|
Final Rule:
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1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
$_______ |
$_______ |
$_______ |
$_______ |
You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
$_______ |
$_______ |
$_______ |
$_______ |
The Example does not reflect sales charges (loads) on reinvested dividends [and other distributions]. If these sales charges (loads) were included, your costs would be higher.
Instructions.
1. General.
(a) Round all dollar figures to the nearest dollar and all percentages to the nearest hundredth of one percent.
(b) Include the narrative explanations in the order indicated. A Fund may modify the narrative explanations if the explanation contains comparable information to that shown.
(c) Include the caption "Maximum Account Fees" only if the Fund charges these fees. A Fund may omit other captions if the Fund does not charge the fees or expenses covered by the captions.
(d)(i) If the Fund is a Feeder Fund, reflect the aggregate expenses of the Feeder Fund and the Master Fund in a single fee table using the captions provided. In a footnote to the fee table, state that the table and Example reflect the expenses of both the Feeder and Master Funds.
(ii) If the prospectus offers more than one Class of a Multiple Class Fund or more than one Feeder Fund that invests in the same Master Fund, provide a separate response for each Class or Feeder Fund.
2. Shareholder Fees.
(a)(i) "Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)" includes the maximum total deferred sales charge (load) payable upon redemption, in installments, or both, expressed as a percentage of the amount or amounts stated in response to Item 8(a), except that, for a sales charge (load) based on net asset value at the time of purchase, show the sales charge (load) as a percentage of the offering price at the time of purchase. A Fund may include in a footnote to the table, if applicable, a tabular presentation showing the amount of deferred sales charges (loads) over time or a narrative explanation of the sales charges (loads) (e.g., __% in the first year after purchase, declining to __% in the __ year and eliminated thereafter).
(ii) If more than one type of sales charge (load) is imposed (e.g., a deferred sales charge (load) and a front-end sales charge (load)), the first caption in the table should read "Maximum Sales Charge (Load)" and show the maximum cumulative percentage. Show the percentage amounts and the terms of each sales charge (load) comprising that figure on separate lines below.
(iii) If a sales charge (load) is imposed on shares purchased with reinvested capital gains distributions or returns of capital, include the bracketed words in the third caption.
(b) "Redemption Fee" includes a fee charged for any redemption of the Fund's shares, but does not include a deferred sales charge (load) imposed upon redemption.
(c) "Exchange Fee" includes the maximum fee charged for any exchange or transfer of interest from the Fund to another fund. The Fund may include in a footnote to the table, if applicable, a tabular presentation of the range of exchange fees or a narrative explanation of the fees.
(d) "Maximum Account Fees." Disclose account fees that may be charged to a typical investor in the Fund; fees that apply to only a limited number of shareholders based on their particular circumstances need not be disclosed. Include a caption describing the maximum account fee (e.g., "Maximum Account Maintenance Fee" or "Maximum Cash Management Fee"). State the maximum annual account fee as either a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of assets. Include in a parenthetical to the caption the basis on which any percentage is calculated. If an account fee is charged only to accounts that do not meet a certain threshold (e.g., accounts under $5,000), the Fund may include the threshold in a parenthetical to the caption or footnote to the table. The Fund may include an explanation of any non-recurring account fee in a parenthetical to the caption or in a footnote to the table.
3. Annual Fund Operating Expenses.
(a) "Management Fees" include investment advisory fees (including any fees based on the Fund's performance), any other management fees payable to the investment adviser or its affiliates, and administrative fees payable to the investment adviser or its affiliates that are not included as "Other Expenses."
(b) "Distribution [and/or Service] (12b-1) Fees" include all distribution or other expenses incurred during the most recent fiscal year under a plan adopted pursuant to rule 12b-1 [17 CFR 270.12b-1]. Under an appropriate caption or a subcaption of "Other Expenses," disclose the amount of any distribution or similar expenses deducted from the Fund's assets other than pursuant to a rule 12b-1 plan.
(c)(i) "Other Expenses" include all expenses not otherwise disclosed in the table that are deducted from the Fund's assets or charged to all shareholder accounts. The amount of expenses deducted from the Fund's assets are the amounts shown as expenses in the Fund's statement of operations (including increases resulting from complying with paragraph 2(g) of rule 6-07 of Regulation S-X [17 CFR 210.6-07]).
(ii) "Other Expenses" do not include extraordinary expenses as determined under generally accepted accounting principles (see Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30). If extraordinary expenses were incurred that materially affected the Fund's "Other Expenses," disclose in a footnote to the table what "Other Expenses" would have been had the extraordinary expenses been included.
(iii) The Fund may subdivide this caption into no more than three subcaptions that identify the largest expense or expenses comprising "Other Expenses," but must include a total of all "Other Expenses." Alternatively, the Fund may include the components of "Other Expenses" in a parenthetical to the caption.
(d)(i) Base the percentages of "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" on amounts incurred during the Funds most recent fiscal year, but include in expenses amounts that would have been incurred absent expense reimbursement or fee waiver arrangements. If the Fund has changed its fiscal year and, as a result, the most recent fiscal year is less than three months, use the fiscal year prior to the most recent fiscal year as the basis for determining "Annual Fund Operating Expenses."
(ii) If there have been any changes in "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" that would materially affect the information disclosed in the table:
(A) Restate the expense information using the current fees as if they had been in effect during the previous fiscal year; and
(B) In a footnote to the table, disclose that the expense information in the table has been restated to reflect current fees.
(iii) A change in "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" means either an increase or a decrease in expenses that occurred during the most recent fiscal year or that is expected to occur during the current fiscal year. A change in "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" does not include a decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of assets due to economies of scale or breakpoints in a fee arrangement resulting from an increase in the Fund's assets.
(e) The Fund may reflect actual operating expenses that include expense reimbursement or fee waiver arrangements in a footnote to the table. If the Fund provides this disclosure, also disclose the period for which the expense reimbursement or fee waiver arrangement is expected to continue, or whether it can be terminated at any time at the option of the Fund.
4. Example.
(a) Assume that the percentage amounts listed under "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" remain the same in each year of the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods, except that an adjustment may be made to reflect reduced annual expenses resulting from completion of the amortization of initial organization expenses.
(b) For any breakpoint in any fee, assume that the amount of the Fund's assets remains constant as of the level at the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.
(c) Assume reinvestment of all dividends and distributions.
(d) Reflect recurring and non-recurring fees charged to all investors other than any exchange fees or any sales charges (loads) on shares purchased with reinvested dividends or other distributions. If sales charges (loads) are imposed on reinvested dividends or other distributions, include the narrative explanation following the Example and include the bracketed words when sales charges (loads) are charged on reinvested capital gains distributions or returns of capital. Reflect any shareholder account fees collected by more than one Fund by dividing the total amount of the fees collected during the most recent fiscal year for all Funds whose shareholders are subject to the fees by the total average net assets of the Funds. Add the resulting percentage to "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and assume that it remains the same in each of the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods. A Fund that charges account fees based on a minimum account requirement exceeding $10,000 may adjust its account fees based on the amount of the fee in relation to the Fund's minimum account requirement.
(e) Reflect any deferred sales charge (load) by assuming redemption of the entire account at the end of the year in which the sales charge (load) is due. In the case of a deferred sales charge (load) that is based on the Fund's net asset value at the time of payment, assume that the net asset value at the end of each year includes the 5% annual return for that and each preceding year.
(f) Include the second 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods and related narrative explanation only if a sales charge (load) or other fee is charged upon redemption.
5. New Funds. For purposes of this Item, a "New Fund" is a Fund that does not include in Form N-1A financial statements reporting operating results or that includes financial statements for the Fund's initial fiscal year reporting operating results for a period of 6 months or less. The following Instructions apply to New Funds.
(a) Base the percentages expressed in "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" on payments that will be made, but include in expenses, amounts that will be incurred without reduction for expense reimbursement or fee waiver arrangements, estimating amounts of "Other Expenses." Disclose in a footnote to the table that "Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(b) The New Fund may reflect expense reimbursement or fee waiver arrangements that are expected to reduce any Fund operating expense or the estimate of "Other Expenses" (regardless of whether the arrangement has been guaranteed) in a footnote to the table. If the New Fund provides this disclosure, also disclose the period for which the expense reimbursement or fee waiver arrangement is expected to continue, or whether it can be terminated at any time at the option of the Fund.
(c) Complete only the 1- and 3-year period portions of the Example and estimate any shareholder account fees collected.
(a) Investment Objectives. State the Fund's investment objectives and, if applicable, state that those objectives may be changed without shareholder approval.
(b) Implementation of Investment Objectives. Describe how the Fund intends to achieve its investment objectives. In the discussion:
(1) Describe the Fund's principal investment strategies, including the particular type or types of securities in which the Fund principally invests or will invest.
Instructions.
1. A strategy includes any policy, practice, or technique used by the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.
2. Whether a particular strategy, including a strategy to invest in a particular type of security, is a principal investment strategy depends on the strategy's anticipated importance in achieving the Fund's investment objectives, and how the strategy affects the Fund's potential risks and returns. In determining what is a principal investment strategy, consider, among other things, the amount of the Fund's assets expected to be committed to the strategy, the amount of the Fund's assets expected to be placed at risk by the strategy, and the likelihood of the Funds losing some or all of those assets from implementing the strategy.
3. A negative strategy (e.g., a strategy not to invest in a particular type of security or not to borrow money) is not a principal investment strategy.
4. Disclose any policy to concentrate in securities of issuers in a particular industry or group of industries (i.e., investing more than 25% of a Funds net assets in a particular industry or group of industries).
5. Disclose any other policy specified in Item 12(c)(1) that is a principal investment strategy of the Fund.
6. Disclose, if applicable, that the Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund's principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions. Also disclose the effect of taking such a temporary defensive position (e.g., that the Fund may not achieve its investment objective).
7. Disclose whether the Fund (if not a Money Market Fund) may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to achieve its principal investment strategies. If so, explain the tax consequences to shareholders of increased portfolio turnover, and how the tax consequences of, or trading costs associated with, a Fund's portfolio turnover may affect the Fund's performance.
(2) Explain in general terms how the Fund's adviser decides which securities to buy and sell (e.g., for an equity fund, discuss, if applicable, whether the Fund emphasizes value or growth or blends the two approaches).
(c) Risks. Disclose the principal risks of investing in the Fund, including the risks to which the Fund's particular portfolio as a whole is expected to be subject and the circumstances reasonably likely to affect adversely the Fund's net asset value, yield, or total return.
Disclose the following information unless the Fund is a Money Market Fund or the information is included in the Fund's latest annual report to shareholders under rule 30d-1 [17 CFR 270.30d-1] and the Fund provides a copy of the annual report, upon request and without charge, to each person to whom a prospectus is delivered:
(a) Discuss the factors that materially affected the Fund's performance during the most recently completed fiscal year, including the relevant market conditions and the investment strategies and techniques used by the Fund's investment adviser.
(b)(1) Provide a line graph comparing the initial and subsequent account values at the end of each of the most recently completed 10 fiscal years of the Fund (or for the life of the Fund, if shorter), but only for periods subsequent to the effective date of the Fund's registration statement. Assume a $10,000 initial investment at the beginning of the first fiscal year in an appropriate broad-based securities market index for the same period.
(2) In a table placed within or next to the graph, provide the Fund's average annual total returns for the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods as of the end of the last day of the most recent fiscal year computed in accordance with Item 21(b)(1). Include a statement accompanying the graph to the effect that past performance does not predict future performance.
Instructions.
1. Line Graph Computation.
(a) Assume that the initial investment was made at the offering price last calculated on the business day before the first day of the first fiscal year.
(b) Base subsequent account values on the net asset value of the Fund last calculated on the last business day of the first and each subsequent fiscal year.
(c) Calculate the final account value by assuming the account was closed and redemption was at the price last calculated on the last business day of the most recent fiscal year.
(d) Base the line graph on the Fund's required minimum initial investment if that amount exceeds $10,000.
2. Sales Load. Reflect any sales load (or any other fees charged at the time of purchasing shares or opening an account) by beginning the line graph at the amount that actually would be invested (i.e., assume that the maximum sales load, and other charges deducted from payments, is deducted from the initial $10,000 investment). For a Fund whose shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales load, assume that the deduction of the maximum deferred sales load (or other charges) that would apply for a complete redemption that received the price last calculated on the last business day of the most recent fiscal year. For any other deferred sales load, assume that the deduction in the amount(s) and at the time(s) that the sales load actually would have been deducted.
3. Dividends and Distributions. Assume reinvestment of all of the Fund's dividends and distributions on the reinvestment dates during the period, and reflect any sales load imposed upon reinvestment of dividends or distributions or both.
4. Account Fees. Reflect recurring fees that are charged to all accounts.
(a) For any account fees that vary with the size of the account, assume a $10,000 account size.
(b) Reflect, as appropriate, any recurring fees charged to shareholder accounts that are paid other than by redemption of the Fund's shares.
(c) Reflect an annual account fee that applies to more than one Fund by allocating the fee in the following manner: divide the total amount of account fees collected during the year by the Funds' total average net assets, multiply the resulting percentage by the average account value for each Fund and reduce the value of each hypothetical account at the end of each fiscal year during which the fee was charged.
5. Appropriate Index. For purposes of this Item, an "appropriate broad-based securities market index" is one that is administered by an organization that is not an affiliated person of the Fund, its investment adviser or principal underwriter, unless the index is widely recognized and used. Adjust the index to reflect the reinvestment of dividends on securities in the index, but do not reflect the expenses of the Fund.
6. Additional Indexes. A Fund is encouraged to compare its performance not only to the required broad-based index, but also to other more narrowly based indexes that reflect the market sectors in which the Fund invests. A Fund also may compare its performance to an additional broad-based index, or to a non-securities index (e.g., the Consumer Price Index), so long as the comparison is not misleading.
7. Change in Index. If the Fund uses an index that is different from the one used for the immediately preceding fiscal year, explain the reason(s) for the change and compare the Fund's annual change in the value of an investment in the hypothetical account with the new and former indexes.
8. Other Periods. The line graph may cover earlier fiscal years and may compare the ending values of interim periods (e.g., monthly or quarterly ending values), so long as those periods are after the effective date of the Fund's registration statement.
9. Scale. The axis of the graph measuring dollar amounts may use either a linear or a logarithmic scale.
10. New Funds. A New Fund (as defined in Instruction 5 to Item 3) is not required to include the information specified by this Item in its prospectus (or annual report), unless Form N-1A (or the annual report) contains audited financial statements covering a period of at least 6 months.
11. Change in Investment Adviser. If the Fund has not had the same investment adviser for the previous 10 fiscal years, the Fund may begin the line graph on the date that the current adviser began to provide advisory services to the Fund so long as:
(a) Neither the current adviser nor any affiliate is or has been in "control" of the previous adviser under section 2(a)(9) [15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(9)];
(b) The current adviser employs no officer(s) of the previous adviser or employees of the previous adviser who were responsible for providing investment advisory or portfolio management services to the Fund; and
(c) The graph is accompanied by a statement explaining that previous periods during which the Fund was advised by another investment adviser are not shown.
(c) Discuss the effect of any policy or practice of maintaining a specified level of distributions to shareholders on the Fund's investment strategies and per share net asset value during the last fiscal year. Also discuss the extent to which the Fund's distribution policy resulted in distributions of capital.
(a) Management.
(1) Investment Adviser.
(i) Provide the name and address of each investment adviser of the Fund. Describe the investment adviser's experience as an investment adviser and the advisory services that it provides to the Fund.
(ii) Describe the compensation of each investment adviser of the Fund as follows:
(A) If the Fund has operated for a full fiscal year, state the aggregate fee paid to the adviser for the most recent fiscal year as a percentage of average net assets. If the Fund has not operated for a full fiscal year, state what the adviser's fee is as a percentage of average net assets, including any breakpoints.
(B) If the adviser's fee is not based on a percentage of average net assets (e.g., the adviser receives a performance-based fee), describe the basis of the adviser's compensation.
Instructions.
1. If the Fund changed advisers during the fiscal year, describe the compensation and the dates of service for each adviser.
2. Explain any changes in the basis of computing the adviser's compensation during the fiscal year.
3. If a Fund has more than one investment adviser, disclose the aggregate fee paid to all of the advisers, rather than the fees paid to each adviser, in response to this Item.
(2) Portfolio Manager. State the name, title, and length of service of the person or persons employed by or associated with an investment adviser of the Fund (or the Fund), if any, who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio. Also state each person's business experience during the past 5 years.
Instructions.
1. This requirement does not apply to a Money Market Fund or to a Fund that has an investment objective to replicate the performance of an index.
2. If a committee, team or other group of persons associated with an investment adviser of the Fund ("Adviser Group") is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds portfolio, provide disclosure to the effect that the Funds investments are managed by the Adviser Group; the names of the members of the Adviser Group need not be provided.
3. If the role of the Adviser Group is generally limited to overseeing, approving or ratifying the decisions of an individual(s) who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, information in response to this Item is required only about the individual(s).
4. If an Adviser Group and an individual(s) share day-to-day responsibility with respect to the Fund, provide disclosure to the effect that the Funds investments are managed jointly by the Adviser Group and an individual(s) associated with the Funds adviser; disclosure about the individual(s) contemplated by this Item need be provided only if the individual(s) is primarily responsible for implementing a principal investment strategy of the Fund as that term is defined in the Instruction to Item 4. For example, assume that a Fund has an investment strategy of investing in certain industry sectors, and that the Fund considers the selection of specific investments within those sectors generally not determinative in achieving the Funds objective. If an Adviser Group was responsible for selecting the sectors in which the Fund invests and an individual was responsible for selecting the Funds investments within the sectors, the Fund would not be required to disclose the information contemplated by this Item about the individual. If, however, the selection of companies within a certain sector or sectors was central to the Funds achieving its investment objective, and an individual was responsible for selecting the Funds investments within the sector or sectors, the Fund would be required to provide the information contemplated by this Item for that individual.
(3) Legal Proceedings. Describe any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the Fund or the Fund's investment adviser or principal underwriter is a party. Include the name of the court in which the proceedings are pending, the date instituted, the principal parties involved, a description of the factual basis alleged to underlie the proceeding, and the relief sought. Include similar information as to any legal proceedings instituted, or known to be contemplated, by a governmental authority.
Instruction. For purposes of this requirement, legal proceedings are material only to the extent that they are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the ability of the investment adviser or principal underwriter to perform its contract with the Fund.
(b) Capital Stock. Disclose any unique or unusual restrictions on the right freely to retain or dispose of the Fund's shares or material obligations or potential liabilities associated with holding the Fund's shares (not including investment risks) that may expose investors to significant risks.
(a) Pricing of Fund Shares. Describe the procedures for pricing the Fund's shares, including:
(1) An explanation that the price of Fund shares is based on the Funds net asset value and the method used to value Fund shares (market price, fair value, or amortized cost).
Instruction. If a Fund has a policy that contemplates using fair value pricing under special circumstances (e.g., when an event occurs after the close of the exchange on which the Funds portfolio securities are principally traded that is likely to have changed the value of the securities), provide a brief explanation of the circumstances and the effects of this policy. If the Funds policy is to use fair value pricing only when market prices are unavailable, it need not explain the circumstances and the effects of the policy.
(2) A statement as to when calculations of net asset value are made and that the price at which a purchase or redemption is effected is based on the next calculation of net asset value after the order is placed.
(3) A statement identifying in a general manner any national holidays when shares will not be priced and specifying any additional local or regional holidays when the Fund shares will not be priced.
Instructions.
1. In responding to this Item, a Fund may use a list of specific days or any other means that effectively communicates the information (e.g., explaining that shares will not be priced on the days on which the New York Stock Exchange is closed for trading).
2. If the Fund has portfolio securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares, disclose that the net asset value of the Fund's shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's shares.
(b) Purchase of Fund Shares. Describe the procedures for purchasing the Funds shares, including any minimum initial or subsequent investment requirements.
(c) Redemption of Fund Shares. Describe the procedures for redeeming the Fund's shares, including:
(1) Any restrictions on redemptions.
(2) Any redemption charges, including how these charges will be collected and under what circumstances the charges will be waived.
(3) If the Fund has reserved the right to redeem in kind.
(4) Any procedure that a shareholder can use to sell the Funds shares to the Fund or its underwriter through a broker-dealer, noting any charges that may be imposed for such service.
Instruction. The specific fees paid through the broker-dealer for such service need not be disclosed.
(5) The circumstances, if any, under which the Fund may redeem shares automatically without action by the shareholder in accounts below a certain number or value of shares.
(6) The circumstances, if any, under which the Fund may delay honoring a request for redemption for a certain time after a shareholder's investment (e.g., whether a Fund does not process redemptions until clearance of the check for the initial investment).
(7) Any restrictions on, or costs associated with, transferring shares held in street name accounts.
(d) Dividends and Distributions. Describe the Fund's policy with respect to dividends and distributions, including any options that shareholders may have as to the receipt of dividends and distributions.
(e) Tax Consequences.
(1) Describe the tax consequences to shareholders of buying, holding, exchanging and selling the Fund's shares, including, as applicable, that:
(i) The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income and capital gains (which may be taxable at different rates depending on the length of time the Fund holds its assets). If the Fund expects that its distributions, as a result of its investment objectives or strategies, will consist primarily of ordinary income or capital gains, provide disclosure to that effect.
(ii) The Fund's distributions, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, may be subject to federal income tax.
(iii) An exchange of the Fund's shares for shares of another fund will be treated as a sale of the Fund's shares and any gain on the transaction may be subject to federal income tax.
(2) For a Fund that holds itself out as investing in securities generating tax-exempt income:
(i) Modify the disclosure required by paragraph (e)(1) to reflect that the Fund intends to distribute tax-exempt income.
(ii) Also disclose, as applicable, that:
(A) The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities that generate income that is not exempt from federal or state income tax;
(B) Income exempt from federal tax may be subject to state and local income tax; and
(C) Any capital gains distributed by the Fund may be taxable.
(3) If the Fund does not expect to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code [I.R.C. 851 et seq.], explain the tax consequences. If the Fund expects to pay an excise tax under the Internal Revenue Code [I.R.C. 4982] with respect to its distributions, explain the tax consequences.
(f) Separate Disclosure Document. A Fund may omit from the prospectus information about purchase and redemption procedures required by Items 7(b)-(d) and 8(a)(2) and provide it in a separate document if the Fund:
(1) Incorporates the separate purchase and redemption document into the prospectus by reference and files the document with Part A of Form N-1A;
(2) Includes a legend on the front cover page of the separate document explaining that the information disclosed is part of, and incorporated in, the prospectus;
(3) Includes a statement on the outside back cover page of the prospectus that the purchase and sale information is provided in a separate document that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus; and
(4) Delivers the separate purchase and redemption document with the prospectus.
Instruction. When delivering multiple prospectuses, all of which incorporate the same separate purchase and sale document by reference, a Fund may deliver a single separate document.
(a) Sales Loads.
(1) Describe any sales loads, including deferred sales loads, applied to purchases of the Fund's shares. Include in a table any front-end sales load (and each breakpoint in the sales load, if any) as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.
Instructions.
1. If the Funds shares are sold subject to a front-end sales load, explain that the term "offering price" includes the front-end sales load.
2. Disclose, if applicable, that sales loads are imposed on shares, or amounts representing shares, that are purchased with reinvested dividends or other distributions.
3. Discuss, if applicable, how deferred sales loads are imposed and calculated, including:
(a) Whether the specified percentage of the sales load is based on the offering price, or the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at the time the sales load is paid.
(b) The amount of the sales load as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.
(c) A description of how the sales load is calculated (e.g., in the case of a partial redemption, whether or not the sales load is calculated as if shares or amounts representing shares not subject to a sales load are redeemed first, and other shares or amounts representing shares are then redeemed in the order purchased).
(d) If applicable, the method of paying an installment sales load (e.g., by withholding of dividend payments, involuntary redemptions, or separate billing of a shareholder's account).
(2) Unless disclosed in response to paragraph (a)(1), in the SAI, or in a separate disclosure document under Item 7(f), describe any other arrangements that result in breakpoints in, or elimination of, sales loads (e.g., letters of intent, accumulation plans, dividend reinvestment plans, withdrawal plans, exchange privileges, employee benefit plans, and redemption reinvestment plans). Identify each class of individuals or transactions to which the arrangements apply and state each different breakpoint as a percentage of both the offering price and the amount invested.
(b) Rule 12b-1 Fees. If the Fund has adopted a plan under rule 12b-1, state the amount of the distribution fee payable under the plan and provide disclosure to the following effect:
(1) The Fund has adopted a plan under rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of its shares; and
(2) Because these fees are paid out of the 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.
Instructions. If the Fund pays service fees under its rule 12b-1 plan, modify this disclosure to reflect the payment of these fees (e.g., by indicating that the Fund pays distribution and other fees for the sale of its shares and for services provided to shareholders). For purposes of this paragraph, service fees have the same meaning given that term under rule 2830(b)(9) of the NASD Conduct Rules [NASD Manual (CCH) 4622].
(c) Multiple Class and Master-Feeder Funds.
(1) Describe the main features of the structure of the Multiple Class Fund or Master-Feeder Fund.
(2) If more than one Class of a Multiple Class Fund is offered in the prospectus, provide the information required by paragraphs (a) and (b) for each of those Classes.
(3) If a Multiple Class Fund offers in the prospectus shares that provide for mandatory or automatic conversions or exchanges from one Class to another Class, provide the information required by paragraphs (a) and (b) for both the shares offered and the Class into which the shares may be converted or exchanged.
(4) If a Feeder Fund has the ability to change the Master Fund in which it invests, describe briefly the circumstances under which the Feeder Fund can do so.
Instruction. A Feeder Fund that does not have the authority to change its Master Fund need not disclose the possibility and consequences of its no longer investing in the Master Fund.
(a) Provide the following information for the Fund, or for the Fund and its subsidiaries, audited for at least the latest 5 years and consolidated as required in Regulation S-X [17 CFR 210].
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past 5 years [or, if shorter, the period of the Fund's operations]. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned [or lost] on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by ___________, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, are included in [the SAI or annual report], which is available upon request.
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period
Income From Investment Operations
Net Investment Income
Net Gains or Losses on Securities (both realized and unrealized)
Total From Investment Operations
Less Distributions
Dividends (from net investment income)
Distributions (from capital gains)
Returns of Capital
Total Distributions
Net Asset Value, End of Period
Total Return
............................................................................................................
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net Assets, End of Period
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets
Ratio of Net Income to Average Net Assets
Portfolio Turnover Rate
Instructions.
1. General.
(a) Present the information in comparative columnar form for each of the last 5 fiscal years of the Fund (or for such shorter period as the Fund has been in operation), but only for periods subsequent to the effective date of the Fund's registration statement. Also present the information for the period between the end of the latest fiscal year and the date of the latest balance sheet or statement of assets and liabilities. When a period in the table is for less than a full fiscal year, a Fund may annualize ratios in the table and disclose that the ratios are annualized in a note to the table.
(b) List per share amounts at least to the nearest cent. If the offering price is expressed in tenths of a cent or more, then state the amounts in the table in tenths of a cent. Present the information using a consistent number of decimal places.
(c) Include the narrative explanation before the financial information. A Fund may modify the explanation if the explanation contains comparable information to that shown.
2. Per Share Operating Performance.
(a) Derive net investment income data by adding (deducting) the increase (decrease) per share in undistributed net investment income for the period to (from) dividends from net investment income per share for the period. The increase (decrease) per share may be derived by comparing the per share figures obtained by dividing undistributed net investment income at the beginning and end of the period by the number of shares outstanding on those dates. Other methods of computing net investment income may be acceptable. Provide an explanation in a note to the table of any other method used to compute net investment income.
(b) The amount shown at the Net Gains or Losses on Securities caption is the balancing figure derived from the other amounts in the statement. The amount shown at this caption for a share outstanding throughout the year may not agree with the change in the aggregate gains and losses in the portfolio securities for the year because of the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund's shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the portfolio.
(c) For any distributions made from sources other than net investment income and capital gains, state the per share amounts separately at the Returns of Capital caption and note the nature of the distributions.
3. Total Return.
(a) Assume an initial investment made at the net asset value calculated on the last business day before the first day of each period shown.
(b) Do not reflect sales loads or account fees in the initial investment, but, if sales loads or account fees are imposed, note that they are not reflected in total return.
(c) Reflect any sales load assessed upon reinvestment of dividends or distributions.
(d) Assume a redemption at the price calculated on the last business day of each period shown.
(e) For a period less than a full fiscal year, state the total return for the period and disclose that total return is not annualized in a note to the table.
4. Ratios/Supplemental Data.
(a) Calculate "average net assets" based on the value of the net assets determined no less frequently than the end of each month.
(b) Calculate the Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets using the amount of expenses shown in the Fund's statement of operations for the relevant fiscal period, including increases resulting from complying with paragraph 2(g) of rule 6-07 of Regulation S-X and reductions resulting from complying with paragraphs 2(a) and (f) of rule 6-07 regarding fee waivers and reimbursements. If a change in the methodology for determining the ratio of expenses to average net assets results from applying paragraph 2(g) of rule 6-07, explain in a note that the ratio reflects fees paid with brokerage commissions and fees reduced in connection with specific agreements only for periods ending after September 1, 1995.
(c) A Fund that is a Money Market Fund may omit the Portfolio Turnover Rate.
(d) Calculate the Portfolio Turnover Rate as follows:
(i) Divide the lesser of amounts of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. Calculate the monthly average by totaling the values of portfolio securities as of the beginning and end of the first month of the fiscal year and as of the end of each of the succeeding 11 months and dividing the sum by 13.
(ii) Exclude from both the numerator and the denominator amounts relating to all securities, including options, whose maturities or expiration dates at the time of acquisition were one year or less. Include all long-term securities, including long-term U.S. Government securities. Purchases include any cash paid upon the conversion of one portfolio security into another and the cost of rights or warrants. Sales include net proceeds of the sale of rights and warrants and net proceeds of portfolio securities that have been called or for which payment has been made through redemption or maturity.
(iii) If the Fund acquired the assets of another investment company or of a personal holding company in exchange for its own shares during the fiscal year in a purchase-of-assets transaction, exclude the value of securities acquired from purchases and securities sold from sales to realign the Fund's portfolio. Adjust the denominator of the portfolio turnover computation to reflect these excluded purchases and sales and disclose them in a footnote.
(iv) Include in purchases and sales any short sales that the Fund intends to maintain for more than one year and put and call options with expiration dates more than one year from the date of acquisition. Include proceeds from a short sale in the value of the portfolio securities sold during the period; include the cost of covering a short sale in the value of portfolio securities purchased during the period. Include premiums paid to purchase options in the value of portfolio securities purchased during the reporting period; include premiums received from the sale of options in the value of the portfolio securities sold during the period.
(b) A Fund may incorporate by reference the Financial Highlights Information from a report to shareholders under rule 30d-1 into the prospectus in response to this Item if the Fund delivers the shareholder report with the prospectus or, if the report has been previously delivered (e.g., to a current shareholder), the Fund includes the statement required by Item 1(b)(1).
(a) Front Cover Page. Include the following information on the outside front cover page of the SAI:
(1) The Fund's name and, if the Fund is a Series, also provide the Registrant's name.
(2) A statement or statements:
(i) That the SAI is not a prospectus;
(ii) How the prospectus may be obtained; and
(iii) Whether and from where information is incorporated by reference into the SAI, as permitted by General Instruction D.
Instruction. Any information incorporated by reference into the SAI must be delivered with the SAI unless the information has been previously delivered in a shareholder report (e.g., to a current shareholder), and the Fund states that the shareholder report is available, without charge, upon request. Provide a toll-free (or collect) telephone number to call to request the report.
(3) The date of the SAI and of the prospectus to which the SAI relates.
(b) Table of Contents. Include under appropriate captions (and subcaptions) a list of the contents of the SAI and, when useful, provide cross-references to related disclosure in the prospectus.
(a) Provide the date and form of organization of the Fund and the name of the state or other jurisdiction in which the Fund is organized.
(b) If the Fund has engaged in a business other than that of an investment company during the past 5 years, state the nature of the other business and give the approximate date on which the Fund commenced business as an investment company. If the Fund's name was changed during that period, state its former name and the approximate date on which it was changed. Briefly describe the nature and results of any change in the Fund's business or name that occurred in connection with any bankruptcy, receivership, or similar proceeding, or any other material reorganization, readjustment or succession.
(a) Classification. State that the Fund is an open-end, management investment company and indicate, if applicable, that the Fund is diversified.
(b) Investment Strategies and Risks. Describe any investment strategies, including a strategy to invest in a particular type of security, used by an investment adviser of the Fund in managing the Fund that are not principal strategies and the risks of those strategies.
(c) Fund Policies.
(1) Describe the Fund's policy with respect to each of the following:
(i) Issuing senior securities;
(ii) Borrowing money, including the purpose for which the proceeds will be used;
(iii) Underwriting securities of other issuers;
(iv) Concentrating investments in a particular industry or group of industries;
(v) Purchasing or selling real estate or commodities;
(vi) Making loans; and
(vii) Any other policy that the Fund deems fundamental or that may not be changed without shareholder approval, including, if applicable, the Fund's investment objectives.
Instruction. If the Fund reserves freedom of action with respect to any practice specified in paragraph (c)(1), state the maximum percentage of assets to be devoted to the practice and disclose the risks of the practice.
(2) State whether shareholder approval is necessary to change any policy specified in paragraph (c)(1). If so, describe the vote required to obtain this approval.
(d) Temporary Defensive Position. Disclose, if applicable, the types of investments that a Fund may make while assuming a temporary defensive position described in response to Item 4(b).
(e) Portfolio Turnover. Explain any significant variation in the Fund's portfolio turnover rates over the two most recently completed fiscal years or any anticipated variation in the portfolio turnover rate from that reported for the last fiscal year in response to Item 9.
Instruction. This paragraph does not apply to a Money Market Fund.
(a) Board of Directors. Briefly describe the responsibilities of the board of directors with respect to the Fund's management.
Instruction. A Fund may respond to this paragraph by providing a general statement as to the responsibilities of the board of directors with respect to the Fund's management under the applicable laws of the state or other jurisdiction in which the Fund is organized.
(b) Management Information. Provide the information required by the following table for each director and officer of the Fund, and, if the Fund has an advisory board, for each member of the board. Explain in a footnote to the table any family relationship between persons listed.
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
Name, Address, and Age |
Position(s) Held with Fund |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
1. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "officer" means the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, controller, and any other officers who perform policy-making functions for the Fund. The term "family relationship" means any relationship by blood, marriage, or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.
2. State the principal business of any corporation or other organization listed under column (3) unless the principal business is implicit in its name.
3. Identify members of any executive or investment committee, and provide a concise statement of the duties and functions of each committee.
4. Indicate with an asterisk the directors who are interested persons.
(c) For each individual listed in column (1) of the table required by paragraph (b), describe any positions held with affiliated persons or principal underwriters of the Fund.
Instruction. When an individual holds the same position(s) with two or more registered investment companies that are part of a "Fund Complex" as that term is defined in Item 22(a) of Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act [17 CFR 240.14a-101], the Fund may, rather than listing each investment company, identify the Fund Complex and provide the number of positions held.
(d) Compensation. For all directors of the Fund and for all members of any advisory board who receive compensation from the Fund, and for each of the three highest paid executive officers or any affiliated person of the Fund who received aggregate compensation from the Fund for the most recently completed fiscal year exceeding $60,000 ("Compensated Persons"):
(1) Provide the information required by the following table:
Compensation Table
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
Name of Person, Position |
Aggregate Compensation From Fund |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses |
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement |
Total Compensation From Fund and Fund Complex Paid to Directors |
Instructions.
1. For column (1), indicate, as necessary, the capacity in which the remuneration is received. For Compensated Persons who are directors of the Fund, compensation is amounts received for service as a director.
2. If the Fund has not completed its first full year since its organization, provide the information for the current fiscal year, estimating future payments that would be made under an existing agreement or understanding. Disclose in a footnote to the Compensation Table the period for which the information is given.
3. Include in column (2) amounts deferred at the election of the Compensated Person, whether under a plan established under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code [I.R.C. 401(k)] or otherwise, for the fiscal year in which earned. Disclose in a footnote to the Compensation Table the total amount of deferred compensation (including interest) payable to or accrued for any Compensated Person.
4. Include in columns (3) and (4) all pension or retirement benefits proposed to be paid under any existing plan in the event of retirement at normal retirement date, directly or indirectly, by the Fund, any of its subsidiaries, or other investment companies in the Fund Complex. Omit column (4) when retirement benefits are not determinable.
5. For any defined benefit or actuarial plan under which benefits are determined primarily by final compensation (or average final compensation) and years of service, provide the information required in column (4) in a separate table showing estimated annual benefits payable upon retirement (including amounts attributable to any defined benefit supplementary or excess pension award plans) in specified compensation and years of service classifications. Also provide the estimated credited years of service for each Compensated Person.
6. Include in column (5) only aggregate compensation paid to a director for service on the board and all other boards of investment companies in a Fund Complex specifying the number of any other investment companies.
(2) Describe briefly the material provisions of any pension, retirement, or other plan or any arrangement, other than fee arrangements disclosed in paragraph (d)(1), under which the Compensated Persons are or may be compensated for services provided, including amounts paid, if any, to the Compensated Person under these arrangements during the most recently completed fiscal year. Specifically include the criteria used to determine amounts payable under the plan, the length of service or vesting period required by the plan, the retirement age or other event that gives rise to payment under the plan, and whether the payment of benefits is secured or funded by the Fund.
(e) Sales Loads. Disclose any arrangements that result in breakpoints in, or elimination of, sales loads for directors and other affiliated persons of the Fund. Identify each class of individuals and transactions to which the arrangements apply and state each different breakpoint as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested of the Fund's shares. Explain, as applicable, the reasons for the difference in the price at which securities are offered generally to the public, and the prices at which securities are offered to directors and other affiliated persons of the Fund.
Provide the following information as of a specified date no more than 30 days prior to the date of filing the registration statement or an amendment.
(a) Control Persons. State the name and address of each person who controls the Fund and explain the effect of that control on the voting rights of other security holders. For each control person, state the percentage of the Fund's voting securities owned or any other basis of control. If the control person is a company, give the jurisdiction under the laws of which it is organized. List all parents of the control person.
Instruction. For purposes of this paragraph, "control" means (i) the beneficial ownership, either directly or through one or more controlled companies, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a company; (ii) the acknowledgment or assertion by either the controlled or controlling party of the existence of control; or (iii) an adjudication under section 2(a)(9), which has become final, that control exists.
(b) Principal Holders. State the name, address, and percentage of ownership of each person who owns of record or is known by the Fund to own beneficially 5% or more of any Class of the Fund's outstanding equity securities.
Instructions.
1. Calculate the percentages based on the amount of securities outstanding.
2. If securities are being registered under or in connection with a plan of acquisition, reorganization, readjustment or succession, indicate, as far as practicable, the ownership that would result from consummation of the plan based on present holdings and commitments.
3. Indicate whether the securities are owned of record, beneficially, or both. Show the respective percentage owned in each manner.
(c) Management Ownership. State the percentage of the Fund's equity securities owned by all officers, directors, and members of any advisory board of the Fund as a group. If the amount owned by directors and officers as a group is less than 1% of the Class, provide a statement to that effect.
(a) Investment Advisers. Disclose the following information with respect to each investment adviser:
(1) The name of any person who controls the adviser, the basis of the person's control, and the general nature of the person's business. Also disclose, if material, the business history of any organization that controls the adviser.
(2) The name of any affiliated person of the Fund who also is an affiliated person of the adviser, and a list of all capacities in which the person is affiliated with the Fund and with the adviser.
Instruction. If an affiliated person of the Fund alone or together with others controls the adviser, state that fact. It is not necessary to provide the amount or percentage of the outstanding voting securities owned by the controlling person.
(3) The method of calculating the advisory fee payable by the Fund including:
(i) The total dollar amounts that the Fund paid to the adviser (aggregated with amounts paid to affiliated advisers, if any), and any advisers who are not affiliated persons of the adviser, under the investment advisory contract for the last three fiscal years;
(ii) If applicable, any credits that reduced the advisory fee for any of the last three fiscal years; and
(iii) Any expense limitation provision.
Instructions.
1. If the advisory fee payable by the Fund varies depending on the Fund's investment performance in relation to a standard, describe the standard along with a fee schedule in tabular form. The Fund may include examples showing the fees that the adviser would earn at various levels of performance as long as the examples include calculations showing the maximum and minimum fee percentages that could be earned under the contract.
2. State separately each type of credit or offset.
3. When a Fund is subject to more than one expense limitation provision, describe only the most restrictive provision.
4. For a Registrant with more than one Series, or a Multiple Class Fund, describe the methods of allocation and payment of advisory fees for each Series or Class.
(b) Principal Underwriter. State the name and principal business address of any principal underwriter for the Fund. Disclose, if applicable, that an affiliated person of the Fund is an affiliated person of the principal underwriter and identify the affiliated person.
(c) Services Provided by Each Investment Adviser and Fund Expenses Paid by Third Parties.
(1) Describe all services performed for or on behalf of the Fund supplied or paid for wholly or in substantial part by each investment adviser.
(2) Describe all fees, expenses, and costs of the Fund that are to be paid by persons other than an investment adviser or the Fund, and identify those persons.
(d) Service Agreements. Summarize the substantive provisions of any other management-related service contract that may be of interest to a purchaser of the Fund's shares, under which services are provided to the Fund, indicating the parties to the contract, and the total dollars paid and by whom for the past three years.
Instructions.
1. The term "management-related service contract" includes any contract with the Fund to keep, prepare, or file accounts, books, records, or other documents required under federal or state law, or to provide any similar services with respect to the daily administration of the Fund, but does not include the following:
(a) Any contract with the Fund to provide investment advice;
(b) Any agreement with the Fund to perform as custodian, transfer agent, or dividend-paying agent for the Fund; and
(c) Any contract with the Fund for outside legal or auditing services, or contract for personal employment entered into with the Fund in the ordinary course of business.
2. No information need be given in response to this paragraph with respect to the service of mailing proxies or periodic reports to the Fund's shareholders.
3. In summarizing the substantive provisions of any management-related service contract, include the following:
(a) The name of the person providing the service;
(b) The direct or indirect relationships, if any, of the person with the Fund, an investment adviser of the Fund or the Funds principal underwriter; and
(c) The nature of the services provided, and the basis of the compensation paid for the services for the last three fiscal years.
(e) Other Investment Advice. If any person (other than a director, officer, member of an advisory board, employee, or investment adviser of the Fund), through any understanding, whether formal or informal, regularly advises the Fund or the Fund's investment adviser with respect to the Fund's investing in, purchasing, or selling securities or other property, or has the authority to determine what securities or other property should be purchased or sold by the Fund, and receives direct or indirect remuneration, provide the following information:
(1) The person's name;
(2) A description of the nature of the arrangement, and the advice or information provided; and
(3) Any remuneration (including, for example, participation, directly or indirectly, in commissions or other compensation paid in connection with transactions in the Fund's portfolio securities) paid for the advice or information, and a statement as to how the remuneration was paid and by whom it was paid for the last three fiscal years.
Instruction. Do not include information for the following:
(a) Persons who advised the investment adviser or the Fund solely through uniform publications distributed to subscribers;
(b) Persons who provided the investment adviser or the Fund with only statistical and other factual information, advice about economic factors and trends, or advice as to occasional transactions in specific securities, but without generally advising about the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund;
(c) A company that is excluded from the definition of "investment adviser" of an investment company under section 2(a)(20)(iii) [15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(20)(iii)];
(d) Any person the character and amount of whose compensation for these services must be approved by a court; or
(e) Other persons as the Commission has by rule or order determined not to be an "investment adviser" of an investment company.
(f) Dealer Reallowances. Disclose any front-end sales load reallowed to dealers as a percentage of the offering price of the Fund's shares.
(g) Rule 12b-1 Plans. If the Fund has adopted a plan under rule 12b-1, describe the material aspects of the plan, and any agreements relating to the implementation of the plan, including:
(1) A list of the principal types of activities for which payments are or will be made, including the dollar amount and the manner in which amounts paid by the Fund under the plan during the last fiscal year were spent on:
(i) Advertising;
(ii) Printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current shareholders;
(iii) Compensation to underwriters;
(iv) Compensation to broker-dealers;
(v) Compensation to sales personnel;
(vi) Interest, carrying, or other financing charges; and
(vii) Other (specify).
(2) The relationship between amounts paid to the distributor and the expenses that it incurs (e.g., whether the plan reimburses the distributor only for expenses incurred or compensates the distributor regardless of its expenses).
(3) The amount of any unreimbursed expenses incurred under the plan in a previous year and carried over to future years, in dollars and as a percentage of the Fund's net assets on the last day of the previous year.
(4) Whether the Fund participates in any joint distribution activities with another Series or investment company. If so, disclose, if applicable, that fees paid under the Fund's rule 12b-1 plan may be used to finance the distribution of the shares of another Series or investment company, and state the method of allocating distribution costs (e.g., relative net asset size, number of shareholder accounts).
(5) Whether any of the following persons had a direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the plan or related agreements:
(i) Any interested person of the Fund; or
(ii) Any director of the Fund who is not an interested person of the Fund.
(6) The anticipated benefits to the Fund that may result from the plan.
(h) Other Service Providers.
(1) Unless disclosed in response to paragraph (d), identify any person who provides significant administrative or business affairs management services for the Fund (e.g., an "administrator"), describe the services provided, and the compensation paid for the services.
(2) State the name and principal business address of the Fund's transfer agent and the dividend-paying agent.
(3) State the name and principal business address of the Fund's custodian and independent public accountant and describe generally the services performed by each. If the Fund's portfolio securities are held by a person other than a commercial bank, trust company, or depository registered with the Commission as custodian, state the nature of the business of that person or persons.
(4) If an affiliated person of the Fund, or an affiliated person of the affiliated person, acts as custodian, transfer agent, or dividend-paying agent for the Fund, describe the services that the person performs and the basis for remuneration.
(a) Brokerage Transactions. Describe how transactions in portfolio securities are effected, including a general statement about brokerage commissions, markups, and markdowns on principal transactions and the aggregate amount of any brokerage commissions paid by the Fund during its three most recent fiscal years. If, during either of the two years preceding the Fund's most recent fiscal year, the aggregate dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund differed materially from the amount paid during the most recent fiscal year, state the reason(s) for the difference(s).
(b) Commissions.
(1) Identify, disclose the relationship, and state the aggregate dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund during its three most recent fiscal years to any broker:
(i) That is an affiliated person of the Fund or an affiliated person of that person; or
(ii) An affiliated person of which is an affiliated person of the Fund, its investment adviser, or principal underwriter.
(2) For each broker identified in response to paragraph (b)(1), state:
(i) The percentage of the Fund's aggregate brokerage commissions paid to the broker during the most recent fiscal year; and
(ii) The percentage of the Fund's aggregate dollar amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions effected through the broker during the most recent fiscal year.
(3) State the reasons for any material difference in the percentage of brokerage commissions paid to, and the percentage of transactions effected through, a broker disclosed in response to paragraph (b)(1).
(c) Brokerage Selection. Describe how the Fund will select brokers to effect securities transactions for the Fund and how the Fund will evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid, including the factors that the Fund will consider in making these determinations.
Instructions.
1. If the Fund will consider the receipt of products or services other than brokerage or research services in selecting brokers, specify those products and services.
2. If the Fund will consider the receipt of research services in selecting brokers, identify the nature of those research services.
3. State whether persons acting on the Fund's behalf are authorized to pay a broker a higher brokerage commission than another broker might have charged for the same transaction in recognition of the value of (a) brokerage or (b) research services provided by the broker.
4. If applicable, explain that research services provided by brokers through which the Fund effects securities transactions may be used by the Fund's investment adviser in servicing all of its accounts and that not all of these services may be used by the adviser in connection with the Fund. If other policies or practices are applicable to the Fund with respect to the allocation of research services provided by brokers, explain those policies and practices.
(d) Directed Brokerage. If, during the last fiscal year, the Fund or its investment adviser, through an agreement or understanding with a broker, or otherwise through an internal allocation procedure, directed the Fund's brokerage transactions to a broker because of research services provided, state the amount of the transactions and related commissions.
(e) Regular Broker-Dealers. If the Fund has acquired during its most recent fiscal year or during the period of time since organization, whichever is shorter, securities of its regular brokers or dealers as defined in rule 10b-1 [17 CFR 270.10b-1] or of their parents, identify those brokers or dealers and state the value of the Fund's aggregate holdings of the securities of each issuer as of the close of the Fund's most recent fiscal year.
Instruction. The Fund need only disclose information about an issuer that derived more than 15% of its gross revenues from the business of a broker, a dealer, an underwriter, or an investment adviser during its most recent fiscal year.
(a) Capital Stock. For each class of capital stock of the Fund, provide:
(1) The title of each class; and
(2) A full discussion of the following provisions or characteristics of each class, if applicable:
(i) Restrictions on the right freely to retain or dispose of the Funds shares;
(ii) Material obligations or potential liabilities associated with owning the Funds shares (not including investment risks);
(iii) Dividend rights;
(iv) Voting rights (including whether the rights of shareholders can be modified by other than a majority vote);
(v) Liquidation rights;
(vi) Preemptive rights;
(vii) Conversion rights;
(viii) Redemption provisions;
(ix) Sinking fund provisions; and
(x) Liability to further calls or to assessment by the Fund.
Instructions.
1. If any class described in response to this paragraph possesses cumulative voting rights, disclose the existence of those rights and explain the operation of cumulative voting.
2. If the rights evidenced by any class described in response to this paragraph are materially limited or qualified by the rights of any other class, explain those limitations or qualifications.
(b) Other Securities. Describe the rights of any authorized securities of the Fund other than capital stock. If the securities are subscription warrants or rights, state the title and amount of securities called for, and the period during which and the prices at which the warrants or rights are exercisable.
(a) Purchase of Shares. Describe how the Fund's shares are offered to the public. Include any special purchase plans or methods not described in the prospectus or elsewhere in the SAI, including letters of intent, accumulation plans, withdrawal plans, exchange privileges, and services in connection with retirement plans.
Instruction. A Fund may incorporate the information required by Item 18(a) into the SAI by reference to a separate disclosure document that may be provided to investors with the SAI or separately, in response to investor requests. File the separate document, if any, with Part B of Form N-1A.
(b) Fund Reorganizations. Disclose any arrangements that result in breakpoints in, or elimination of, sales loads in connection with the terms of a merger, acquisition, or exchange offer made under a plan of reorganization. Identify each class of individuals to which the arrangements apply and state each different sales load available as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested.
(c) Offering Price. Describe the method followed or to be followed by the Fund in determining the total offering price at which its shares may be offered to the public and the method(s) used to value the Fund's assets.
Instructions.
1. Describe the valuation procedure(s) that the Fund uses in determining the net asset value and public offering price of its shares.
2. Explain how the excess of the offering price over the net amount invested is distributed among the Fund's principal underwriters or others and the basis for determining the total offering price.
3. Explain the reasons for any difference in the price at which securities are offered generally to the public, and the prices at which securities are offered for any class of transactions or to any class of individuals.
4. Unless provided as a continuation of the balance sheet in response to Item 22, include a specimen price-make-up sheet showing how the Fund calculates the total offering price per unit. Base the calculation on the value of the Fund's portfolio securities and other assets and its outstanding securities as of the date of the balance sheet filed by the Fund.
(d) Redemption in Kind. If the Fund has received an order of exemption from section 18(f) or has filed a notice of election under rule 18f-1 that has not been withdrawn, describe the nature, extent, and effect of the exemptive relief or notice.
(a) If applicable, state that the Fund is qualified or intends to qualify under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. Disclose the consequences to the Fund if it does not qualify under Subchapter M.
(b) Disclose any special or unusual tax aspects of the Fund, such as taxation resulting from foreign investment or from status as a personal holding company, or any tax loss carry-forward to which the Fund may be entitled.
(a) Distribution of Securities. For each principal underwriter distributing securities of the Fund, state:
(1) The nature of the obligation to distribute the Fund's securities;
(2) Whether the offering is continuous; and
(3) The aggregate dollar amount of underwriting commissions and the amount retained by the principal underwriter for each of the Funds last three fiscal years.
(b) Compensation. Provide the information required by the following table with respect to all commissions and other compensation received by each principal underwriter, who is an affiliated person of the Fund or an affiliated person of that affiliated person, directly or indirectly, from the Fund during the Fund's most recent fiscal year:
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
Name of Principal Underwriter |
Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions |
Compensation on Redemptions and Repurchases |
Brokerage Commissions |
Other Compensation |
Instruction. Disclose in a footnote to the table the type of services rendered in consideration for the compensation listed under column (5).
(c) Other Payments. With respect to any payments made by the Fund to an underwriter or dealer in the Fund's shares during the Funds last fiscal year, disclose the name and address of the underwriter or dealer, the amount paid and basis for determining that amount, the circumstances surrounding the payments, and the consideration received by the Fund. Do not include information about:
(1) Payments made through deduction from the offering price at the time of sale of securities issued by the Fund;
(2) Payments representing the purchase price of portfolio securities acquired by the Fund;
(3) Commissions on any purchase or sale of portfolio securities by the Fund; or
(4) Payments for investment advisory services under an investment advisory contract.
Instructions.
1. Do not include in response to this paragraph information provided in response to paragraph (b) or with respect to service fees under the Instruction to Item 8(b)(2). Do not include any payment for a service excluded by Instructions 1 and 2 to Item 15(d) or by Instruction 2 to Item 30.
2. If the payments were made under an arrangement or policy applicable to dealers generally, describe only the arrangement or policy.
(a) Money Market Funds. If a Money Market Fund advertises a yield quotation(s), disclose, as applicable, the yield quotation(s) calculated according to paragraphs (a)(1) - (4). Use the same calculations for a yield quotation(s) included in the prospectus.
(1) Yield Quotation. Based on the 7 days ended on the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the registration statement, calculate the Fund's yield by determining the net change, exclusive of capital changes and income other than investment income, in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the beginning of the period, subtracting a hypothetical charge reflecting deductions from shareholder accounts, and dividing the difference by the value of the account at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then multiplying the base period return by (365/7) with the resulting yield figure carried to at least the nearest hundredth of one percent.
(2) Effective Yield Quotation. Based on the 7 days ended on the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the registration statement, calculate the Fund's effective yield, carried to at least the nearest hundredth of one percent, by determining the net change, exclusive of capital changes, in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the beginning of the period, subtracting a hypothetical charge reflecting deductions from shareholder accounts, and dividing the difference by the value of the account at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then compounding the base period return by adding 1, raising the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the result, according to the following formula:
EFFECTIVE YIELD = [(BASE PERIOD RETURN + 1)365/7] - 1.
(3) Tax Equivalent Current Yield Quotation. Calculate the Fund's tax equivalent current yield by dividing that portion of the Fund's yield (as calculated under paragraph (a)(1)) that is tax-exempt by 1 minus a stated income tax rate and adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the Fund's yield that is not tax-exempt.
(4) Tax Equivalent Effective Yield Quotation. Calculate the Fund's tax equivalent effective yield by dividing that portion of the Fund's effective yield (as calculated under paragraph (a)(2)) that is tax-exempt by 1 minus a stated income tax rate and adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the Fund's effective yield that is not tax-exempt.
(5) State:
(i) The length of and the last day in the base period used in calculating the quotation(s);
(ii) A description of the method(s) by which the yield quotation(s) is calculated; and
(iii) The income tax rate used in the calculation, if applicable.
Instructions.
1. When calculating yield or effective yield quotations, the calculation of net change in account value must include:
(a) The value of additional shares purchased with dividends from the original share and dividends declared on both the original shares and additional shares; and
(b) All fees, other than nonrecurring account or sales charges, that are imposed on all shareholder accounts in proportion to the length of the base period. For any account fees that vary with the size of the account, assume an account size equal to the Fund's mean (or median) account size.
2. Exclude realized gains and losses from the sale of securities and unrealized appreciation and depreciation from the calculation of yield and effective yield. Exclude income other than investment income.
3. Disclose the amount or specific rate of any nonrecurring account or sales charges not included in the calculation of the yield.
4. If the Fund holds itself out as distributing income that is exempt from federal, state, or local income taxation, in calculating yield and effective yield (but not tax equivalent yield or tax equivalent effective yield), reduce the yield quoted by the effect of any income taxes on the shareholder receiving dividends, using the maximum rate for individual income taxation. For example, if the Fund holds itself out as distributing income exempt from federal taxation and the income taxes of State A, but invests in some securities of State B, it must reduce its yield by the effect of state income taxes that must be paid by the residents of State A on that portion of the income attributable to the securities of State B.
(b) Other Funds. If the Fund advertises performance data, disclose, as applicable, the performance information calculated according to paragraphs (b)(1) - (4). Use the same calculations for performance information included in the prospectus.
(1) Average Annual Total Return Quotation. For the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods ended on the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the registration statement (or for the periods the Fund has been in operation), calculate the Fund's average annual total return by finding the average annual compounded rates of return over the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods (or for the periods of the Fund's operations) that would equate the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value, according to the following formula:
P(1+T)n = ERV
Where:
P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
T = average annual total return.
n = number of years.
ERV = ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the beginning of the 1-, 5-, or 10-year periods at the end of the 1-, 5-, or 10-year periods (or fractional portion).
Instructions.
1. Assume the maximum sales load (or other charges deducted from payments) is deducted from the initial $1,000 payment. If shareholders are assessed a deferred sales load, assume the maximum deferred sales load is deducted at the times, in the amounts, and under the terms disclosed in the prospectus.
2. Assume all dividends and distributions by the Fund are reinvested at the price stated in the prospectus (including any sales load imposed upon reinvestment of dividends) on the reinvestment dates during the period.
3. Include all recurring fees that are charged to all shareholder accounts. For any account fees that vary with the size of the account, assume an account size equal to the Fund's mean (or median) account size. Reflect, as appropriate, any recurring fees charged to shareholder accounts that are paid other than by redemption of the Fund's shares.
4. Determine the ending redeemable value by assuming a complete redemption at the end of the 1-, 5-, or 10-year periods and the deduction of all nonrecurring charges deducted at the end of each period.
5. State the total return quotation to the nearest hundredth of one percent.
6. Total return information in the prospectus need only be current to the end of the Fund's most recent fiscal year.
(2) Yield Quotation. Based on a 30-day (or one month) period ended on the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the registration statement, calculate the Fund's yield by dividing the net investment income per share earned during the period by the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period, according to the following formula:
Where:
a = dividends and interest earned during the period.
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements).
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period that were entitled to receive dividends.
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
Instructions.
1. To calculate interest earned on debt obligations for purposes of "a" above:
(a) Calculate the yield to maturity of each obligation held by the Fund based on the market value of the obligation (including actual accrued interest) at the close of business on the last business day of each month or, with respect to obligations purchased during the month, the purchase price (plus actual accrued interest). The maturity of an obligation with a call provision(s) is the next call date on which the obligation reasonably may be expected to be called, or if none, the maturity date.
(b) Divide the yield to maturity by 360 and multiply the quotient by the market value of the obligation (including actual accrued interest) to determine the interest income on the obligation for each day of the subsequent month that the obligation is in the portfolio. Assume that each month has 30 days.
(c) Total the interest earned on all debt obligations and all dividends accrued on all equity securities during the 30-day (or one month) period. Although the period for calculating interest earned is based on calendar months, a 30-day yield may be calculated by aggregating the daily interest on the portfolio from portions of 2 months. In addition, a Fund may recalculate daily interest income on the portfolio more than once a month.
(d) For a tax-exempt obligation issued without original issue discount and having a current market discount, use the coupon rate of interest in lieu of the yield to maturity. For a tax-exempt obligation with original issue discount in which the discount is based on the current market value and exceeds the then-remaining portion of original issue discount (market discount), base the yield to maturity on the imputed rate of the original issue discount calculation. For a tax-exempt obligation with original issue discount, where the discount based on the current market value is less than the then-remaining portion of original issue discount (market premium), base the yield to maturity on the market value.
2. For discount and premium on mortgage or other receivables-backed obligations that are expected to be subject to monthly payments of principal and interest ("paydowns"):
(a) Account for gain or loss attributable to actual monthly paydowns as an increase or decrease to interest income during the period; and
(b) The Fund may elect:
(i) To amortize the discount and premium on the remaining securities, based on the cost of the securities, to the weighted average maturity date, if the information is available, or to the remaining term of the securities, if the weighted average maturity date is not available; or
(ii) Not to amortize the discount or premium on the remaining securities.
3. Solely for the purpose of calculating yield, recognize dividend income by accruing 1/360 of the stated dividend rate of the security each day that the security is in the portfolio.
4. Do not use equalization accounting in calculating yield.
5. Include expenses accrued under a plan adopted under rule 12b-1 in the expenses accrued for the period. Reimbursement accrued under the plan may reduce the accrued expenses, but only to the extent the reimbursement does not exceed expenses accrued for the period.
6. Include in the expenses accrued for the period all recurring fees that are charged to all shareholder accounts in proportion to the length of the base period. For any account fees that vary with the size of the account, assume an account size equal to the Fund's mean (or median) account size.
7. If a broker-dealer or an affiliate of the broker-dealer (as defined in rule
1-02(b) of Regulation S-X [17 CFR 210.1-02(b)]) has, in connection with directing the Fund's brokerage transactions to the broker-dealer, provided, agreed to provide, paid for, or agreed to pay for, in whole or in part, services provided to the Fund (other than brokerage and research services as those terms are used in section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. 78bb(e)]), add to expenses accrued for the period an estimate of additional amounts that would have been accrued for the period if the Fund had paid for the services directly in an arm's length transaction.
8. Undeclared earned income, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, may be subtracted from the maximum offering price. Undeclared earned income is the net investment income that, at the end of the base period, has not been declared as a dividend, but is reasonably expected to be and is declared as a dividend shortly thereafter.
9. Disclose the amount or specific rate of any nonrecurring account or sales charges.
10. If, in connection with the sale of the Funds shares, a deferred sales load payable in installments is imposed, the "maximum public offering price" includes the aggregate amount of the installments ("installment load amount").
(3) Tax Equivalent Yield Quotation. Based on a 30-day (or one month) period ended on the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the registration statement, calculate the Fund's tax equivalent yield by dividing that portion of the Fund's yield (as calculated under paragraph (b)(2)) that is tax-exempt by 1 minus a stated income tax rate and adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the Fund's yield that is not tax-exempt.
(4) Non-Standardized Performance Quotation. A Fund may calculate performance using any other historical measure of performance (not subject to any prescribed method of computation) if the measurement reflects all elements of return.
(5) State:
(i) The length of and the last day in the base period used in calculating the quotation(s);
(ii) A description of the method(s) by which the performance data is calculated; and
(iii) The income tax rate used in the calculation, if applicable.
(a) Registration Statement. Include, in a separate section following the responses to the preceding Items, the financial statements and schedules required by Regulation S-X. The specimen price-make-up sheet required by Instruction 4 to Item 18(c)) may be provided as a continuation of the balance sheet specified by Regulation S-X.
Instructions.
1. The statements of any subsidiary that is not a majority-owned subsidiary required by Regulation S-X may be omitted from Part B and included in Part C.
2. In addition to the requirements of rule 3-18 of Regulation S-X [17 CFR 210.3-18], any Fund registered under the Investment Company Act that has not previously had an effective registration statement under the Securities Act must include in its initial registration statement under the Securities Act any additional financial statements and condensed financial information (which need not be audited) necessary to make the financial statements and condensed financial information included in the registration statement current as of a date within 90 days prior to the date of filing.
(b) Annual Report. Every annual report to shareholders required under rule 30d-1 must contain the following:
(1) The audited financial statements required, and for the periods specified, by Regulation S-X.
(2) The condensed financial information required by Item 9(a) with at least the most recent fiscal year audited.
(3) Unless shown elsewhere in the report as part of the financial statements required by paragraph (b)(1), the aggregate remuneration paid by the Fund during the period covered by the report to:
(i) All directors and all members of any advisory board for regular compensation;
(ii) Each director and each member of an advisory board for special compensation;
(iii) All officers; and
(iv) Each person of whom any officer or director of the Fund is an affiliated person.
(4) The information concerning changes in and disagreements with accountants and on accounting and financial disclosure required by Item 304 of Regulation S-K [17 CFR 229.304].
(c) Semi-Annual Report. Every semi-annual report to shareholders required by rule 30d-1 must contain the following information (which need not be audited):
(1) The financial statements required by Regulation S-X for the period commencing either with:
(i) The beginning of the Fund's fiscal year (or date of organization, if newly organized); or
(ii) A date not later than the date after the close of the period included in the last report under rule 30d-1 and the most recent preceding fiscal year.
(2) The condensed financial information required by Item 9(a), for the period of the report as specified by paragraph (c)(1), and the most recent preceding fiscal year.
(3) Unless shown elsewhere in the report as part of the financial statements required by paragraph (c)(1), the aggregate remuneration paid by the Fund during the period covered by the report to the persons specified under paragraph (b)(3).
(4) The information concerning changes in and disagreements with accountants and on accounting and financial disclosure required by Item 304 of Regulation S-K.
Subject to General Instruction D regarding incorporation by reference and rule 483 under the Securities Act [17 CFR 230.483], file the exhibits listed below as part of the registration statement. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated and file copies rather than originals, unless otherwise required by rule 483. Reflect any exhibit incorporated by reference in the list below and identify the previously filed document containing the incorporated material.
(a) Articles of Incorporation. The Fund's current articles of incorporation, charter, declaration of trust or corresponding instruments and any related amendment.
(b) By-laws. The Fund's current by-laws or corresponding instruments and any related amendment.
(c) Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. Instruments defining the rights of holders of the securities being registered, including the relevant portion of the Fund's articles of incorporation or by-laws.
(d) Investment Advisory Contracts. Investment advisory contracts relating to the management of the Fund's assets.
(e) Underwriting Contracts. Underwriting or distribution contracts between the Fund and a principal underwriter, and agreements between principal underwriters and dealers.
(f) Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts. Bonus, profit sharing, pension, or similar contracts or arrangements in whole or in part for the benefit of the Fund's directors or officers in their official capacity. Describe in detail any plan not included in a formal document.
(g) Custodian Agreements. Custodian agreements and depository contracts under section 17(f) [15 U.S.C. 80a-17(f)] concerning the Fund's securities and similar investments, including the schedule of remuneration.
(h) Other Material Contracts. Other material contracts not made in the ordinary course of business to be performed in whole or in part on or after the filing date of the registration statement.
(i) Legal Opinion. An opinion and consent of counsel regarding the legality of the securities being registered, stating whether the securities will, when sold, be legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
(j) Other Opinions. Any other opinions, appraisals, or rulings, and related consents relied on in preparing the registration statement and required by section 7 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. 77g].
(k) Omitted Financial Statements. Financial statements omitted from Item 22.
(l) Initial Capital Agreements. Any agreements or understandings made in consideration for providing the initial capital between or among the Fund, the underwriter, adviser, promoter or initial shareholders and written assurances from promoters or initial shareholders that purchases were made for investment purposes and not with the intention of redeeming or reselling.
(m) Rule 12b-1 Plan. Any plan entered into by the Fund under rule 12b-1 and any agreements with any person relating to the plan's implementation.
(n) Financial Data Schedule. A Financial Data Schedule meeting the requirements of rule 483 under the Securities Act.
(o) Rule 18f-3 Plan. Any plan entered into by the Fund under rule 18f-3, any agreement with any person relating to the plan's implementation, and any amendment to the plan or an agreement.
Provide a list or diagram of all persons directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control with the Fund. For any person controlled by another person, disclose the percentage of voting securities owned by the immediately controlling person or other basis of that person's control. For each company, also provide the state or other sovereign power under the laws of which the company is organized.
Instructions.
1. Include the Fund in the list or diagram and show the relationship of each company to the Fund and to the other companies named, using cross-references if a company is controlled through direct ownership of its securities by two or more persons.
2. Indicate with appropriate symbols subsidiaries that file separate financial statements, subsidiaries included in consolidated financial statements, or unconsolidated subsidiaries included in group financial statements. Indicate for other subsidiaries why financial statements are not filed.
State the general effect of any contract, arrangements or statute under which any director, officer, underwriter or affiliated person of the Fund is insured or indemnified against any liability incurred in their official capacity, other than insurance provided by any director, officer, affiliated person, or underwriter for their own protection.
Describe any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that each investment adviser, and each director, officer or partner of the adviser, is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner, or trustee.
Instructions.
1. Disclose the name and principal business address of any company for which a person listed above serves in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner, or trustee, and the nature of the relationship.
2. The names of investment advisory clients need not be given in answering this Item.
(a) State the name of each investment company (other than the Fund) for which each principal underwriter currently distributing the Fund's securities also acts as a principal underwriter, depositor, or investment adviser.
(b) Provide the information required by the following table for each director, officer, or partner of each principal underwriter named in the response to Item 20:
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
Name and Principal Business Address |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with Fund |
(c) Provide the information required by the following table for all commissions and other compensation received, directly or indirectly, from the Fund during the last fiscal year by each principal underwriter who is not an affiliated person of the Fund or any affiliated person of an affiliated person:
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
Name of Principal Underwriter |
Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions |
Compensation on Redemption and Repurchases |
Brokerage Commissions |
Other Compensation |
Instructions.
1. Disclose the type of services rendered in consideration for the compensation listed under column (5).
2. Instruction 1 to Item 20(c) also applies to this Item.
State the name and address of each person maintaining physical possession of each account, book, or other document required to be maintained by section 31(a) [15 U.S.C. 80a-30(a)] and the rules under that section.
Provide a summary of the substantive provisions of any management-related service contract not discussed in Part A or B, disclosing the parties to the contract and the total amount paid and by whom for the Funds last three fiscal years.
Instructions.
1. The instructions to Item 15 also apply to this Item.
2. Exclude information about any service provided for payments totaling less than $5,000 during each of the last three fiscal years.
In initial registration statements filed under the Securities Act, provide an undertaking to file an amendment to the registration statement with certified financial statements showing the initial capital received before accepting subscriptions from more than 25 persons if the Fund intends to raise its initial capital under section 14(a)(3) [15 U.S.C. 80a-14(a)(3)].
Pursuant to the requirements of (the Securities Act and) the Investment Company Act, the Fund (certifies that it meets all of the requirement for effectiveness of this registration statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and) has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of........, and State of...........on the day of........., .................
(Year)
..............................
Fund
By..............................
(Signature and Title)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date(s) indicated.
..........................................................................
(Signature) (Title) (Date)
By the Commission.
Jonathan G. Katz
Secretary
Dated: March 13, 1998
[Note: Appendix A and Appendix B to the preamble will not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.]
APPENDIX A
Analysis of Form N-1A Items, as Amended
Form N-1A, as Amended |
Source of Form N-1A Items |
Facing Sheet |
Facing Sheet - revised. |
General Instructions A. Definitions B. Filing and Use of Form N-1A C. Preparation of the Registration Statement D. Incorporation by Reference |
New. Revised General Instructions A, B, C, D and F. Revised General Instructions G and I. Revised General Instruction E. |
Part A. | |
Item 1. Front and Back Cover Pages (a) Front cover page. (b) Back cover page. |
Revised Item 1. New. |
Item 2. Risk/Return Summary: Investments, Risks, and Performance (a) Fund investment objectives/goals. (b) Principal investment strategies of the fund. (c) Principal risks of investing in the fund. (1) Narrative risk disclosure. (2) Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table. |
New. New. New. New. New. |
Form N-1A, as Amended |
Source of Form N-1A Items |
Item 3. Risk/Return Summary: Fee Table |
Revised Item 2. |
Item 4. Investment Objectives, Principal Strategies, and Related Risks (a) Investment Objectives. (b) Implementation of Investment Objectives. (c) Risks. |
Revised Item 4(a)(ii). Revised Item 4(a)(ii)(B). Revised Item 4(c). |
Item 5. Managements Discussion of Fund Performance |
Item 5A. |
Item 6. Management, Organization, and Capital Structure (a) Management. (1) Investment adviser. (2) Portfolio manager. (3) Legal proceedings. (b) Capital stock. |
Revised Item 5(b). Revised Item 5(c). Revised Item 9. Revised Item 6(a). |
Item 7. Shareholder Information (a) Pricing of Fund Shares. (b) Purchase of Fund Shares. (c) Redemption of Fund Shares. (d) Dividends and Distributions. (e) Tax Consequences. (f) Separate Disclosure Document. |
Revised Items 7(b)(i) and (ii). Revised Items 7(introductory sentence) and 7(d). Revised Item 8. Revised Item 6(f). Revised Item 6(g). New. |
Form N-1A, as Amended |
Source of Form N-1A Items |
Item 8. Distribution Arrangements (a) Sales Loads. (b) Rule 12b-1 Fees. (c) Multiple Class and Master-Feeder Funds. |
Revised Items 7(b)(iii), (c) and (g). Revised Items 7(e) and (f). Revised General Instruction I and Item 6(h). |
Item 9. Financial Highlights Information (a) Financial Highlights. (b) Shareholder Reports. |
Revised Item 3(a). Revised Item 3(d). |
Part B | |
Item 10. Cover Page and Table of Contents (a) Front Cover Page. (b) Table of Contents. |
Revised Item 10. Item 11. |
Item 11. Fund History (a) Date and Form of Organization. (b) Prior Businesses of Fund. |
Item 4(a)(i)(A). Item 12. |
Item 12. Description of the Fund and Its Investments and Risks (a) Classification. (b) Investments Strategies and Risks. (c) Fund Policies. (d) Temporary Defensive Position. (e) Portfolio Turnover. |
Revised Item 4(a)(i)(B). Revised Items 4(b) and 13(c). Revised Items 13(a) and (b). New. Revised Item 13(d). |
Form N-1A, as Amended |
Source of Form N-1A Items |
Item 13. Management of the Fund (a) Board of Directors. (b) Management Information. (c) Affiliated Positions Held. (d) Compensation. (e) Sales Loads. |
Revised Item 5(a). Item 14(a). Item 14(b). Item 14(c). Revised Item 7(c). |
Item 14. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities (a) Control Persons. (b) Principal Holders. (c) Management Ownership. |
Revised Items 6(b) and 15(a). Revised Item 15(b). Item 15(c). |
Form N-1A, as Amended |
Source of Form N-1A Items |
Item 15. Investment Advisory and Other Services (a) Investment Advisers. (b) Principal Underwriter. (c) Services Provided by Each Investment Adviser and Fund Expenses Paid by Third Parties. (d) Service Agreements. (e) Other Investment Advice. (f) Dealer Reallowances. (g) Rule 12b-1 Plans. (h) Other Service Providers: (1) administrator (2) dividend-paying agent/transfer agent (3) custodian/accountant (4) affiliated persons |
Revised Item 16(a). Revised Item 7(a). Revised Items 5(b)(ii) and 16(c). Item 16(d). Item 16(e). Item 7(b)(iv). Revised Items 7(f) and 16(f). Item 5(d). Item 5(e). Revised Items 16(g) and (h). Item 16(i). |
Item 16. Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices |
Revised Items 5(g) and 17. |
Item 17. Capital Stock and Other Securities (a) Capital Stock. (b) Other Securities. |
Revised Items 6(a), 6(c), and 18(a). Item 18(b). |
Form N-1A, as Amended |
Source of Form N-1A Items |
Item 18. Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares (a) Purchase of Shares. (b) Fund Reorganizations. (c) Offering Price. (d) Redemptions in Kind. |
Revised Item 19(a). Revised Item 7(c). Revised Item 19(b). Revised Item 19(c). |
Item 19. Taxation of the Fund |
Revised Item 20. |
Item 20. Underwriters |
Revised Item 21. |
Item 21. Calculation of Performance Data |
Revised Item 22. |
Item 22. Financial Statements |
Revised Item 23. |
Part C | |
Item 23. Exhibits |
Revised Item 24. |
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund |
Item 25. |
Item 25. Indemnification |
Revised Item 27. |
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser |
Item 28. |
Item 27. Principal Underwriters |
Item 29. |
Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records |
Item 30. |
Item 29. Management Services |
Item 31. |
Item 30. Undertakings |
Revised Item 32. |
APPENDIX B
BAR CHART AND PERFORMANCE TABLE
The bar chart and table shown below provide an indication of the risks of investing in the XYZ Stock Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year over a 10-year period and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for one, five, and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. How the Fund has performed in the past is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
During the 10-year period shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a quarter was 25.3% (quarter ending Sept. 30, 1995) and the lowest return for a quarter was -13.6% (quarter ending June 30, 1989).
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ending December 31, 1996) |
Past One Year |
Past 5 Years |
Past 10 Years |
XYZ Stock Fund |
23.2% |
11.5% |
15% |
S & P 500* |
20.26% |
12.87% |
12.58% |
* The S & P 500® is the Standard & Poor's Composite Index of 500 Stocks, a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices.
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