasizing strong, quality and experienced management; little or no debt; and attractive relative valuations. In selecting securities, WCM also considers other factors including, among others, political risk, monetary policy risk, and regulatory risk specific to an issuer’s country of domicile.

 

Causeway International Small Cap Strategy

 

· Causeway Capital Management LLC (“Causeway”) constructs the strategy by investing primarily in common stocks of companies with smaller market capitalizations located in developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. Smaller market capitalization companies have market capitalizations that do not exceed the highest market capitalization of a company within the Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2019, the Index included companies with market capitalizations of up to $9.2 billion and included companies in both developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. Investments in companies include both developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. Some of these companies, although small compared with larger U.S. companies, might be large companies in their local markets. The Causeway International Small Cap Strategy may invest in a wide range of industries. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the Index may continue to be held by the Causeway International Small Cap Strategy at the Sub-Adviser’s discretion.

 

  B-3  
 

 

Causeway uses a quantitative investment approach to purchase and sell investments for its sleeve of the Fund. To select securities, Causeway’s proprietary computer model analyzes “stock-specific” factors relating to valuation, earnings growth, technical indicators, and quality, and “top-down” factors relating to macroeconomics and country. Currently, the valuation factor category receives the highest overall weight in the model and stock-specific factors comprise approximately 90% of the score for a company. For each stock, the relative weight assigned to each stock-specific factor differs depending on its classification (for example, value, growth, momentum, capitalization or other classifications). The relative weights of these stock-specific factors are sometimes referred to as “contextual weights.” Factors and their weightings may change over time as the model is revised and updated, or if the classification of a stock changes. In addition to its quantitative research, the Causeway’s fundamental research analysts review the quantitative outputs to attempt to identify and address special issues, such as significant corporate actions or management changes, which are difficult to detect quantitatively.

 

Baillie Gifford International Smaller Companies Strategy

 

· Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited (“Baillie Gifford”) constructs the strategy by investing in an international portfolio of common stocks of smaller companies located in countries of developed and emerging markets. When selecting companies for initial inclusion in the Baillie Gifford International Smaller Companies Strategy, Baillie Gifford seeks to invest in companies with a market capitalization in the region of $2 billion or lower. The Baillie Gifford International Smaller Companies Strategy may continue to hold, and may increase its investment in, portfolio companies whose market capitalization subsequently increases. The Baillie Gifford International Smaller Companies Strategy expects over time to have a substantial portion of its portfolio invested in companies with a market capitalization in excess of $2 billion. The Baillie Gifford International Smaller Companies Strategy currently defines a “smaller company” as a company with a market capitalization that does not exceed $10 billion.

 

Baillie Gifford employs a bottom-up approach to stock selection and principally selects companies without regard to the Fund's benchmark. Baillie Gifford focuses on company research and the long-term outlook of companies. Ideas can come from a wide variety of sources, including, but not limited to, research trips, company meetings, and relationships with industry thought leaders and academics. Stock ideas will be researched to assess a range of factors, including: geographic and industry positioning, competitive advantage, management, financial strength and valuation.

 

Emerging and frontier countries or markets are those countries or markets with low-to-middle-income economies as classified by the World Bank or included in any of the MSCI emerging markets or frontier markets indices. The Sub-Advisers consider a company to be in an emerging or frontier country or market if the company has been registered, incorporated or organized under the laws of, has its headquarters or its principal offices in, or has its stock exchange listing or securities principally traded in, the emerging or frontier country or market, or if the company derives at least 50% of its revenues, net profits or incremental revenue growth (typically over the past five years) from, or has at least 50% of assets or production capacities in, the emerging or frontier country or market. The Sub-Advisers consider a company to be domiciled in a country if the company is registered, incorporated or organized under the laws of that country, has headquarters or its principal place of business in that country, or has its stock exchange listing or securities principally traded in that country.

 

The Fund generally will invest in the securities of companies domiciled in at least three different countries. However, from time to time, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies domiciled in one or a few countries. The Fund may make significant investments in certain sectors or group of sectors from time to time.

 

The Fund’s equity investments include common stock and depositary receipts. The Fund’s investments in depositary receipts may include American, European, Canadian and Global Depositary Receipts (“ADRs,” “EDRs,” “CDRs”, and “GDRs,” respectively), and other similar securities. ADRs are receipts that represent interests in foreign securities held on deposit by U.S. banks. EDRs and GDRs have the same qualities as ADRs, except that they may be traded in several international trading markets.

 

The Fund may participate in initial public offerings ("IPOs") and in securities offerings that are not registered in the U.S. In some emerging markets, the Fund may invest in companies that qualify as smaller companies but still are among the largest in that market.

 

  B-4  
 

 

JNAM may choose to allocate the Fund’s assets to additional strategies in the future. There is no assurance that any or all of the strategies discussed in this prospectus will be used by JNAM or the Sub-Advisers.

 

JNAM may also manage Fund assets directly to seek to enhance returns or to hedge and to manage the Fund’s cash and short-term instruments.

 

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The following descriptions of the principal risks do not provide any assurance either of the Fund’s investment in any particular type of security, or assurance of the Fund’s success in its investment selections, techniques and risk assessments. As a managed portfolio, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective for a variety of reasons including changes in the financial condition of issuers (due to such factors as management performance, reduced demand or overall market changes), fluctuations in the financial markets, declines in overall securities prices, or the Sub-Advisers' investment techniques otherwise failing to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include:

 

· Market risk
· Equity securities risk
· Mid-capitalization and small-capitalization investing risk
· Investment style risk
· Emerging markets and less developed countries risk
· Foreign securities risk
· Allocation risk
· Depositary receipts risk
· Investments in IPOs risk
· Foreign regulatory risk
· Frontier market countries risk

 

Please see the “Glossary of Risks” section at the end of Appendix B for a description of these risks. There may be other risks that are not listed in this Prospectus that could cause the value of your investment in the Fund to decline and that could prevent the Fund from achieving its stated investment objective. This Prospectus does not describe all of the risks of every technique, investment strategy or temporary defensive position that the Fund may use. For additional information regarding the risks of investing in the Fund, please refer to the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Additional Information About the Other Investment Strategies, Other Investments and Risks of the Fund (Other than Principal Strategies/Risks). There may be additional risks that may affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its stated investment objective. Those additional risks are:

 

· Currency risk
· Cybersecurity risk
· Expense risk
· Investment strategy risk
· Liquidity risk
· Redemption risk
· Regulatory investment limits risk
· Securities lending risk
· Settlement risk
· Temporary defensive positions and large cash positions risk
· Portfolio turnover risk

 

Please see the “Glossary of Risks” section at the end of Appendix B for a description of these risks.

 

In addition, the performance of the Fund depends on the Sub-Adviser's abilities to effectively implement the investment strategies of the Fund.

 

  B-5  
 

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information has more information about the Fund’s authorized investments and strategies, as well as the risks and restrictions that may apply to it.

 

Glossary of Risks

 

Accounting risk – The Fund makes investment decisions, in part, on information drawn from the financial statements of issuers. Financial statements may not be accurate, may reflect differing approaches with respect to auditing and reporting standards and may affect the ability of the Fund’s investment manager to identify appropriate investment opportunities.

 

Allocation risk – The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends upon the investment manager’s analysis of such factors as macroeconomic trends, outlooks for various industries and asset class valuations and investment manager’s ability to select an appropriate mix of asset classes. The Fund is subject to the risk of changes in market, investment, and economic conditions, as well as the selection and percentages of allocations.

 

China and India country specific risks – Investments in equity and equity-related securities in the Greater China region and India will expose the Fund to that country’s market, currency, and other risks, including volatility and structural risks. Government reforms and the move to capitalism may not positively impact the economies of either country. Stable economic growth may be hampered by a number of factors, including burdensome regulatory requirements, inflation, poor allocation of resources and the reinvestment of capital, government price controls and capital restrictions, currency fluctuations, and social instability. As a result, investments in the Greater China region and India may be volatile.

 

Company risk – Investments in U.S. and foreign-traded equity securities may fluctuate more than the values of other types of securities in response to changes in a particular company’s financial condition. For example, poor earnings performance of a company may result in a decline of its stock price.

 

Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

 

Industry

Companies within an industry are often faced with the same economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry, and their stock may react similarly and move in unison with these and other market conditions. As a result, stocks within a certain industry in which the Fund invests may be more volatile, and carry greater risk of adverse developments affecting many of the Fund’s holdings, than a mixture of stocks of companies from a wide variety of industries.

 

Geographic

To the extent that the Fund has a significant level of investment in issuers in particular countries or regions, the Fund’s performance is expected to be closely tied to social, political and economic conditions within those countries or regions and to be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified funds. The economies and financial markets of certain regions can be highly interdependent and may decline all at the same time. In addition, certain regions are prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, droughts or tsunamis and are economically sensitive to environmental events. Such events may have a negative impact on the value of the Fund’s investments in those regions.

 

Security

The Fund’s portfolio may invest in a limited number of securities. As compared to other Funds, this could subject the Fund to additional risk if one of the portfolio securities declines in price, or if certain sectors of the market experience a downturn. It may take additional time to sell all or part of a Fund’s investment in a particular security, and consequently, concentrating portfolio investments may also limit the ability of the Fund to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

 

Currency risk – Investments in foreign currencies, securities that trade in or receive revenues in foreign currencies or derivatives that provide exposure to foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies may decline in value, or, in the case of hedging positions, that the currency may decline in value relative to the currency being hedged.

 

  B-6  
 

 

Currency exchange rates can be volatile and may be affected by a number of factors, such as the general economics of a country, the actions (or inaction) of U.S. and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. The Fund accrues additional expenses when engaging in currency exchange transactions, and valuation of a Fund’s foreign securities may be subject to greater risk because both the price of the currency (relative to the U.S. dollar) and the price of the security may fluctuate with market and economic conditions. A decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar reduces the value in U.S. dollars of investments denominated in that foreign currency.

 

Cybersecurity risk Cyber attacks could cause business failures or delays in daily processing and the Fund may need to delay transactions, consistent with regulatory requirements, as a result could impact the performance of the Fund. See the “Technology Disruptions” section in this Prospectus.

 

Cyclical opportunities risk – The Fund may invest in stocks of a company in an effort to take tactical advantage of an anticipated event in that company’s business cycle which evidences growth potential, short-term market movements or changes affecting particular issuers or industries. If the anticipated event does not occur, the value of the stock could fall, which in turn could depress the Fund’s share prices. Cyclical stocks may tend to increase in value quickly during economic upturns, but they also tend to lose value quickly in economic downturns. These companies may have relatively weak balance sheets and, during economic downturns, they may have insufficient cash flow to pay their debt obligations and difficulty finding additional financing needed for their operations, which can result in losses for the Fund.

 

Depositary receipts risk Investments in securities of foreign companies in the form of American depositary receipts (“ADRs”), Global depositary receipts (“GDRs”), and European depositary receipts (“EDRs”) are subject to certain risks. ADRs typically are issued by a U.S. bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs and GDRs typically are issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they may be issued by U.S. banks or trust companies, and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or U.S. corporation. Where the custodian or similar financial institution that holds the issuer’s shares in a trust account is located in a country that does not have developed financial markets, a Fund could be exposed to the credit risk of the custodian or financial institution and greater market risk. In addition, the depository institution may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. A Fund would be expected to pay a share of the additional fees, which it would not pay if investing directly in the foreign securities. A Fund may experience delays in receiving its dividend and interest payments or exercising rights as a shareholder.

 

Depositary receipts may be issued in sponsored or un-sponsored programs. In a sponsored program, a security issuer has made arrangements to have its securities traded in the form of depositary receipts. In an un-sponsored program, the issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Although the U.S. regulatory requirements applicable to ADRs generally are similar for both sponsored and un-sponsored programs, in some cases it may be easier to obtain financial and other information from an issuer that has participated in the creation of a sponsored program. To the extent the Fund invests in depositary receipts of an un-sponsored program, there may be an increased possibility the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions such as stock splits or rights offerings involving the foreign issuer on a timely basis, as the issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is considered material in the U.S.

 

Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks as direct investments in foreign securities. These risks include: fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which are affected by international balances of payments and other economic and financial conditions; government intervention; and speculation. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, political and social upheaval, and economic instability. Investments in depositary receipts that are traded over the counter may also subject a Fund to liquidity risk.

 

Emerging markets and less developed countries risk – Emerging market and less developed countries generally are located in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central and South America and Africa. Investments in, or exposure to, securities that are tied economically to emerging market and less developed countries are subject to all of the risks of investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities, generally to a greater extent than in developed markets, among other risks. Investments in securities that are tied economically to emerging markets involve greater risk from economic and political systems that typically are less developed, and likely to be less stable, than those in more advanced countries. The Fund also will be subject to the risk of adverse foreign currency rate fluctuations. Emerging market and less developed countries may also have economies that are predominantly based on only a few industries

 

  B-7  
 

 

or dependent on revenues from particular commodities. There may be government policies that restrict investment by foreigners, greater government influence over the private sector, and a higher risk of a government taking private property in emerging and less developed countries. Moreover, economies of emerging market countries may be dependent upon international trade and may be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. As a result of these risks, investments in securities tied economically to emerging markets tend to be more volatile than investments in securities of developed countries.

 

Underdeveloped securities exchanges and low or nonexistent trading volume in securities of issuers may result in a lack of liquidity and in price volatility. A fund may not be able to sell such securities in a timely manner, and may receive less than the currently available market price when selling such emerging market securities. Emerging market countries often have less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements and less reliable clearance and settlement, registration and custodial procedures, which could result in ownership registration being completely lost. Issuers in emerging markets typically are subject to greater risk of adverse changes in earnings and business prospects than are companies in developed markets. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange controls, confiscations and other government restrictions, including confiscatory taxes on investment proceeds and other restrictions on the ability of foreign investors to withdraw their money at will, or from problems in security registration or settlement and custody. Investments in, or exposure to, emerging market securities may be more susceptible to investor sentiment than investments in developed countries. As a result, emerging market securities may be adversely affected by negative perceptions about an emerging market country’s stability and prospects for continued growth. The Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign currency rate fluctuations. Investments in, or exposure to, emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than investments in developed countries.

 

Frontier market countries are emerging market countries that are considered to have the smallest, least mature and least liquid securities markets. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies and less developed capital markets than traditional emerging markets, and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. The economies of frontier market countries are less correlated to global economic cycles than those of their more developed counterparts and their markets have low trading volumes, low security market capitalizations, and the potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity. This volatility may be further heightened by the actions of a few major investors. For example, a substantial increase or decrease in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local stock prices and, therefore, the price of Fund shares. These factors make investing in frontier market countries significantly riskier than in other countries and any one of them could cause the price of the Fund’s shares to decline.

 

Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

 

European investment risk – Investing in Europe involves many of the same risks as investing in foreign securities generally. In addition, investing in Europe poses some unique risks. Europe includes both developed and emerging markets and investments by a Fund will be subject to the risks associated with investments in such markets. Most developed countries in Western Europe are members of the European Union (“EU”) and many are also members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (“EMU”). The EU is an economic and political union of most western European countries and a growing number of eastern European countries. One of the key mandates of the EU is the establishment and administration of a common single market, consisting of, among other things, a single currency and a common trade policy. In order to pursue this goal, member states established the EMU, which sets out different stages and commitments that member states need to follow to achieve greater economic and monetary policy coordination, including the adoption of a single currency, the euro. Many member states have adopted the euro as their currency and, as a result, are subject to the monetary policies of the European Central Bank (“ECB”). Performance is expected to be closely tied to social, political, security, and economic conditions within Europe and to be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified funds. Recent security concerns related to immigration, war and geopolitical risk, and terrorism could have a negative impact on the EU and investments within EU countries.

 

  B-8  
 

 

The global economic crisis of the past several years has caused severe financial difficulties for many EU countries, pushing some to the brink of insolvency and causing others to experience recession, large public debt, restructuring of government debt, credit rating downgrades and an overall weakening of banking and financial sectors. Some of those countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the ECB, the International Monetary Fund, or other governments and institutions to address those issues. Failure by one or more EU countries to implement reforms or attain a certain performance level imposed as a condition of assistance, or an insufficient level of assistance, could deepen or prolong the economic downturn which could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. By adopting the euro as its currency, members of the EMU are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit to some degree the ability to implement their own economic policies. Additionally, EMU member countries could voluntarily abandon the euro or involuntarily be forced out of the euro, including by way of a partial or complete dissolution of the monetary union. The effects of such outcomes on the rest of the Eurozone and global markets as a whole are unpredictable, but are likely to be negative, including adversely impacted market values of Eurozone and various other securities and currencies, redenomination of certain securities into less valuable local currencies, and more volatile and illiquid markets. Under such circumstances, investments denominated in euros or replacement currencies may be difficult to value, the ability to operate an investment strategy in connection with euro-denominated securities may be significantly impaired and the value of euro-denominated investments may decline significantly and unpredictably.

 

Additionally, the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU, commonly known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU. There may also be similar Brexit movements in other EU countries, which could impact the economic, security, and political fabric of the EU. The withdrawal agreement entered into between the United Kingdom and the EU entered into force on January 31, 2020, at which time the United Kingdom ceased to be a member of the EU. Following the withdrawal, there will be an eleven-month transition period, ending December 31, 2020, during which the United Kingdom will negotiate its future relationship with the EU. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time.

 

Expense risk Fund expenses are subject to a variety of factors, including fluctuations in the Fund’s net assets. Accordingly, actual expenses may be greater or less than those indicated in the Fund’s Prospectus. For example, to the extent that the Fund’s net assets decrease due to market declines or redemptions, the Fund’s expenses will increase as a percentage of Fund net assets. During periods of high market volatility, these increases in the Fund’s expense ratio could be significant.

 

Exchange-traded funds investing risk Most exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are investment companies whose shares are purchased and sold on a securities exchange. Generally, an ETF represents a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. Many ETFs have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETFs’ shares beyond the statutory limitations, subject to certain conditions. A Fund may rely on these exemptive orders to invest in unaffiliated ETFs. An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional mutual fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

 

In addition, many ETFs invest in securities included in, or representative of, underlying indexes regardless of investment merit or market trends and, therefore, these ETFs do not change their investment strategies to respond to changes in the economy, which means that an ETF may be particularly susceptible to a general decline in the market segment relating to the relevant index. As with traditional mutual funds, ETFs charge asset-based fees. The Funds will indirectly pay a proportional share of the asset-based fees of the ETFs in which the Funds invest. During periods of market volatility, there may be delays in the pricing of ETFs, and ETF exchange-traded prices may also be subject to volatility, which could cause the Fund to lose money.

 

  B-9  
 

Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework; (ii) interest rate changes that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (iii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iv) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (v) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

 

Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is a subsidiary of Jackson. Jackson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jackson Financial Inc., which is a subsidiary of Prudential plc. Prudential plc is a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, or with The Prudential Assurance Company Ltd, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom. Athene Co-Invest Reinsurance Affiliate 1A Ltd., a Bermuda Class C insurer under the Bermuda Insurance Act 1978, owns a minority interest in Jackson Financial Inc. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements.

 

Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance. In addition, foreign regulatory requirements may increase the cost of transactions in certain countries, and may increase Fund legal and compliance costs.

 

Foreign securities risk – Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters. Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities and foreign issuers may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial recordkeeping standards and requirements as domestic issuers. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position. Such factors may adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions.

 

Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities could be affected by restrictions on receiving the investment proceeds from a foreign country, confiscatory foreign tax laws, and potential difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations. Transactions may be subject to less efficient settlement practices, including extended clearance and settlement periods. Foreign accounting may be less revealing than U.S. accounting practices and regulation may be inadequate or irregular. Investments in, or exposure to, emerging market countries and/or their securities markets may present market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political, technical and other risks different from, or greater than, the risks of investing in developed countries. In addition, the risks associated with investing in a narrowly defined geographic area are generally more pronounced with respect to investments in, or exposure to, emerging market countries.

 

Frontier market countries risk – Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies and less developed capital markets than traditional developing markets, and, as a result, the risks of investing in developing market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. The economies of frontier market countries are less correlated to global economic cycles than those of their more developed counterparts and their markets have low trading volumes, low security market capitalizations, and the potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity. This volatility may be further heightened by the actions of a few major investors. For example, a substantial increase or decrease in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local stock prices and, therefore, the price of Fund shares. These factors make investing in frontier market countries significantly riskier than in other countries and any one of them could cause the price of the Fund’s shares to decline.

 

  B-10  
 

 

Governments of many frontier market countries in which the Fund may invest may exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In some cases, the governments of such frontier market countries may own or control certain companies. Accordingly, government actions could have a significant effect on economic conditions in a frontier market country and on market conditions, prices and yields of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. Moreover, the economies of frontier market countries may be heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be, adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade.

 

Investment in equity securities of issuers operating in certain frontier market countries may be restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in equity securities of issuers operating in certain frontier market countries and increase the costs and expenses of the Fund. Certain frontier market countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular issuer, limit the investment by foreign persons only to a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous rights than the classes available for purchase by domiciliaries of the countries and/or impose additional taxes on foreign investors. Certain frontier market countries may also restrict investment opportunities in issuers in industries deemed important to national interests, ("sensitive industries").

 

Frontier market countries may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors, such as the Fund. In addition, if deterioration occurs in a frontier market country’s balance of payments, the country could impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. The Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Fund of any restrictions on investments. Investing in local markets in frontier market countries may require the Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local government approvals or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs to the Fund.

 

There may be no centralized securities exchange on which securities are traded in frontier market countries. Also, securities laws in many frontier market countries are relatively new and unsettled. Therefore, laws regarding foreign investment in frontier market securities, securities regulation, title to securities, and shareholder rights may change quickly and unpredictably.

 

The frontier market countries in which the Fund invests may become subject to sanctions or embargoes imposed by the U.S. government and the United Nations. The value of the securities issued by companies that operate in, or have dealings with these countries may be negatively impacted by any such sanction or embargo and may reduce the Fund’s returns.

 

Banks in frontier market countries used to hold the Fund’s securities and other assets in that country may lack the same operating experience as banks in developed markets. In addition, in certain countries there may be legal restrictions or limitations on the ability of the Fund to recover assets held by a foreign bank in the event of the bankruptcy of the bank. Settlement systems in frontier markets may be less well organized than in the developed markets. As a result, there is greater risk than in developed countries that settlements will take longer and that cash or securities of the Fund may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in the settlement systems.

 

Investment in other investment companies risk As with other investments, investments in other investment companies are subject to market and selection risk. In addition, if the Fund acquires shares of investment companies, including ones affiliated with the Fund, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests. To the extent that shares of the Fund are held by an affiliated fund, the ability of the Fund itself to invest in other investment companies may be limited.

 

Investment strategy risk – The investment manager uses the principal investment strategies and other investment strategies to seek to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Investment decisions made by the investment manager in accordance with these investment strategies may not produce the returns the investment manager expected, and may cause the Fund’s shares to decline in value or may cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives.

 

Investment style risk – The returns from a certain investment style may be lower than the returns from the overall stock market. For example, value funds typically emphasize stocks whose prices are below-average in comparison to

 

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earnings and book value, although they may yield above-average dividends. A value stock may not increase in price if other investors fail to recognize the company’s value or the factors that are expected to increase the price of the security do not occur. As another example, growth funds generally focus on stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Growth stock prices frequently reflect projections of future earnings or revenues, and if earnings growth expectations are not met, their stock prices will likely fall, which may reduce the value of a Fund’s investment in those stocks. Over market cycles, different investment styles may sometimes outperform other investment styles (for, example, growth investing may outperform value investing).

 

Investments in IPOs risk – IPOs issued by unseasoned companies with little or no operating history are risky and highly volatile.

 

Liquidity risk – Investments in securities that are difficult to purchase or sell (illiquid or thinly traded securities) may reduce returns if the Fund is unable to sell the securities at an advantageous time or price or achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector. An “illiquid investment” is defined as an investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven (7) calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Liquidity risk arises, for example, from small average trading volumes, trading restrictions, or temporary suspensions of trading. In times of market volatility, certain securities or classes of securities may become illiquid. Government or regulatory actions may decrease market liquidity, and the liquidity for certain securities. Small-capitalization companies and companies domiciled in emerging markets pose greater liquidity and price volatility risks. Certain securities that were liquid when purchased may later become illiquid or less liquid, particularly in times of overall economic distress. Illiquid securities may also be difficult to value, may be required to be fair valued according to the valuation procedures approved by the Board, and may reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market exists. Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to meet requests to redeem shares issued by a Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. To meet redemption requests, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions. In addition, although the fixed-income securities markets have grown significantly in the last few decades, regulations and business practices have led some financial intermediaries to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain debt securities. As a result, dealer inventories of fixed-income securities, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in fixed-income securities, are at or near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers help stabilize the market through their financial intermediary services, further reductions in dealer inventories could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.

 

Managed portfolio risk – As an actively managed portfolio, the value of the Fund’s investments could decline because the financial condition of an issuer may change (due to such factors as management performance, reduced demand or overall market changes), financial markets may fluctuate or overall prices may decline, or the Fund’s manager’s investment techniques could fail to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, or may negatively affect the Fund’s investment performance, or legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to the manager of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved.

 

Market risk – Stock market risk refers to the fact that stock (equity securities) prices typically fluctuate more than the values of other types of securities, typically in response to changes in the particular company’s financial condition and factors affecting the market in general. Over time, the stock market tends to move in cycles, with periods when stock prices rise, and periods when stock prices decline. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the price of the various stocks held by the Fund. Consequently, a broad-based market drop may also cause a stock’s price to fall.

 

Bond market risk generally refers to credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk is the actual or perceived risk that the issuer of the bond will not pay the interest and principal payments when due. Bond value typically declines if the issuer’s credit quality deteriorates. Interest rate risk is the risk that interest rates will rise and the value of bonds will fall. A broad-based market drop may also cause a bond’s price to fall.

 

Portfolio securities may also decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, public health issues, war, terrorism or natural disasters, or due to factors affecting particular industries represented in the securities markets, such as competitive conditions. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer can impact a market as a whole, and adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may

 

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not have the same impact on all types of securities. In addition, the markets may not favor a particular kind of security, including equity securities or bonds. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

 

Mid-capitalization and small-capitalization investing risk – The securities of mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies often have narrower markets and more limited managerial and financial resources than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of a Fund’s portfolio. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to conduct transactions at an advantageous time, or without a substantial drop in price. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks become.

 

Portfolio turnover risk – Frequent changes in the securities held by a Fund, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or in instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, may increase transaction costs, which may reduce performance.

 

Redemption risk – Large redemption activity could result in the Fund being forced to sell portfolio securities at a loss or before the Adviser or Sub-Adviser would otherwise decide to do so. Large redemption activity in the Fund may also result in increased expense ratios, higher levels of realized capital gains or losses with respect to the Fund's portfolio securities, higher brokerage commissions, and other transaction costs. It could be difficult for a Fund to meet large redemption requests where there is minimal liquidity in the Fund’s portfolio securities.

 

Real estate investment risk – Real estate is affected by general economic conditions and legal, cultural or technological developments. When growth is slowing, demand for property decreases and prices may decline. Real estate company share prices may drop because of the failure of borrowers to pay their loans and poor management. Many real estate companies, including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and real estate operating companies, utilize leverage (and some may be highly leveraged), which increases investment risk and could adversely affect a real estate company’s operations and market value in periods of rising interest rates. Financial covenants related to real estate company leveraging may affect the company’s ability to operate effectively. A real estate company may become liable for removal or other costs related to environmental contamination. Real estate companies tend to be small to medium-sized companies and share prices can be more volatile than, and perform differently from, larger company shares. The Fund could hold real estate directly if a company defaults on its debt securities. Direct ownership in real estate presents additional risks, including liquidity risks, declines in value of the properties, risks from general and local economic conditions, changes in the climate for real estate, increases in taxes, expenses and costs, changes in laws, casualty and condemnation losses, rent control limitations, increases in interest rates, and the risk of generating too much income that would not be “qualifying income” under Subchapter M of the Code.

 

In addition to the risks which are linked to the real estate sector in general, REITs are subject to additional risks. Investment in REITs may be affected by the management skill of the persons managing the REIT and are often not diversified, which will subject the Fund to more risk than would be associated with an investment in a diversified fund. Equity REITs, which invest a majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents and lease payments, may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trust. Mortgage REITs, which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income primarily from the collection of interest payments, may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and to defaults by borrowers or lessees. In addition, REITs possibly could fail to qualify for favorable tax treatment under applicable U.S. or foreign law and/or to maintain exempt status under the 1940 Act. Certain REITs provide for a specified term of existence in their trust documents. Such REITs run the risk of liquidating at an economically disadvantageous time. The Fund will bear a proportional share of the REITs’ expenses.

 

Regulatory investment limits risk – The U.S. “Federal Securities Laws” may limit the amount a Fund may invest in certain securities. These limits may be Fund specific or they may apply to the investment manager. As a result of these regulatory limitations under the Federal Securities Laws and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the investment manager and its affiliates, the investment manager and the Fund may be prohibited from or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. The investment manager and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other regulatory requirements. The Federal Securities Laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which

 

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securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These regulatory investment limits may increase the Funds’ expenses and may limit the Funds’ performance.

 

Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment, or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the portfolio managers’ choice of securities within such sector.

 

Air transportation sector risk – The air transportation sector can be significantly affected by competition within the industry, domestic and foreign economies, government regulation, labor relations, terrorism, and the price of fuel. Airline deregulation has substantially diminished the government’s role in the air transport sector while promoting an increased level of competition. However, regulations and policies of various domestic and foreign governments can still affect the profitability of individual carriers as well as the entire industry.

 

Financial services sector risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses, for example sub-prime loans; and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

 

Gold-mining companies sector risk – An investment in issuers in the gold-mining sector may be susceptible to financial, economic, political or market events, as well as government regulation, impacting the gold industry. Fluctuations in the price of gold often dramatically affect the profitability of companies in the gold-mining sector.

 

Health care sector risk – An investment in issuers in the health care sector may be adversely affected by government regulations and government health care programs and increases or decreases in the cost of medical products and services. Health care companies are heavily dependent on patent protection and the expiration of a patent may adversely affect their profitability. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. Regulatory approvals are generally required before new drugs and medical devices or procedures may be introduced and before the acquisition of additional facilities by health care providers, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market. Health care companies are also subject to competitive forces that may make it difficult to raise prices and, in fact, may result in price discounting. Health care companies may also be thinly capitalized and susceptible to product obsolescence.

 

Infrastructure companies sector risk Securities and instruments of infrastructure companies are more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting their industries. Infrastructure companies may be subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction programs, high leverage, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Infrastructure companies may also be affected by or subject to: regulation by various government authorities; government regulation of rates charged to customers; service interruption due to environmental, operational or other mishaps; the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards; and general changes in market sentiment toward infrastructure and utilities assets. Other factors that may affect the operations of infrastructure-related companies include innovations in technology, significant changes to the number of ultimate end-users of a company’s products, increased susceptibility to terrorist acts or political actions, risks of environmental damage due, and general changes in market sentiment toward infrastructure and utilities assets.

 

  B-14  
 

 

Natural resource-related securities risk An investment in natural resource-related securities may be subject to the risks associated with natural resource investments in addition to the general risk of the stock market. Such investments are more vulnerable to the price movements of natural resources and factors that particularly affect the oil, gas, mining, energy, chemicals, paper, steel or agriculture sectors. Such factors may include price fluctuations caused by real and perceived inflationary trends and political developments, the cost assumed by natural resource companies in complying with environmental and safety regulations, changes in supply of, or demand for, various natural resources, changes in energy prices, the success of exploration projects, changes in commodity prices, and special risks associated with natural or man-made disasters. A Fund that invests primarily in companies with natural resource assets is subject to the risk that it may perform poorly during a downturn in natural resource prices.

 

Precious metals-related securities risk Prices of precious metals and of precious metals-related securities historically have been very volatile. The high volatility of precious metal prices may adversely affect the financial condition of companies involved with precious metals. The production and sale of precious metals by governments or central banks or other larger holders can be affected by various economic, financial, social and political factors, which may be unpredictable and may have a significant impact on the prices of precious metals. Other factors that may affect the prices of precious metals and securities related to them include changes in inflation, the outlook for inflation and changes in industrial and commercial demand for precious metals.

 

Utilities sector risk – Utility company securities are particularly sensitive to interest rate movements; when interest rates rise, the stock prices of these companies tend to fall. The continually changing regulatory environment, at both the state and federal level, has led to greater competition in the industry and the emergence of non-regulated providers as a significant part of the industry, which may make some companies less profitable. Companies in the utilities industry may: (i) be subject to risks associated with the difficulty of obtaining adequate returns on invested capital in spite of frequent rate increases and of financing large construction programs during periods of inflation; (ii) face restrictions on operations and increased costs due to environmental and safety regulations, including increased fuel costs; (iii) find that existing plants and equipment or products have been rendered obsolete by technical innovations; (iv) confront challenging environmental conditions, including natural or man-made disasters; (v) tackle difficulties of the capital markets in absorbing utility debt and equity securities; (vi) incur risks associated with the operation of nuclear power plants; and (vii) face the effects of energy conservation and other factors affecting the level of demand for services. Government regulators monitor and control utility revenues and costs, and therefore may limit utility profits. The deregulation of certain utility companies may eliminate restrictions on profits, but may also subject these companies to greater risks of loss. Adverse regulatory changes could prevent or delay utilities from passing along cost increases to customers, which could hinder a utility’s ability to meet its obligations to its suppliers. Furthermore, regulatory authorities, which may be subject to political and other pressures, may not grant future rate increases, or may impose accounting or operational policies, any of which could affect a company's profitability and the value of its securities. In addition, federal, state and municipal governmental authorities may review existing construction projects, and impose additional, regulations governing the licensing, construction and operation of power plants. Any of these factors could result in a material adverse impact on the Fund’s holdings and the performance of the Fund and, to the extent a Fund is concentrated in the utilities sector, any potential material adverse impact may be magnified.

 

Securities lending risk – The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is fully collateralized. When the Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned, and the fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral. Securities lending involves the risk of loss or delays in recovery of the loaned security or loss of rights in the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent. The Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral. The Fund may pay lending fees to a party arranging the loan. See the “Lending of Portfolio Securities” section in this Prospectus.

 

Settlement risk – Settlement risk is the risk that a settlement in a transfer system does not take place as expected. Delayed settlement may affect a Fund’s liquidity due to the timing and receipt of the proceeds from the sale of that security. Loan transactions often settle on a delayed basis compared with securities and the Fund may not receive proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period after the sale, potentially impacting the ability of the Fund to make additional investments or meet redemption obligations. It may take longer than seven days for transactions in loans to settle. In order to meet short-term liquidity needs, the Fund may draw on its cash or other short-term positions,

 

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maintain short-term or other liquid assets sufficient to meet reasonably anticipated redemptions, or maintain a credit facility.

 

Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations. In addition, such securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Small-capitalization companies often have limited product lines, narrower markets and more limited managerial and financial resources, or may depend on the expertise of a few people, than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of the Fund’s portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks become.

 

Stock risk Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets. The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time and a variety of factors can affect the price of a particular company’s stock.

 

Temporary defensive positions and large cash positions risk – In anticipation of, or in response to, adverse market or other conditions, or atypical circumstances such as unusually large cash inflows or redemptions, and Sub-Adviser transitions, and/or Fund mergers or rebalances, the Fund may temporarily hold all or a significant portion, without limitation, of its assets in cash, cash equivalents, affiliated and unaffiliated money market funds, or high-quality debt instruments. During periods in which the Fund employs such a temporary defensive strategy or holds large cash positions, it will not be pursuing, and will not achieve, its investment objective. Taking a defensive or large cash position may reduce the potential for appreciation of the portfolio and may affect performance.

 

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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

February 12, 2021

 

JNL SERIES TRUST

 

JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund

(a series of JNL Series Trust)

(the “Acquired Fund”)

 

AND

 

JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund

(a series of JNL Series Trust)

(the “Acquiring Fund”)

 

1 Corporate Way
Lansing, Michigan 48951
(517) 381-5500

 

Acquisition of the assets and assumption of the liabilities of: By and in exchange for shares of:
JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund   JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund

 

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) relates specifically to the proposed reorganization of the Acquired Fund into the Acquiring Fund under which the Acquiring Fund would acquire all of the assets of the Acquired Fund in exchange solely for shares of the Acquiring Fund and that Acquiring Fund’s assumption of all of the Acquired Fund’s liabilities (the “Reorganization”). This SAI is available to separate accounts, registered investment companies, and non-qualified plans of Jackson National Life Insurance Company or Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York with amounts allocated to the Acquired Fund and to other shareholders of the Acquired Fund as of January 29, 2021.

 

This SAI consists of the cover page, the information set forth below and the following described documents, each of which is incorporated by reference herein and accompanies this SAI:

 

(1)       The Acquired Fund’s and the Acquiring Fund’s Statement of Additional Information dated April 27, 2020, as supplemented (File Nos. 033-87244 and 811-08894);

 

(2)        The Annual Report to Shareholders of the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (File Nos. 033-87244 and 811-08894); and

 

(3)        The Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders of the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund for the period ended June 30, 2020 (File Nos. 033-87244 and 811-08894).

 

This SAI is not a prospectus. A Proxy Statement and Prospectus dated February 12, 2021, relating to the Reorganization (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) may be obtained at no charge by calling 1-800-644-4565 (Jackson Service Center), 1-800-599-5651 (Jackson NY Service Center), by writing JNL Series Trust, P.O. Box 30314, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7814 or by visiting www.jackson.com. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

 

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PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund merging into JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund

 

The unaudited pro forma information provided herein should be read in conjunction with the annual and semi-annual reports of the JNL/Franklin Templeton International Small Cap Fund (“Franklin Fund” or the “Acquired Fund”) and the JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund (“Multi-Manager Fund” or the “Acquiring Fund”) dated December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2020, respectively. All shareholder reports are on file with the SEC and are available at no charge.

 

The unaudited pro forma information set forth below for the twelve months ended June 30, 2020, is intended to present supplemental data as if the proposed reorganization (the “Reorganization”) of the Franklin Fund into the Multi-Manager Fund (collectively, the “Funds”) had occurred as of July 1, 2019. The Reorganization is intended to combine the Acquired Fund with a similar fund currently advised by Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (“JNAM”). Both Funds are advised by JNAM. JNAM is also the administrator and fund accounting agent for the Funds. The Funds’ distributor is an affiliate of JNAM. Subject to shareholder approval, the Reorganization is expected to be effective as of the close of business on April 23, 2021, or on such later date as may be deemed necessary in the judgment of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the JNL Series Trust (the “Trust”) in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization (the “Closing Date”).

 

The Reorganization provides for the acquisition of all the assets and all the liabilities of the Acquired Fund by the Acquiring Fund, in exchange for shares of the Acquiring Fund at net asset value. Following the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund will be the accounting and performance survivor. As a result of the Reorganization, shareholders of the Acquired Fund would become shareholders of the Acquiring Fund.

 

The costs and expenses associated with the Reorganization relating to the solicitation of proxies, including preparing, filing, printing, and mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and related disclosure documents, and the related legal fees, including the legal fees incurred in connection with the analysis under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) of the tax treatment of this transaction, as well as the costs associated with the preparation of the tax opinion and obtaining a consent of independent registered public accounting firm will be borne by JNAM whether or not the Reorganization is consummated. No sales or other charges will be imposed on Contract Owners in connection with the Reorganization.  It is currently anticipated that approximately 3.31% of the Acquired Fund’s holdings will be transferred to the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganization and that, prior to the Reorganization, JNAM will use a transition manager to align or sell approximately 96.69% of the Acquired Fund’s holdings and allocate the resulting proceeds to the sleeves managed by the Multi-Manager Fund’s sub-advisers in accordance with the Multi-Manager Fund’s principal investment strategies. The Acquired Fund will bear transaction expenses, which typically include, but are not limited to, trade commissions, related fees and taxes, and any foreign exchange spread costs, where applicable (the “Transaction Costs”), associated with the Reorganization. Such Transaction Costs are estimated to be $579,155 (0.12% of net assets).

 

The Funds currently have the same adviser, administrator, distributor, and fund accounting agent. The Funds have different sub-advisers and custodians. The co-sub-advisers for the Acquired Fund are Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC and Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC, and the sub-advisers for the Acquiring Fund are Causeway Capital Management LLC and WCM Investment Management, LLC. Each sub-adviser for the Acquiring Fund manages a sleeve of the Fund. Effective April 26, 2021, Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited will be appointed as a sub-adviser to the Acquiring Fund. The custodian for the Acquired Fund is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, and the custodian for the Acquiring Fund is State Street Bank & Trust Company. Each service provider has entered into an agreement with JNAM which governs the provision of services to the Funds. Such agreements contain the same or substantially similar terms with respect to each Fund. As noted above, certain of these agreements are between the Funds and JNAM or JNAM’s affiliates (“Related Parties”), and fees paid to the Related Parties include the payment of management fees, administrative fees, and 12b-1 fees.

 

As of June 30, 2020, the net assets of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund were $431.21 million and $247.65 million, respectively. The net assets of the pro forma Acquired Fund combined with the Acquiring Fund (the “Combined Fund”) as of June 30, 2020 would have been $678.27 million (net of estimated transaction expenses) had the Reorganization occurred on that date. The actual net assets of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date will differ due to fluctuations in net asset values, subsequent purchases, and redemptions of shares. No

 

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assurance can be given as to how many shares of the Acquiring Fund will be received by shareholders of the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date.

On a pro forma basis for the twelve months ended June 30, 2020, it is projected that the Combined Fund will incur $ 250,000 less management expenses (0.03% as a percentage of average net assets of the Combined Fund) in the fiscal year after the Reorganization based on current fees as of June 30, 2020. There is no impact to other operating expenses had the Reorganization occurred on July 1, 2019. The Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund each pay an administrative fee to JNAM at the rate of 0.15% of its average daily net assets. The Acquiring Fund will pay the same fee after the Reorganization.  The administrative expenses, which are paid by JNAM, include routine legal, audit, fund accounting, custody (except overdraft and interest expense), printing and mailing, a portion of the Chief Compliance Officer costs and all other services necessary for the operation of each Fund.  No significant accounting policies will change as a result of the Reorganization, specifically, policies regarding valuation.

 

Under the Trust’s valuation policy and procedures, the Board has delegated the daily operational oversight of the securities valuation function to the JNAM Valuation Committee (“Valuation Committee”), which consists of certain officers of the Trust and JNAM management. The Valuation Committee is responsible for determining fair valuations for any security for which market quotations are not readily available. For those securities fair valued under procedures adopted by the Board, the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms the reasonableness of the fair valuation determinations after considering all relevant information that is reasonably available. The Valuation Committee’s fair valuation determinations are subject to review by the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting covering the calendar quarter in which the fair valuation was determined. For fair valuation determinations that are deemed material, the Board is promptly notified, in detail, of the fair valuation.

 

The net asset value (“NAV”) of a Fund's shares is generally determined once each day on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open at the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). However, consistent with legal requirements, calculation of the Fund’s NAV may be suspended on days determined by the Board during times of NYSE market closure, which may include times during which the SEC issues policies or protocols associated with such closure pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Equity securities are generally valued at the official closing price of the exchange where the security is principally traded. If there is no official closing price for the security on the valuation date, the security may be valued at the most recent sale or quoted bid price prior to close. Stocks not listed on a national or foreign stock exchange may be valued at the closing bid price on the over the counter (“OTC”) market. JNAM has retained an independent statistical fair value pricing service to assist in the fair valuation process for equities traded in foreign markets in order to adjust for possible changes in value that may occur between the close of the foreign exchange and the time at which the NAVs are determined. Investments in mutual funds are valued at the NAV per share determined as of the close of the NYSE on each valuation date. When fair valuing foreign equity securities, JNAM adjusts the closing prices of foreign portfolio equity securities (except foreign equity securities traded in North America and South America) based upon pricing models provided by a third-party vendor in order to reflect the “fair value” of such securities for purposes of determining a Fund's NAV. Foreign equity securities traded in North America and South America may be fair valued utilizing international adjustment factors in response to local market holidays, exchange closures, or other events as deemed necessary in order to reflect the “fair value” of such securities for purposes of determining a Fund's NAV. If a valuation from a third-party pricing service is unavailable or it is determined that such valuation does not approximate fair market value, debt obligations with remaining maturities of sixty (60) days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, unless it is determined that such practice also does not approximate fair market value.

 

Debt securities are generally valued by independent pricing services approved by the Board. Pricing services utilized to value debt and derivative instruments may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as: yield; credit quality; coupon rate; maturity; type of issue; trading characteristics; call features; credit ratings; broker quotes; and other relevant data. Term loans are generally valued at the composite bid prices provided by approved pricing services. Commodity-linked structured notes and credit linked notes are valued by approved pricing services. Futures contracts traded on an exchange are generally valued at the exchange’s settlement price. If the settlement price is not available, exchange traded futures are valued at the last sales price as of the close of business on the primary exchange. Options traded on an exchange are generally valued at the last traded price as of the close of business on the local exchange. If the last trade is determined to not be representative of fair value, exchange traded options are valued at the current day’s mid-price. Forward foreign currency contracts are generally valued at the

 

  C-3  
 

 

foreign currency exchange rate as of the close of the NYSE, unless an unexpected disruption on the NYSE and the Funds’ valuation policies require a different approach. Centrally cleared swap agreements, listed on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued by the respective exchange. The exchange determines a daily settlement price via pricing models which use, as appropriate, its members’ actionable levels across complete term structures along with information obtained from external third party price providers. OTC derivatives, including options and swap agreements, are generally valued by approved pricing services. If the pricing services are unable to provide valuations, OTC derivatives are valued at the most recent bid quotation or evaluated price, as applicable, obtained from a broker/dealer or by pricing models using observable inputs.

 

Market quotations may not be readily available for certain investments or it may be determined that a quotation of an investment does not represent fair value. In such instances, the investment is valued as determined in good faith using procedures approved by the Board. Situations that may require an investment to be fair valued may include instances where a security is thinly traded, halted or restricted as to resale. In addition, investments may be fair valued based on the occurrence of a significant event. Significant events may be specific to a particular issuer, such as mergers, restructurings or defaults. Alternatively, significant events may affect an entire market, such as natural disasters, government actions, and significant changes in the value of U.S. securities markets. Securities are fair valued based on observable and unobservable inputs, including JNAM’s or Valuation Committee’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of an investment. Under the procedures approved by the Board, JNAM may utilize pricing services or other sources, including each Fund’s sub-adviser(s), to assist in determining the fair value of an investment. Factors considered to determine fair value may include fundamental analytical data relating to the security; the nature and duration of restrictions, if any, on the disposition of the security; trading volume on markets, exchanges, or among dealers; evaluation of the forces which influence the market in which the security is traded; the type of security; the financial statements of the issuer, or other financial information about the issuer; the cost of the security at its date of purchase; the size of the Fund’s holding; the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class, if applicable, at the time of purchase or at a later date; reports prepared by analysts; information as to any transactions in or offers for the security; the existence of any merger proposal, tender offer or other extraordinary event relating to the security; the price and extent of public or dealer trading in similar securities or derivatives of the issuer or of comparable companies; trading in depositary receipts; foreign currency exchange activity; changes in the interest rate environment; trading prices of financial products that are tied to baskets of foreign securities; and any other matters considered relevant.

 

If an investment is valued at a fair value for purposes of calculating a Fund’s NAV, the value may be different from the last quoted price for the investment depending on the source and method used to determine the value. Although there can be no assurance, in general, the fair value of the investment is the amount the owner of such investment might reasonably expect to receive in an orderly transaction between market participants upon its current sale.

 

Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Expenses of the Trust that are directly attributable to a specific Fund are charged to that Fund. Expenses attributable to a specific class of shares are charged to that class. Other Trust level expenses are allocated to the Funds based on the average daily net assets of each Fund.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires JNAM to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The Reorganization is not expected to be a taxable event for federal income tax purposes for Contract Owners.

 

If the Reorganization is consummated, the combined Acquiring Fund would seek to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company, if such qualification is in the best interests of shareholders, by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined in applicable sections of the Code, and make distributions of substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. In addition, the Acquired Fund will make any required income or capital gain distributions prior to consummation of this Reorganization, in accordance with provisions of the Code relating to reorganizations. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required.

 

As of December 31, 2019, the Acquired Fund had no net capital loss carryforwards. The Acquiring Fund had capital loss carryforwards of $25,016,024.

 

  C-3  

 

 


JNL SERIES TRUST

PART C
OTHER INFORMATION

Item 15. Indemnification.
 
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust:  Article IV of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as amended, provides that each of its Trustees and Officers (including persons who serve at the Registrant’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Registrant has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (each, a “Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Registrant against all liabilities and expenses that may be incurred by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person, except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Registrant or its shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.
 
Article IV, Section 4.3 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as amended, provides the following:
 
(a)
Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:
   
 
(i)
every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust (including any individual who serves at its request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) shall be indemnified by the Trust, or by one or more Series thereof if the claim arises from his or her conduct with respect to only such Series (unless the Series was terminated prior to any such liability or claim being known to the Trustees, in which case such obligations, to the extent not satisfied out of the assets of a Series, the obligation shall be an obligation of the Trust), to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;
   
 
(ii)
the words “claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
   
(b)
No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Trustee or officer:
   
 
(i)
against any liability to the Trust, a Series thereof or the Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;
   
 
(ii)
with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or a Series thereof;
   
 
(iii)
in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication as provided in paragraph (b)(ii) resulting in a payment by a Trustee or officer, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office:
   
   
(A)
by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition;
   
   
(B)
based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) by (i) vote of a majority of the Non-interested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Non-interested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or (ii) written opinion of independent legal counsel; or
   
   
(C)
by a vote of a majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote (excluding Shares owned of record or beneficially by such individual).
   
(c)
The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Trustee or officer may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such Trustee or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators and assigns of such a person.  Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust or any Series thereof other than Trustees and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
   
(d)
Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding of the character described in paragraph (a) of this Section 4.3 may be advanced by the Trust or a Series thereof prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.3, provided that either:
   
 
(i)
such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security provided by the recipient, or the Trust or Series thereof shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or
   
 
(ii)
a majority of the Non-interested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Non-interested Trustees act on the matter) or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
   
As used in Section 4.3 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, a “Non-interested Trustee” is one who (i) is not an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (ii) is not involved in the claim, action, suit or proceeding.
 
Indemnification Arrangements:  The foregoing indemnification arrangements are subject to the provisions of Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
Insofar as indemnification by the Registrant for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
In addition to the above indemnification, Jackson National Life Insurance Company extends its indemnification of its own officers, directors and employees to cover such persons’ activities as officers, trustees or employees of the Registrant.



Item 16.  Exhibits
 
   
(1)
     
         
(2)
     
         
(3)
   
Not Applicable.
 
         
(4)
   
Plan of Reorganization, filed as Appendix A to the Proxy Statement and Prospectus set forth in Part A to this Registration Statement on Form N-14.
 
         
(5)
   
Provisions of instruments defining the rights of holders of the securities being registered are contained in the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws (See Exhibits (1) and (2) above).
 
         
(6)
(a)
 
Jackson National Asset Management, LLC (“JNAM”)
 
         
   
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
   
(vi)
 
         
   
(vii)
 
         
   
(viii)
 
         
   
(ix)
 
         
   
(x)
 
         
   
(xi)
 
         
   
(xii)
 
         
   
(xiii)
 
         
   
(xiv)
 
         
   
(xv)
 
         
   
(xvi)
 
         
   
(xvii)
 
         
   
(xviii)
 
         
   
(xix)
 
         
   
(xx)
 
         
   
(xxi)
 
         
 
(b)
 
Causeway Capital Management LLC (“Causeway”)
 
         
   
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
 
(c)
 
Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC (“Franklin Templeton”)
 
         
   
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
   
(vi)
 
         
   
(vii)
 
         
   
(viii)
 
         
 
(d)
 
Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC (“Templeton Counsel”)
 
         
   
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
   
(vi)
 
         
 
(e)
 
WCM Investment Management, LLC (“WCM”)
 
         
   
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
(7)
 
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
(8)
   
Not Applicable.
 
         
(9)
(a)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
   
(vi)
 
         
   
(vii)
 
         
   
(viii)
 
         
   
(ix)
 
         
   
(x)
 
         
   
(xi)
 
         
   
(xii)
 
         
   
(xiii)
 
         
   
(xiv)
 
         
   
(xv)
 
         
   
(xvi)
 
         
   
(xvii)
 
         
   
(xviii)
 
         
   
(xix)
 
         
   
(xx)
 
         
   
(xxi)
 
         
   
(xxii)
 
         
   
(xxiii)
 
         
   
(xxiv)
 
         
   
(xxv)
 
         
   
(xxvi)
 
         
   
(xxvii)
 
         
   
(xxviii)
 
         
   
(xxix)
 
         
   
(xxx)
 
         
 
(b)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
   
(vi)
 
         
   
(vii)
 
         
   
(viii)
 
         
   
(ix)
 
         
   
(x)
 
         
   
(xi)
Amendment, effective August 13, 2018, to Custody Agreement between Registrant, State Street, RICs, Cayman Entities, and PPM Funds, dated December 30, 2010.24 (This amendment adds JNL Multi-Manager Alternative Fund (Boston Partners) Ltd. and JNL/Eaton Vance Global Macro Absolute Return Advantage Fund Ltd., additional “Cayman Entities,” as parties.)
 
         
   
(xii)
 
         
   
(xiii)
 
         
   
(xiv)
Amendment, effective April 27, 2020, to Custody Agreement between Registrant, State Street, RICs, Cayman Entities, and PPM Funds, dated December 30, 2010.27 (This amendment removes JNL/Eaton Vance Global Macro Absolute Return Advantage Fund Ltd., JNL/Neuberger Berman Commodity Strategy Fund Ltd., and certain registered investment companies, as parties.)
 
         
   
(xv)
Amendment, effective November 10, 2020, to Custody Agreement between Registrant, State Street, JNL Investors Series Trust, JNL Multi-Manager Alternative Fund (Boston Partners) Ltd., and PPM Funds, dated December 30, 2010.28
 
         
(10)
(a)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
 
(b)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
   
(vi)
 
         
   
(vii)
 
         
   
(viii)
 
         
   
(ix)
 
         
   
(x)
 
         
   
(xi)
 
         
   
(xii)
 
         
   
(xiii)
 
         
(11)
   
Opinion and Consent of Counsel regarding legality of shares being registered, attached hereto.
 
         
(12)
   
Opinion and Consent of Counsel regarding tax matters and consequences to shareholders discussed in the Proxy Statement and Prospectus, to be filed by amendment.
 
         
(13)
(a)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
   
(vi)
 
         
   
(vii)
 
         
   
(viii)
 
         
   
(ix)
 
         
   
(x)
 
         
   
(xi)
 
         
   
(xii)
 
         
   
(xiii)
 
         
   
(xiv)
 
         
   
(xv)
 
         
   
(xvi)
 
         
   
(xvii)
 
         
   
(xviii)
 
         
   
(xix)
 
         
   
(xx)
 
         
   
(xxi)
 
         
   
(xxii)
 
         
   
(xxiii)
 
         
   
(xxiv)
 
         
 
(b)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
 
(c)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
 
(d)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
 
(e)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
 
(f)
(i)
 
         
   
(ii)
 
         
   
(iii)
 
         
   
(iv)
 
         
   
(v)
 
         
   
(vi)
 
         
   
(vii)
 
         
   
(viii)
 
         
   
(ix)
 
         
   
(x)
 
         
   
(xi)
 
         
   
(xii)
 
         
   
(xiii)
 
         
   
(xiv)
 
         
   
(xv)
 
         
(14)
   
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, attached hereto.
 
         
(15)
   
None.
 
         
(16)
   
Powers of Attorney, dated June 1, 2020, attached hereto.
 
         
(17)
   
Form of Proxy and Voting Instruction Cards, attached hereto.
 
         
         
   
1
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to its registration statement on Form N-1A (033-87244; 811-8894) (“Registration Statement”) filed with (“Registration Statement”) on Form N-1A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 23, 2009.
 
2
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on December 18, 2009.
 
3
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 30, 2010.
 
4
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on October 8, 2010.
 
5
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on January 3, 2011.
 
6
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2011.
 
7
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on August 26, 2011.
 
8
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on December 9, 2011.
 
9
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 26, 2012.
 
10
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on August 24, 2012.
 
11
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on December 19, 2012.
 
12
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 26, 2013.
 
13
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on September 13, 2013.
 
14
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 25, 2014.
 
15
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on September 12, 2014.
 
16
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 24, 2015.
 
17
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on September 25, 2015.
 
18
Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 139 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 22, 2016.
 
19
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 144 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on September 16, 2016.
 
20
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on December 16, 2016.
 
21
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 21, 2017.
 
22
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 155 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on September 22, 2017.
 
23
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 27, 2018.
 
24
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on August 10, 2018.
 
25
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 166 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 26, 2019.
 
26
Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on December 16, 2019.
 
27
Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 171 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on April 23, 2020.
 
28
Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed with the SEC on December 11, 2020.
 

Item 17. Undertakings.
 
   
(1) The undersigned Registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this Registration Statement by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form for reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.

(2) The undersigned Registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to the Registration Statement and will not be used until the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering of them.

(3) The Registrant agrees to file an executed copy of the opinion of counsel supporting the tax consequences of the proposed reorganization as an amendment to this Registration Statement within a reasonable time after receipt of such opinion.

 
SIGNATURES
   
     
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form N-14 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Lansing and the State of Michigan on the 18th day of December, 2020.
   
     
     
JNL SERIES TRUST
   
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett
   
Emily J. Bennett
   
Assistant Secretary
   
     
As required by the 1933 Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
   
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Eric O. Anyah
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Michael Bouchard
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Ellen Carnahan
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
William Crowley, Jr.
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Michelle Engler
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
John W. Gillespie
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
William R. Rybak
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Mark S. Wehrle
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Edward C. Wood
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Patricia A. Woodworth
     
Trustee
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Mark D. Nerud
     
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
     
     
/s/ Emily J. Bennett *
December 18, 2020
   
Andrew Tedeschi
     
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
     
     
 
* By Emily J. Bennett, Attorney In Fact
     



EXHIBIT LIST
 
         
(11)
 
Opinion and Consent of Counsel regarding legality of shares being registered
 
       
(14)
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
       
(16)
 
Powers of Attorney, dated June 1, 2020
 
       
(17)
 
Form of Proxy and Voting Instruction Cards