Form 485APOS Hartford Funds Exchange-
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 10, 2026
File Nos. 333-215165/811-23222
File Nos. 333-215165/811-23222
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
☒
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
☐
Post-Effective Amendment No. 60
☒
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
☒
Amendment No. 62
☒
HARTFORD FUNDS EXCHANGE-TRADED TRUST
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
690 Lee Road
Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone
Number, including Area Code: (610) 386-4068
Thomas R.
Phillips, Esquire
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC
690 Lee Road
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC
690 Lee Road
Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
John V. O’Hanlon, Esquire
Dechert LLP
One International Place, 40th Floor
100 Oliver Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2605
John V. O’Hanlon, Esquire
Dechert LLP
One International Place, 40th Floor
100 Oliver Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2605
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
☐ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
☐ on (Date)
pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
☐ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
☐ on (Date)
pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
☒ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
☐ on (Date)
pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
If
appropriate, check the following box:
☐ This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective
amendment.
Preliminary
Prospectus dated July 10, 2026
Subject to
Completion
The information in this
prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This
prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
September [ ], 2026
Hartford Exchange-Traded Funds
Prospectus
| |
Ticker |
Exchange |
| Hartford Alpha Capture International Growth ETF |
ACIG |
[Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.] |
| Hartford Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF |
ACSM |
[Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.] |
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor the U.S.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission has approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Because you could lose money by investing in the Funds, be sure to read all risk disclosures carefully
before investing.
Hartford Alpha Capture
International Growth ETF Summary Section
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE. The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
YOUR EXPENSES. The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund.
You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value
of your investment):
| Management fees |
[xx]% |
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
None |
| Other expenses(1) |
[xx]% |
| Total annual fund operating expenses |
[xx]% |
| Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(2)
|
[xx]% |
| Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(2) |
[xx]% |
(1) “Other expenses” are estimated for the current fiscal year.
(2) Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (the “Investment Manager”) has contractually agreed to reimburse expenses (exclusive of taxes,
interest expenses, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary to limit total annual fund operating expenses to [xx]%. This contractual arrangement will remain in effect through [February 29, 2028] unless the Board of Trustees of Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust approves its earlier termination.
Example. The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing
in other exchange-traded funds. The example assumes that:
●
Your investment has a 5% return each year
●
The Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example reflects the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement reflected in the table above for only the first year)
Your actual costs may be
higher or lower. Based on these assumptions, for every $10,000 invested, you would pay the following expenses if you sell all of your shares at the end of each time period
indicated:
| Year 1 |
Year 3 |
| $[xx] |
$[xxx] |
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns
over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating
expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate for the most recent fiscal year is not available.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 65% of its net assets in foreign
equity securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in securities of growth companies. The Fund seeks to outperform the MSCI EAFE
Growth Index. The Fund invests across a broad range of companies in a number of different countries throughout the world, with no limit on the amount of assets that may be invested in each country. Securities in which the Fund invests are denominated in both U.S. dollars and foreign currencies and may trade in both U.S. and foreign markets. The Fund may invest in companies of any
market capitalization, but tends to focus on large and medium capitalization companies. The Fund may trade securities actively. Based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may, through its normal stock selection process, focus on one or more sectors of the market. The Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means that it may invest its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.
The Fund’s portfolio manager selects stocks from an investment universe populated by multiple fundamental equity investment teams at the sub-adviser, Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington Management”), with different investment approaches to growth investing. Each fundamental equity investment team has a distinct investment
philosophy and analytical process to identify securities. The Fund’s investment universe represents a wide range of investment philosophies, companies, industries and market capitalizations. The Fund’s portfolio manager selects a subset of securities from the investable universe for inclusion in the portfolio, seeking to include stocks that the fundamental equity investment teams believe are high conviction or otherwise offer attractive risk-return
3
characteristics. The Fund’s portfolio
manager also may invest a portion of the Fund’s assets in securities that the portfolio manager believes may complement the Fund’s total risk profile or support
overall portfolio construction targets. The Fund’s portfolio manager does not allocate a set percentage to any investment approach or security but instead seeks a flexible and broad-based Fund profile consistent with the Fund’s overall focus on growth investing. The portfolio manager also uses quantitative portfolio construction tools as part of the investment process.
Equity securities include but are not limited to common stock, depositary receipts, preferred stock, securities convertible into common or preferred stock and warrants or rights to acquire common stock. Investments are deemed to be “foreign” if one or more of the following criteria is met: (a) an issuer’s domicile or location of headquarters is in a foreign country; (b) an issuer is doing a substantial amount of business outside the United States, which the Fund considers to be an issuer that derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits outside the United States or has at least 50% of its sales or assets outside the United States; (c) the principal trading market for a security of an issuer is located in a foreign country; or (d) it is a foreign currency or the investment is denominated in a foreign currency. Wellington Management determines whether a company is a growth company based on traditional and other measures of growth,
such as whether the company is included in a third-party growth index (e.g. MSCI ACWI Growth Index, Russell 3000 Growth Index or the FTSE All-World Growth Index) and/or whether the company exhibits growth characteristics based on certain metrics, such as how a company’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, earnings per share (EPS) growth and/or revenue growth compare to the median of the MSCI EAFE Index (Net). A company may be determined to be a growth
company under any of these factors.
PRINCIPAL RISKS. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are described below. When you sell your shares they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you could lose money as a result of your
investment. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. As with any fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. For more
information regarding risks and investment matters, please see “Additional Information Regarding Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Fund’s statutory
prospectus.
Market Risk – Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including
the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. Securities of a company may decline in value due to its financial prospects and activities,
including certain operational impacts, such as data breaches and cybersecurity attacks. Securities may also decline in value due to general market and economic movements and
trends, including adverse changes to credit markets, or as a result of other events (or threat thereof), such as geopolitical events, natural disasters, or widespread pandemics (such as COVID-19) or other adverse public health developments.
Foreign Investments Risk – Investments in foreign securities may be riskier, more volatile, and less liquid than investments in U.S.
securities. Differences between the U.S. and foreign regulatory regimes and securities markets, including the less stringent investor protection, less stringent accounting,
corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards of some foreign markets, as well as political and economic developments in foreign countries and regions and the U.S. (including the imposition of sanctions, tariffs, or other governmental restrictions), may affect the value of the Fund’s foreign investments. Changes in currency exchange rates may also adversely affect the Fund’s foreign investments.
Currency Risk – The risk that the value of the Fund’s investments in foreign securities or currencies will be affected
by the value of the applicable currency relative to the U.S. dollar. When the Fund sells a foreign currency or foreign currency denominated security, its value may be worth less in U.S. dollars even if the investment increases in value in its local market. U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers may also be affected by currency risk, as the revenue earned by issuers of these securities may also be affected by changes in the issuer’s local currency.
Regional/Country Focus Risk – To the extent that the Fund focuses its investments in a particular
geographic region or country, the Fund may be subject to increased currency, political, regulatory, economic and other risks associated with that region or country. A natural or other disaster could occur in a geographic region in which the Fund invests, which could affect the economy or particular business operations of companies in the specific geographic region. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.
Equity Risk – The risk that the price of equity or equity related securities may decline
due to changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.
4
Mid-Cap
Securities Risk – The securities of mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are generally subject to
greater and less predictable price changes than the securities of larger capitalization companies.
Large Cap Securities Risk – The securities of large market capitalization companies may underperform
other segments of the market because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Growth Investing Style Risk – If the sub-adviser incorrectly assesses a company’s prospects for growth or how other investors will
value the company’s growth, then the price of the company’s stock may decrease, or may not increase to the level anticipated by the sub-adviser. In addition,
growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investors’ perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. Also,
the growth investing style may over time go in and out of favor. At times when the investing style used by the Fund is out of favor, the Fund may underperform other equity funds that use different investing styles.
Active Investment Management
Risk – The risk that, if the sub-adviser’s investment
strategy does not perform as expected, the Fund could underperform its peers or lose money. Although the sub-adviser considers several factors when making investment decisions, the sub-adviser may not evaluate every factor prior to investing in a company or issuer, and the sub-adviser may determine that certain factors are more significant than others.
Quantitative Investing Risk
– The value of securities or other investments selected using quantitative analysis can perform differently from
the market as a whole or from their expected performance. This may be as a result of the factors used in the analysis, the weights placed on each factor, and changes in the
historical trends of the factors.
Sector Risk
– To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in a particular sector or sectors, its performance will be
especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, from the broader market.
Non-Diversification Risk – The Fund is non-diversified, which means it is permitted to invest a
greater portion of its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a “diversified” fund. For this reason the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely. The Fund may also be subject to greater market fluctuation and price volatility than a more broadly diversified fund.
New Fund Risk – The Fund is a new fund which may result in additional risks. There can be
no assurance that the Fund will grow to an economically viable size, in which case the Fund may cease operations. In such an event, investors may be required to liquidate or transfer their investments at an inopportune time.
Active Trading Risk
– Active trading could increase the Fund’s transaction costs and may increase your tax liability as
compared to a fund with less active trading policies. These effects may adversely affect Fund performance.
Market Price Risk – The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares and the
value of your investment may fluctuate. The market prices of the Fund’s shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV and changes in the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings, as well as the relative supply of and demand for the shares on the Fund’s listing exchange. Although it is expected that the Fund’s shares will remain listed on the exchange, disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of market volatility or lack of an active trading market for the shares (including through a trading halt), as well as other factors, may result in the shares trading significantly above (at a premium to) or below (at a discount to) the Fund’s NAV or the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, because liquidity in certain underlying portfolio securities may fluctuate over time, shares of the Fund may, at times, trade at a larger than normal premium or discount to NAV. In addition, to the extent certain of the Fund’s portfolio securities are trading on days or at times the Fund’s shares are not trading, bid-ask spreads and the resulting premium or discount to the NAV of the Fund’s shares may widen. During such periods, you may be unable to sell your shares or may incur significant losses if you sell your shares. There are various methods by which investors can purchase and sell shares and various types of orders that may be placed. Investors should consult their financial intermediary before purchasing or selling shares of the Fund. Neither the Investment Manager nor the Fund’s sub-adviser can predict whether the Fund’s shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for the Fund’s shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the Fund’s holdings trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. Where all or a portion of the Fund’s underlying securities trade in a market that is closed, when the market in which the Fund shares are listed and trading is open, there may be changes between the last available quotation from the closed
foreign market, and the value of such security during the Fund’s domestic trading day. This could lead to differences between the market price of the Fund shares and the underlying value of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, unlike many
5
ETFs, the Fund is not an index fund. The
Fund is actively managed and does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. There can be no assurance as to whether and/or to what extent the Fund’s
shares will trade at premiums or discounts to NAV or to the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings.
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk
– Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or
redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund has a limited number of intermediaries that act as authorized participants on an agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants), and none of these authorized participants are or will be obligated to engage in creation or redemption transactions. To the extent that these intermediaries exit the business or are unable to or choose not to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders with respect to the Fund and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, Fund shares may trade at a
premium or discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting.
The Fund is subject to certain other risks, which are discussed
in “Additional Information Regarding Investment Strategies and Risks” and “More Information About Risks” in the Fund’s statutory
prospectus.
PAST PERFORMANCE. Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations, no performance history has been provided. Performance information will be available at hartfordfunds.com. Keep in mind that past performance does not indicate future results.
MANAGEMENT. The Fund’s investment manager is Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC.
The Fund’s sub-adviser is Wellington Management.
| Portfolio Manager |
Title |
Involved with Fund Since |
| Thomas S. Simon, CFA, FRM |
Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager |
2026 |
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES. The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”).
Individual Fund shares may only be purchased and sold on a national securities exchange through a broker-dealer and may not be purchased or redeemed directly with the Fund. The price of Fund shares is based on market price, and because ETF shares trade at market prices rather than at NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (a premium) or less than NAV (a
discount). When buying and selling Fund shares on an exchange, therefore, investors may incur costs related to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund shares (ask) (the “bid-ask spread”). The Fund will only issue or redeem shares at NAV that have been aggregated into blocks of shares (“Creation Units”) to authorized participants (“Authorized Participants”) who have entered into participant agreements with the Fund‘s distributor, ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”). The Fund will issue or redeem Creation Units in return for a basket of securities and/or cash that the Fund specifies each business day. Additional information about the Fund, including the Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts and bid-ask spreads can be found at hartfordfunds.com.
TAX INFORMATION. The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable, and may be taxed as
ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.
PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES. If you purchase shares of the
Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund’s related companies may pay the intermediary for services and/or data related to the sale of Fund shares. These payments may create a conflict of interest by
influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial intermediary to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial intermediary or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
6
Hartford Alpha Capture
SMID Cap ETF Summary Section
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE.
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
YOUR EXPENSES. The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell
shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and
other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each
year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
| Management fees |
[xx]% |
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
None |
| Other expenses(1) |
[xx]% |
| Total annual fund operating expenses |
[xx]% |
| Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(2)
|
[xx]% |
| Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(2) |
[xx]% |
(1) “Other expenses” are estimated for the current fiscal year.
(2) Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (the “Investment Manager”) has contractually agreed
to reimburse expenses (exclusive of taxes, interest expenses, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary to
limit total annual fund operating expenses to [xx]%. This contractual arrangement will remain in effect through [February 29, 2028] unless the Board of Trustees of Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust approves its earlier termination.
Example. The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the
cost of investing in other exchange-traded funds. The example assumes that:
●
Your investment has a 5% return each year
●
The Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example reflects the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement reflected in the table above for only the first year)
Your actual costs may be
higher or lower. Based on these assumptions, for every $10,000 invested, you would pay the following expenses if you sell all of your shares at the end of each time period
indicated:
| Year 1 |
Year 3 |
| $[xx] |
$[xxx] |
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns
over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating
expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate for the most recent fiscal year is not available.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY. Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in
common stocks of issuers located in the United States. Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington Management”), the Fund’s sub-adviser, chooses the
Fund’s investments using fundamental research to identify undervalued companies in the marketplace relative to a variety of characteristics. Under normal
circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in securities of small and mid-capitalization issuers. The Fund seeks to outperform the Russell 2500 Index. The Fund seeks to invest broadly across companies and industries. Based on
market or economic conditions, the Fund may, through its normal stock selection process, focus on one or more sectors of the market. The Fund may trade securities actively. The Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means that it may invest its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.
The Fund’s portfolio manager selects stocks from an investment universe populated by multiple fundamental equity investment teams at the sub-adviser, Wellington Management. Each fundamental equity investment team has a distinct investment philosophy and analytical process to identify securities. The Fund’s investment universe represents a wide range of investment philosophies, companies, industries and market capitalizations. The Fund’s portfolio manager selects a subset of securities from the investable universe for inclusion in the portfolio, seeking to include stocks that the fundamental equity investment teams believe are high conviction or otherwise offer attractive risk-return
characteristics. The Fund’s portfolio manager also may invest a portion of the Fund’s assets in securities that the portfolio manager believes may complement the Fund’s total risk profile or support overall portfolio construction
7
targets. The Fund’s portfolio manager
does not allocate a set percentage to any investment approach or security but instead seeks a flexible and broad-based Fund profile consistent with the Fund’s overall
focus on small and mid-capitalization securities. The portfolio manager also uses quantitative portfolio construction tools as part of the investment process.
The Fund defines mid-cap securities as companies with market caps within the collective range of the [xxxxx Index] and small cap securities as companies with market caps within the collective range of the [xxxxx Index]. As of June 30, 2026, this range was approximately $[xxx] million to $[xxx] billion for the [xxxxx Index] and approximately $[xxx] million to $[xxx] million for the [xxxxx Index]. The market capitalization range of these indices changes over time.
PRINCIPAL RISKS. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are described below. When you sell your shares they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you
could lose money as a result of your investment. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. As with any fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. For more
information regarding risks and investment matters, please see “Additional Information Regarding Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Fund’s statutory
prospectus.
Market Risk – Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including
the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. Securities of a company may decline in value due to its financial prospects and activities,
including certain operational impacts, such as data breaches and cybersecurity attacks. Securities may also decline in value due to general market and economic movements and
trends, including adverse changes to credit markets, or as a result of other events (or threat thereof), such as geopolitical events, natural disasters, or widespread pandemics (such as COVID-19) or other adverse public health developments.
Equity Risk – The risk that the price of equity or equity related securities may decline due to changes in a company’s
financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.
Mid-Cap Securities Risk
– The securities of mid-capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are generally subject to
greater and less predictable price changes than the securities of larger capitalization companies.
Small Cap Securities Risk – Investments in small capitalization companies involve greater risks than
investments in larger, more established companies. Many of these companies are young and have limited operating or business history. These securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity, and these issuers often face greater business risks, including the risk of bankruptcy.
Active Investment Management Risk – The risk that, if the sub-adviser’s investment strategy does not perform
as expected, the Fund could underperform its peers or lose money. Although the sub-adviser considers several factors when making investment decisions, the sub-adviser may not evaluate every factor prior to investing in a company or issuer, and the sub-adviser may determine that certain factors are more significant than others.
Active Trading Risk – Active trading could increase the Fund’s transaction costs and may increase your tax liability as
compared to a fund with less active trading policies. These effects may adversely affect Fund performance.
Quantitative Investing Risk – The value of securities or other investments selected using quantitative analysis can perform differently from
the market as a whole or from their expected performance. This may be as a result of the factors used in the analysis, the weights placed on each factor, and changes in the
historical trends of the factors.
Sector Risk
– To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in a particular sector or sectors, its performance will be
especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, from the broader market.
Non-Diversification Risk – The Fund is non-diversified, which means it is permitted to invest a
greater portion of its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a “diversified” fund. For this reason the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely. The Fund may also be subject to greater market fluctuation and price volatility than a more broadly diversified fund.
New Fund Risk – The Fund is a new fund which may result in additional risks. There can be
no assurance that the Fund will grow to an economically viable size, in which case the Fund may cease operations. In such an event, investors may be required to liquidate or transfer their investments at an inopportune time.
8
Market
Price Risk – The net asset value (“NAV”) of the
Fund’s shares and the value of your investment may fluctuate. The market prices of the Fund’s shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV
and changes in the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings, as well as the relative supply of and demand for the shares on the Fund’s listing exchange. Although it is expected that the Fund’s shares will remain listed on the exchange, disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of market volatility or lack of an active trading market for the shares (including through a trading halt), as well as other factors, may result in the shares trading significantly above (at a premium to) or below (at a discount to) the Fund’s NAV or the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, because liquidity in certain underlying portfolio securities may fluctuate over time, shares of the Fund may, at times, trade at a larger than normal premium or discount to NAV. In addition, to the extent certain of the Fund’s portfolio securities are trading on days or at times the Fund’s shares are not trading, bid-ask spreads and the resulting premium or discount to the NAV of the Fund’s shares may widen. During such periods, you may be unable to sell your shares or may incur significant losses if you sell your shares. There are various methods by which investors can purchase and sell shares and various types of orders that may be placed. Investors should consult their financial intermediary before purchasing or selling shares of the Fund. Neither the Investment Manager nor the Fund’s sub-adviser can predict whether the Fund’s shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for the Fund’s shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the Fund’s holdings trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. Where all or a portion of the Fund’s underlying securities trade in a market that is closed, when the market in which the Fund shares are listed and trading is open, there may be changes between the last available quotation from the closed
foreign market, and the value of such security during the Fund’s domestic trading day. This could lead to differences between the market price of the Fund shares and the underlying value of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, unlike many ETFs, the Fund is not an index fund. The Fund is actively managed and does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. There can be no assurance as to whether and/or to what extent the Fund’s shares will trade at premiums or discounts to NAV or to the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings.
Authorized Participant Concentration Risk – Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund has a limited number of intermediaries that act as authorized
participants on an agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants), and none of these authorized participants are or will be obligated to engage in creation or redemption transactions. To the extent that these intermediaries exit the business or are unable to or choose not to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders with respect to the Fund and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, Fund shares may trade at a
premium or discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting.
The Fund is subject to certain other risks, which are discussed
in “Additional Information Regarding Investment Strategies and Risks” and “More Information About Risks” in the Fund’s statutory
prospectus.
PAST PERFORMANCE. Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations, no performance history has been provided. Performance information will be available at hartfordfunds.com. Keep in mind that past performance does not indicate future results.
MANAGEMENT. The Fund’s investment manager is Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC.
The Fund’s sub-adviser is Wellington Management.
| Portfolio Manager |
Title |
Involved with Fund Since |
| Thomas S. Simon, CFA, FRM |
Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager |
2026 |
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES. The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”).
Individual Fund shares may only be purchased and sold on a national securities exchange through a broker-dealer and may not be purchased or redeemed directly with the Fund. The price of Fund shares is based on market price, and because ETF shares trade at market prices rather than at NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (a premium) or less than NAV (a
discount). When buying and selling Fund shares on an exchange, therefore, investors may incur costs related to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase Fund shares (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for Fund shares (ask) (the “bid-ask spread”). The Fund will only issue or redeem shares at NAV that have been aggregated into blocks of shares (“Creation Units”) to authorized participants (“Authorized Participants”) who have entered into participant agreements with the Fund‘s distributor, ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”). The Fund will issue or redeem Creation Units in return for a basket of securities and/or cash that the Fund specifies each business day. Additional information about the Fund, including the Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts and bid-ask spreads can be found at hartfordfunds.com.
9
TAX INFORMATION. The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable, and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains,
unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later
upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.
PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES. If you purchase shares of the
Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund’s related companies may pay the intermediary for services and/or data related to the sale of Fund shares. These payments may create a conflict of interest by
influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial intermediary to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial intermediary or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
10
Summary Information About
the Exchange-Traded Funds
This prospectus describes two ETFs: Hartford
Alpha Capture International Growth ETF (the “Alpha Capture International Growth ETF”), and Hartford Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF (the “Alpha Capture SMID Cap
ETF“) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), each a series of Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust (the “Trust”).
The Funds provide access to the professional investment advisory services offered by Hartford Funds Management
Company, LLC (“HFMC” or the “Investment Manager”) and Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington Management”). ETFs are funds that trade on an exchange like other publicly traded securities and may be designed to track an index or to be actively managed. The Funds are actively managed and do not seek to replicate the
performance of a specified index. Unlike shares of a mutual fund, which all shareholders can buy or redeem directly from the issuing fund at a price based on Net Asset Value (“NAV”), only Authorized Participants may buy and redeem shares of the Funds directly from the Funds at NAV. Also, unlike shares of a mutual fund, shares of the Funds are listed on a national securities exchange and trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day.
Shares of the Funds will be listed and traded at market prices on [Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Cboe BZX”)]. Shares of the Funds may be listed and traded on other secondary markets. The market price for each Fund’s shares may be different from that Fund’s NAV. Each Fund issues and redeems shares at NAV only in Creation Units, which only Authorized Participants may purchase or redeem directly with a Fund at NAV. These transactions are in exchange for securities and/or cash. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of a Fund are not redeemable securities. Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants may not purchase or redeem shares directly from a Fund.
An investment in a Fund should not by itself constitute an entire investment program.
This prospectus explains what you should know about the Funds before you invest. Please read it carefully. Investors should be aware that the investments made by the Funds and the results achieved by the Funds at any given time are not expected to be the
same as those made by other funds for which HFMC acts as investment manager/adviser, or for which Wellington Management acts as sub-adviser, including funds with names, investment objectives and policies similar to the Funds. Certain affiliates of the Funds and HFMC may purchase and resell Fund shares pursuant to this prospectus.
Additional information about the Funds, including Fund fact sheets, and information regarding each Fund’s net asset value, market price, bid-ask spreads and the number of days that the Fund’s shares traded on [Cboe BZX] at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund during the prior calendar year and
subsequent quarters, when available, can be found at hartfordfunds.com.
11
Additional Information
Regarding Investment Strategies and Risks
Information about each
Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategy is provided in the summary section of this prospectus. Additional information regarding the investment
strategy and other investment policies for each of the Funds is provided below.
ALPHA CAPTURE iNTERNATIONAL GROWTH ETF
In addition to the principal strategies described in the summary section, the Fund may also invest in private placements and may use derivatives for hedging purposes, to gain exposure to certain issuers or market sectors, and/or to equitize cash. The derivatives in which the Fund may invest include exchange and over-the-counter traded transactions
including, but not limited to, forward currency contracts, futures, options and similar derivatives instruments or combinations thereof. The Fund may also invest in other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds
(ETFs)), exchange-traded notes (ETNs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), depositary receipts, and restricted securities. The Fund may invest in securities of companies that conduct their principal business activities in emerging markets or whose securities are traded principally on exchanges in emerging markets.
The Fund’s portfolio manager selects multiple fundamental equity investment teams with complementary investment approaches to identify securities for inclusion in the Fund’s investment universe. The fundamental equity investment teams use what is sometimes referred to as a “bottom up” approach. In analyzing a prospective investment, the fundamental equity investment teams use fundamental analysis and look at a number of factors, such as business
environment, management quality, balance sheet, income statement, anticipated earnings, revenues, dividends and other related measures of valuation and growth potential.
ALPHA CAPTURE SMID CAP ETF
In addition to the principal strategies described in the summary section, the Fund may also use derivatives for risk management purposes, to gain exposure to certain issuers or market sectors, and/or to equitize cash. The derivatives in which the Fund may invest include exchange traded instruments including, but not limited to, equity index futures. The Fund may also invest in other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds (ETFs)), exchange-traded
notes, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and restricted securities.
The Fund’s portfolio manager selects multiple fundamental equity investment teams with complementary investment approaches to identify securities for inclusion in the Fund’s investment universe. The fundamental equity investment teams use what is sometimes referred to as a “bottom up” approach. In analyzing a prospective investment, the fundamental equity investment teams use fundamental analysis and look at a number of factors, such as business
environment, management quality, balance sheet, income statement, anticipated earnings, revenues, dividends and other related measures of valuation and growth potential.
ADDITIONAL Resources and Tools at Wellington Management
As part of its investment process, each investment team at Wellington Management may consider the research provided by other teams at Wellington Management, in addition to other resources and tools. Each investment team
also has access to, and may consider, proprietary environmental, social and/or governance (“ESG”) research prepared by Wellington Management’s ESG analysts, to help evaluate a company’s (or issuer’s) risk and return potential. Wellington Management believes financially material ESG issues can impact the performance of the companies (or
issuers) in which it invests. Some examples of ESG research that may be considered include environmental topics such as how a company is managing climate change risks on its business; social considerations such as talent attraction/retention; and governance matters such as compensation and board composition. Each investment team has discretion to
determine the extent to which financially material ESG characteristics are incorporated into its overall analysis.
Foreign and Emerging Market
Investments
Fund Assets Sub-Advised by Wellington Management
Unless stated otherwise in a Fund’s principal investment
strategy, investments are deemed to be “foreign” if (a) an issuer’s domicile or location of headquarters is in a foreign country or (b) it is a foreign
currency. Unless stated otherwise in a Fund’s principal investment strategy, emerging markets are those markets (1) included in emerging market or equivalent classifications by the United Nations (and its agencies); (2) having per capita income in the low to middle ranges, as determined by the World Bank; or (3) the Fund’s benchmark index provider designates as emerging. Unless stated otherwise in a Fund’s principal investment strategy, investments are deemed to be “emerging” if (a) an issuer’s domicile or location of headquarters is in an emerging market; or (b) it is an emerging market currency.
12
More Information About
Risks
The principal and certain additional risks of investing in each
Fund are described below. When you sell your shares they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you could lose money as a result of your
investment. Many factors affect each Fund’s performance. An investment in
a Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective, and you should not consider any one
fund alone to be a complete investment program. The different types of securities, investments, and investment techniques used by each Fund have varying degrees of risk. The Funds’ combined statement of additional information (“SAI”) contains more detailed information about the Funds’ investment policies and risks.
| √ Principal Risk
X Additional Risk |
Alpha Capture International Growth ETF |
Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF |
| Active Investment Management Risk |
√ |
√ |
| Active Trading Risk |
√ |
√ |
| Authorized Participant Concentration Risk |
√ |
√ |
| Cash Transactions Risk |
X |
X |
| China A Shares Risk |
X |
|
| China Investments Risk |
X |
|
| Convertible Securities Risk |
X |
|
| Counterparty Risk |
X |
X |
| Currency Risk |
√ |
|
| Depositary Receipts Risk |
X |
X |
| Derivatives Risk |
X |
X |
| Forward Currency Contracts Risk |
X |
|
| Futures and Options Risk |
X |
X |
| Hedging Risk |
X |
X |
| Emerging Markets Risk |
X |
|
| Equity Risk |
√ |
√ |
| ESG Integration Risk |
X |
X |
| Exchange-Traded Funds Risk |
X |
X |
| Exchange-Traded Notes Risk |
X |
X |
| Foreign Investments Risk |
√ |
X |
| Growth Investing Style Risk |
√ |
|
| Illiquid Investments Risk |
X |
X |
| Issuer Risk |
X |
X |
| Japan Risk |
X |
|
| Large Cap Securities Risk |
√ |
X |
| Large Shareholder Transaction Risk |
X |
X |
| Leverage Risk |
X |
X |
| Liquidity Risk |
X |
X |
| Market Price Risk |
√ |
√ |
| Market Risk |
√ |
√ |
| Mid-Cap Securities Risk |
√ |
√ |
| New Fund Risk |
√ |
√ |
| No Guarantee of Active Trading Market Risk |
X |
X |
| Non-Diversification Risk |
√ |
√ |
| Other Investment Companies Risk |
X |
X |
| Preferred and Other Hybrid Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Private Placement Risk |
X |
X |
| Quantitative Investing Risk |
√ |
√ |
| Real Estate Related Securities Risk |
X |
X |
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| √ Principal Risk
X Additional Risk |
Alpha Capture International Growth ETF |
Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF |
| Regional/Country Focus Risk |
√ |
|
| Repurchase Agreements Risk |
X |
X |
| Restricted Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Secondary Trading Market Issues |
X |
X |
| Sector Risk |
√ |
√ |
| Agricultural Sector Investment Risk |
X |
X |
| Communication Services Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Energy Sector Investment Risk |
X |
X |
| Financial Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Health Care Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Industrials Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Information Technology Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Metals Sector Investment Risk |
X |
X |
| Utilities Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Securities Lending Risk |
X |
X |
| Small Cap Securities Risk |
X |
√ |
| Use as an Underlying Fund Risk |
X |
X |
| U.S. Government Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Valuation Risk |
X |
X |
| Volatility Risk |
X |
X |
| Warrants Risk |
X |
X |
ACTIVE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT RISK – The risk that, if the investment decisions and strategy of the portfolio
manager(s) do not perform as expected, a Fund could underperform its peers or lose money. A Fund’s performance depends on the judgment of the portfolio manager(s) about a variety of factors, such as markets, interest rates and/or the attractiveness, relative value, liquidity, or potential appreciation of particular investments made for the Fund’s portfolio. The portfolio manager(s)’ investment models may not adequately take into account certain factors, may perform differently than anticipated and may result in a Fund having a lower return than if the portfolio managers used another model or investment strategy. In addition, to the extent a Fund allocates a portion of its assets to specialist portfolio managers, the styles employed by the different portfolio managers may not be complementary, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Although the portfolio manager(s) consider several factors when making investment decisions, the portfolio manager(s) may not evaluate every factor prior to investing in a company or issuer, and the portfolio manager(s) may determine that certain factors are more significant than others.
ACTIVE TRADING RISK – Active trading could increase a Fund’s transaction costs and may
increase your tax liability as compared to a fund with less active trading policies. These effects may also adversely affect Fund performance.
AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT CONCENTRATION RISK – Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with a Fund. A Fund has a limited number of intermediaries that act as authorized participants on an agency basis (i.e., on behalf of other market participants), and none of these authorized participants are or will be obligated to engage in creation or redemption transactions. To the extent that these intermediaries exit the business or are unable to or choose not to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders with respect to a Fund and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, Fund shares may trade at a premium or discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting. Authorized participant concentration risk may be heightened to the extent a Fund invests in securities issued by non-U.S. issuers or other securities or instruments that have lower trading volumes.
CASH TRANSACTIONS RISK – A Fund may effect creations and redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than through in-kind
distributions of securities. As a result, an investment in a Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an ETF that effects creations and redemptions primarily or
wholly in-kind. ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and thereby avoid being taxed on gains on the distributed portfolio securities at the Fund level. When a Fund effects redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than in-kind, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds, which involves transaction costs. If a Fund realizes a gain on these sales, the Fund generally will be required to recognize a gain it might not otherwise have
14
recognized, or to recognize such gain
sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. A Fund generally distributes these gains to shareholders to avoid capital
gains taxes at the Fund level and the need to otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to such gains. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains to which they would not otherwise be subject, or at an earlier date than if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities markets are relatively illiquid at the time the Fund must sell securities and may involve
considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if a Fund sold and redeemed its shares principally in-kind, will be passed on to purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. As a result of these factors, the spreads between the bid and the offered prices of a Fund’s shares may be wider than those of shares of ETFs that primarily or wholly transact in-kind.
CHINA A SHARES RISK – The China A shares market has a higher propensity for trading suspensions
than many other global equity markets. In addition, the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges may close for extended periods for holidays or otherwise, which impacts a Fund’s ability to trade in China A shares during those periods. Investing in China A shares is subject to trading, clearance, settlement and other procedures, which could pose risks to the Fund. Trading through Stock Connect is currently subject to a daily quota, which may restrict a Fund’s ability to invest in China A Shares through Stock Connect on a timely basis and could affect the Fund’s ability to effectively pursue its investment strategy. In difficult market conditions, a Fund may not be able to sell its investments easily or at all, which could affect Fund performance and the Fund’s liquidity.
PRC Tax Laws –
Under current PRC tax laws, regulations and practice, a Fund, the Investment Manager and/or the sub-adviser may be subject to PRC tax, directly or indirectly, with respect
to the assets held through Stock Connect. A Fund will be responsible to reimburse Investment Manager and/or the sub-adviser for all PRC taxes and duties of any kind incurred by Investment Manager and/or the sub-adviser and attributable to the assets of
a Fund held through Stock Connect. The tax law and regulations of the PRC are constantly changing, and they may be changed with retrospective effect. The interpretation and applicability of the tax law and regulations by
tax authorities are not as consistent and transparent as those of more developed nations, and may vary from region to region. Moreover, the PRC taxes and duties payable by the Investment Manager and/or the sub-adviser
and which are to be reimbursed by a Fund to the extent attributable to the assets held through Stock Connect may change at any time.
The treatment of tax under the Investment Regulations (defined below)
is not clear. Accordingly, where the relevant regulations applicable to Stock Connect (“Investment Regulations”) require a custodian, clearing house, any other agent stipulated by such rules to withhold any tax, or where such custodian, clearing house, any other
agent has a reasonable basis for believing that such withholding may be required, the custodian, clearing house and any other agent may do so at the rate required by the regulation, or if in the custodian’s opinion the
Investment Regulations are not clear on the rate, at such rate as the custodian, clearing house, and any other agent may, reasonably determine to be appropriate. Tax may be withheld on a retroactive basis. Given the
uncertainty surrounding a Fund’s potential PRC tax liabilities or reimbursement obligations, the net asset value of the Fund on any business day may not accurately reflect such liabilities.
There are currently temporary tax exemptions and non-taxable
treatments in respect of assets traded via Stock Connect. There is no guarantee that such temporary tax exemptions or non-taxable treatment with respect to assets traded via Stock Connect will continue to apply, will not be repealed and re-imposed retrospective, or that no new tax regulations and practice in China specifically relating to such programs will not be promulgated in the future. Such uncertainties may operate to the advantage or disadvantage of shareholders in a Fund and may
result in an increase or decrease in net asset value of the Fund.
The risks related to investments in China A shares through Stock Connect are
heightened to the extent that a Fund invests in China A shares listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board on the Shanghai stock exchange (“STAR market”) and/or the ChiNext market of the Shenzhen stock exchange (“ChiNext market”). Listed companies on the STAR market and ChiNext market are usually of an emerging nature with smaller operating scale. They are subject to higher fluctuation in stock prices and liquidity. It may be more common and take less time for companies listed on the STAR market and ChiNext market to delist as compared to companies listed on other exchanges.
CHINA INVESTMENTS RISK
– Investment in Chinese securities subjects a Fund to risks specific to China. China may be subject to
significant economic, political and social instability. China is an emerging market and has demonstrated significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to
developed markets. Investments in securities of Chinese issuers, including issuers located outside of China that generate significant revenues from China as well as offshore listed shares of Chinese issuers, involve certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investments in the U.S. securities markets. These risks include: (i) the risk of more frequent (and potentially widespread)
15
trading suspensions and government
interventions with respect to Chinese issuers, resulting in liquidity risk, price volatility, greater market execution risk, and valuation risk; (ii) the risk of currency
fluctuations, currency non-convertibility, currency revaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations or blockage; (iii) the risk of intervention by the Chinese government in the Chinese securities markets, whether such intervention will continue and the impact of such intervention or its discontinuation; (iv) the risk of losses due to expropriation, nationalization, or confiscation of assets and property, the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested; (v) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to support economic reform programs; (vi) the risk of limitations on the use of brokers; (vii) the risk of interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation; (viii) the risk that the U.S. government or other governments may sanction Chinese issuers or otherwise prohibit U.S. persons (such as a Fund) from investing in certain Chinese issuers; and (ix) the risk of market volatility caused by any potential regional or territorial conflicts, including military conflicts, or natural or other disasters. In addition, the economy of China differs, often unfavorably, from the U.S. economy in such respects as structure, general
development, government involvement, wealth distribution, rate of inflation, growth rate, interest rates, allocation of resources and capital reinvestment, among others. China has privatized, or has begun a process of privatizing, certain entities and industries. Newly privatized companies may face strong competition from government-sponsored
competitors that have not been privatized. In some instances, investors in newly privatized entities have suffered losses due to the inability of the newly privatized entities to adjust quickly to a competitive environment or changing
regulatory and legal standards or, in some cases, due to renationalization of such privatized entities. There is no assurance that similar losses will not recur. In addition, previously the Chinese government has from time to time taken actions that influence the prices at which certain goods may be sold, encourage companies to invest or concentrate in particular industries, induce mergers between companies in certain industries and induce private companies to
publicly offer their securities to increase or continue the rate of economic growth, control the rate of inflation or otherwise regulate economic expansion. The Chinese government may do so in the future as well, potentially having a significant adverse effect on economic conditions in China. Segments of China’s private debt markets (e.g., non-investment grade debt or “junk bonds”) may at times become relatively concentrated by a limited number of large issuers in one or more sectors (e.g., real estate). The default or threat of default by one or more such large issuers could have adverse consequences on other issuers in such sectors.
China has experienced security concerns, such as terrorism and strained international relations. Incidents involving China’s or the region’s security may cause uncertainty in the Chinese markets and may adversely affect the Chinese economy and a Fund’s investments. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of tariffs or other trade barriers or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. These actions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry, which could have a negative impact on a Fund’s performance. Recent developments in relations between the United States and China have heightened concerns of increased tariffs and
restrictions on trade between the two countries. It is unclear whether further tariffs and sanctions may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future, which could negatively impact a Fund.
The U.S. government may occasionally place restrictions on
investments in Chinese companies. For example, a rulemaking implemented by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control prohibits U.S. persons
from purchasing or selling publicly traded securities (including publicly traded securities that are derivative of, or are designed to provide exposure to, such securities) of any Chinese company identified as a Chinese Military Industrial Complex Company (“OFAC Rules”). A number of Chinese issuers have been designated under this program and more could be added. Certain implementation matters related to the scope of, and compliance with, the OFAC Rules have not yet been fully resolved, and the ultimate application and enforcement of the OFAC Rules may change. As a result, the OFAC Rules and related guidance may significantly reduce the liquidity of such securities and/or negatively impact the market price of such securities, force a Fund to sell certain positions at inopportune times or for unfavorable prices, and restrict future investments by the Fund. A Fund may consequently incur a loss as a result.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES RISK
– The market value of a convertible security typically performs
like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risk that apply to the underlying common stock. A convertible security tends to perform more like a stock when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security’s value resides in the option to convert) and more like a debt security when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the option to convert is less valuable).
16
A Fund may invest in contingent capital
securities (also known as contingent convertible securities or CoCos). CoCos are a form of hybrid debt security that are intended to either convert into equity or have their
principal written down upon the occurrence of certain “triggers.” In certain circumstances, the principal of CoCos may be written down to zero even when the underlying equity may retain value. The value of CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many
factors including, without limitation: (i) the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in such issuer’s applicable capital ratios; (ii) supply and demand for the CoCos; (iii) general market conditions and available liquidity; and (iv) economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, its particular market or the financial markets in general. Investments in CoCos may be considered speculative.
COUNTERPARTY RISK – With respect to certain transactions, such as over-the-counter derivatives
contracts or repurchase agreements, a Fund will be exposed to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a counterparty, a Fund could experience delays in liquidating its positions and
significant losses, including declines in the value of its investment during the period in which the Fund seeks to enforce its rights, the inability to realize any gains on its investment during such period and any fees and expenses incurred in enforcing its rights. A Fund also bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a derivative transaction in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a counterparty. Over-the-counter derivatives may not offer a Fund the same level of protection as exchange traded derivatives.
CURRENCY RISK – The risk that the value of a Fund’s investments in foreign securities
or currencies will be affected by the value of the applicable currency relative to the U.S. dollar. When a Fund sells a foreign currency or foreign currency denominated security, its value may be worth less in U.S. dollars even if the investment increases in value in its local market. U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers may also be affected by currency risk, as the revenue earned by issuers of these securities may also be affected by changes in the issuer’s local currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets. The dollar value of foreign investments may be affected by
exchange controls. A Fund may be positively or negatively affected by governmental strategies intended to make the U.S. dollar, or other currencies in which the Fund invests, stronger or weaker. Devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority also will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. Currency risk may be particularly high to the extent that a Fund invests in foreign securities or currencies that are economically tied to emerging market countries.
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS RISK – A Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers in the form of depositary receipts or other securities that
are convertible into securities of foreign issuers. American Depositary Receipts are receipts typically issued by an American bank or trust company that evidence underlying
securities issued by a foreign corporation. European Depositary Receipts (issued in Europe) and Global Depositary Receipts (issued throughout the world) each evidence a similar ownership arrangement. A Fund may invest in Depositary Receipts that are not
sponsored by a financial institution (“Unsponsored Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. The issuers of
unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is, in the United States, considered material. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding their issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. A Fund may also invest in Global
Depositary Notes (“GDNs”), a form of depositary receipt. GDNs emulate the terms (interest rate, maturity date, credit quality, etc.) of particular local bonds; however, they trade, settle, and pay interest and principal in U.S. Dollars. Any distributions paid to the holders of GDNs are usually subject to a fee charged by the depositary and holders of GDNs may have limited rights. Certain investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of GDNs because such restrictions may limit the ability to convert bonds into GDNs and vice versa. A Fund may invest in Chinese Depositary Receipts (“CDRs”) or other similar securities representing ownership of foreign listed securities. Generally, CDRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the Chinese securities markets. CDRs may involve certain risks not applicable to investing in U.S. issuers, including changes in currency rates, application of local tax laws, changes in governmental administration or economic or monetary policy or changed circumstances in dealings between nations.
DERIVATIVES RISK – A Fund may use derivatives for various reasons. Derivatives are instruments
whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. Successful use of derivative instruments by a Fund depends on the sub-adviser’s judgment with respect to a number of factors and a Fund’s performance may be worse and/or more volatile than if it had not used these instruments. Derivatives may involve
significant risks, including:
Counterparty/Credit Risk - the risk that the party on the other side of the
transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation to a Fund.
17
Currency Risk - the risk that changes in the exchange rate between
currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. dollar terms) of an investment.
Leverage Risk - the risk associated with certain types of investments or trading strategies that relatively small market
movements may result in large changes in the value of an investment. Certain investments or trading strategies that involve leverage can result in losses that greatly exceed
the amount originally invested.
Market Risk - the risk from potential adverse market movements in relation
to a Fund’s derivatives positions, or the risk that markets could experience a change in volatility that adversely impacts Fund returns and the Fund’s obligations and exposures.
Liquidity Risk - the risk that certain investments may be difficult or
impossible to sell at the time that the seller would like or at the price that the seller believes the security is currently worth, which could expose a Fund to losses
and could make derivatives more difficult for a Fund to value accurately, and the risk that a Fund may not be able to meet margin and payment requirements and maintain a derivatives position.
Index Risk - if the derivative is linked
to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, a Fund could receive lower interest payments or
experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below what a Fund paid. Certain indexed securities, including inverse securities (which move in an opposite direction to the index), may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index. For this reason, a Fund’s investment in these instruments may decline significantly in value if index levels move in a way that is not anticipated.
Operational and Legal Risk - the risk that certain investments may involve risk of operational issues such as documentation issues,
settlement issues, system failures, inadequate controls and human error, and the risk of insufficient capacity or authority of a derivatives counterparty and risk related to
the legality or enforceability of a derivatives trading contract.
Regulatory Risk - Government legislation
or regulation may make derivatives more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the use, value or performance of
derivatives.
Short Position Risk - A Fund may also take a short position in a derivative
instrument, such as a future, forward or swap. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument which could cause a Fund to suffer a (potentially unlimited) loss.
Tax Risk - The tax treatment of a derivative may not be as favorable as a direct investment in the underlying asset.
The use of derivatives may adversely affect the timing, character and amount of income a Fund realizes from its investments, and could impair the ability of the sub-adviser to use derivatives when it wishes to do so.
If a Fund’s derivative investments represent a significant portion of its
portfolio, the Fund’s exposure could far exceed the value of its portfolio securities and its investment performance could be primarily dependent upon securities it
does not own.
FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS RISK – A forward currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and
sell a currency at a set price on a future date. A Fund may enter into forward currency contracts in connection with settling purchases or sales of securities, to hedge the currency exposure associated with some or all of the Fund’s investments or as part of its investment strategy. The market value of a forward currency contract fluctuates with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts do not eliminate fluctuations in the value of foreign securities but allow a Fund to establish a fixed rate of exchange for a future point in time. Forward currency contracts involve the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted, which could result in losses on those contracts and additional transaction costs. Use of such contracts, therefore, can have the effect of reducing returns and minimizing opportunities for gain. A Fund could also lose money when the
contract is settled. A Fund’s gains from its positions in forward foreign currency contracts may accelerate and/or recharacterize the Fund’s income or gains and its distributions to shareholders as ordinary income. A Fund’s losses from such positions may also recharacterize the Fund’s income and its distributions to shareholders and may cause a return of capital to Fund shareholders. Such acceleration or recharacterization could affect an investor’s tax liability.
FUTURES AND OPTIONS RISK – An option is an agreement that, for a premium payment or fee, gives the
purchaser the right but not the obligation to buy or sell the underlying asset at a specified price during a period of time or on a specified date, or receive a cash settlement payment. A future is a contract that obligates the purchaser to take delivery, and the seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of an asset at a specified future date at a specified price, or make a cash settlement payment. Futures and options are subject to the risk that the sub-adviser may incorrectly predict the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors that may affect the value of the underlying asset. Futures and options may be more volatile than direct investments in the securities underlying the futures and options and may not correlate perfectly to the underlying securities. Futures and options
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also involve additional expenses as
compared to investing directly in the underlying securities, which could reduce any benefit or increase any loss to a Fund from using the strategy. Futures and options may
also involve the use of leverage as a Fund may make a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if futures or options had not been used. Futures and options transactions may be effected on securities exchanges or, in the case of certain options, in the over-the-counter market. When options are purchased over-the-counter, a Fund
bears the risk that the counterparty that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the contract. Futures and options may also be illiquid, and in such cases, a Fund may have difficulty closing out its position or valuing the contract. Options on foreign currencies are affected by the factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally. A Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on foreign currency options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market, and there can be no assurance that a liquid
secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. In addition, some commodity futures exchanges impose on each commodity futures contract traded on that exchange a maximum permissible price movement for
each trading session. If the maximum permissible price movement is achieved on any trading day, no more trades may be executed above (or below, if the price has moved downward) that limit. If a Fund wishes to execute a trade outside the daily permissible price movement, it would be prevented from doing so by exchange rules, and would have to wait for another trading session to execute its transaction. Despite the daily price limits on various futures exchanges, the price volatility of commodity futures contracts historically has been greater than that for traditional securities such as stocks and bonds.
HEDGING RISK – Hedging is a strategy in which a Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks
associated with other Fund holdings. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains or cause losses if the market moves in a manner different from that anticipated by a Fund or if the cost of the derivative outweighs the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as expected by a Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced and may be increased. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. A Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.
EMERGING MARKETS RISK – The risks of foreign investments are usually greater for emerging markets.
Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. They are more likely to experience hyperinflation and
currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets. Since these markets are often small, they may be more likely to suffer sharp and frequent price changes or long-term price depression because of adverse publicity, investor perceptions or the actions of a few large investors. Emerging market trading hours, clearance and settlement procedures, and holiday schedules may limit a Fund’s ability to buy and sell securities in emerging markets. In addition, traditional measures of investment value used in the United States, such as price to earnings ratios, may not apply to certain small markets. Also, there may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to
accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. Many emerging markets have histories of political instability and abrupt changes in policies. As a result, their governments are more likely to take actions that are hostile or detrimental to private enterprise or foreign investment than those of more developed countries, including expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments. In such an event, it is possible that a Fund could lose the entire value of its investments in the affected market. Some countries have pervasive corruption and crime that may hinder investments. Certain emerging markets may also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of war (such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas and rising tensions involving the United States, Iran and Israel), and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts. In addition, governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets, which may impair
investment and economic growth. Emerging markets may also have differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or U.S. governmental laws or
restrictions applicable to such investments. Settlements of trades in emerging markets may be subject to significant delays. The inability to make intended purchases of securities due to settlement problems could cause missed
investment opportunities. Losses could also be caused by an inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems. Sometimes, emerging markets may lack or be in the relatively early development of legal
structures governing private and foreign investments and private property, and the ability of U.S. authorities (e.g., SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice) and investors (e.g., the Funds) to bring actions against bad actors may be limited. As
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a result of these legal structures and
limitations, a Fund faces the risk of being unable to enforce its rights with respect to its investments in emerging markets, which may cause losses to the Fund. In addition
to withholding taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging markets may impose differential capital gains taxes on foreign investors.
In addition, as much of China’s growth over recent decades has been a result of significant investment in substantial export trade, international trade tensions may arise from time to time, which could result in trade tariffs, embargoes, trade limitations, trade wars and other negative consequences. These consequences may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and
possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry with a potentially severe negative impact to a Fund. In addition, it is possible that the continuation or worsening of the current political climate could result in regulatory restrictions being contemplated or imposed in the U.S. or in China that could have a material adverse effect on a Fund’s ability to invest in accordance with its investment policies and/or achieve its investment objective.
The risks outlined above are often more pronounced in “frontier markets” in which a Fund may invest. Frontier markets are those emerging markets that are considered to be among the smallest, least mature and least liquid. These factors make investing in frontier market countries significantly riskier than investing in other countries.
EQUITY RISK – Equity securities represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire
an ownership interest, in a company. Equity securities include but are not limited to common stock, depositary receipts, preferred stock, securities convertible into common or preferred stock and warrants or rights to acquire common stock, including options. The value of an equity security may be based on the real or perceived success or failure of the particular company’s business, any income paid to stockholders in the form of a dividend, the value of the company’s assets, general market conditions, or investor sentiment generally. Equity securities may have greater price volatility than other types of investments. These risks are generally magnified in the case of equity investments in distressed companies.
Initial Public Offering Risk – IPOs are initial public offerings of equity securities. Securities issued in IPOs have no
trading history, and information about the companies may only be available for very limited periods. Some of the companies involved in new industries may be regarded as developmental stage companies, without revenues or
operating income, or the near-term prospects of them. Many IPOs are by small- or micro-cap companies that are undercapitalized. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile or may decline shortly after the IPO is complete. Although investments in IPOs have the potential to produce substantial gains in a
short period of time, there is no assurance that a Fund will have access to profitable IPOs, that any particular IPO will be successful, or that any gains will be sustainable. Investors should not rely on past gains attributable to IPOs as an indication of future performance.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies Risk – Each Fund may invest in special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) or similar special purpose entities. SPACs are collective investment structures that pool funds in order to seek potential acquisition opportunities. SPACs and similar entities may be blank check companies with no
operating history or ongoing business other than to seek a potential acquisition. Because SPACs and similar entities have no operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their
securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may
increase the volatility of their securities’ prices. In addition, these securities, which are typically traded in the OTC market, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.
ESG INTEGRATION RISK
– The financially material ESG considerations that may be evaluated as part of a Fund’s investment process
are anticipated to evolve over time and one or more characteristics may not be relevant with respect to all issuers that are eligible for investment. The relevance and
weightings of specific ESG characteristics to the investment process varies across asset classes, sectors and strategies. Some examples of ESG research that may be considered include environmental topics such as how a company is managing climate change risks on its business;
social considerations such as talent attraction/retention; and governance matters such as compensation and board composition. ESG issues are one of several factors that may be considered by the portfolio manager(s) and as a result, the companies (or issuers) in which a Fund invests may not be companies (or issuers) with favorable ESG characteristics or high ESG ratings. ESG characteristics may be evaluated differently by different portfolio manager(s) and may not carry the same meaning to all investors and portfolio manager(s). While the portfolio manager(s) believe that the integration of material ESG characteristics into a Fund’s investment process has the potential to identify financial risks and contribute to a Fund’s long-term performance, there is no guarantee that the integration of ESG characteristics will result in better performance. The analysis of ESG characteristics is subjective and investors can differ in their views of what constitutes positive or negative ESG characteristics. ESG information and data, including that provided by third
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parties, may be incomplete, inaccurate, or
unavailable, which could adversely affect the analysis relevant to a particular investment. Further, the regulatory landscape with respect to ESG investing in the United
States is still developing and future rules and regulations may require a Fund to modify or alter its investment process with respect to ESG integration.
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS RISK
– An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks
as an investment in a fund that is not exchange-traded that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies as the ETF. ETF investments are also subject to the risk that the ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; the risk that, to the extent the ETF does not fully replicate the underlying index, the ETF’s investment strategy may not produce the intended results; the risk of more frequent price fluctuations due to secondary market trading, which may result in a loss to a Fund; the risk that the ETF may trade at a price that is lower than its net asset value (“NAV”); and the risk that an active market for the ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained. ETFs are also subject to specific risks depending on the nature of the ETF, such as liquidity risk, sector risk, and foreign and emerging markets risk, as well as risks associated with fixed income securities, real estate investments and commodities. An investment in an ETF presents the risk that the ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which the ETF is listed. A Fund will indirectly pay a proportional share of the asset-based fees of the ETFs in which a Fund invests. In addition, a Fund pays brokerage commissions in connection with the
purchase and sale of shares of ETFs.
EXCHANGE-TRADED NOTES RISK – Exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”) are a type of unsecured, unsubordinated debt security that have
characteristics and risks, including credit risk, similar to those of fixed-income securities, and trade on a major exchange similar to shares of ETFs. Unlike other types of
fixed income securities, however, the performance of ETNs is based upon that of a market index or other reference asset minus fees and expenses, no coupon payments are made and no principal protection exists. The value of an ETN may be affected by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying commodities or securities markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the referenced commodity or security. A Fund’s ability to sell its ETN holdings also may be limited by the availability of a secondary market and the Fund may have to sell such holdings at a discount. ETNs also are subject to counterparty credit risk, fixed-income risk and tracking error risk (where the ETN’s performance may not match or correlate to that of its market index). ETNs also incur certain expenses not incurred by their applicable index.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS RISK – Investments in foreign securities may be riskier than investments in U.S. securities and may also be less
liquid, more volatile and more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign investments may be affected by the following:
●
changes in currency exchange rates
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changes in foreign or U.S. law or restrictions applicable to such investments and in exchange control regulations
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increased volatility
●
substantially less volume on foreign stock markets and other securities
markets
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higher commissions and dealer mark-ups
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inefficiencies in certain foreign clearance and settlement procedures that could
result in an inability to execute transactions or delays in settlement
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less uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
●
less publicly available information about a foreign issuer or borrower
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less government regulation and oversight
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unfavorable foreign tax laws
●
political, social, economic or diplomatic developments in a foreign country or region
or the U.S. (including the imposition of sanctions, tariffs, or other governmental restrictions)
●
differences in individual foreign economies
●
geopolitical events (including wars, military conflicts, pandemics and epidemics) that may disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets
The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter
sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed on one or more countries in which a Fund may invest could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. These types of measures may include, but are not limited to, banning a sanctioned country from global payment systems that facilitate cross-border payments, restricting the settlement of securities transactions by certain investors, and freezing the assets of particular countries, entities, or persons. The imposition of
21
sanctions and other similar measures could,
among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the
sanctioned country, downgrades in the credit ratings of the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, devaluation of the sanctioned country’s currency, and increased market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent a Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund’s liquidity and performance.
Governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets, which may impair investment and economic growth. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region.
GROWTH INVESTING STYLE RISK – If the sub-adviser incorrectly assesses a company’s prospects for growth or how other investors will
value the company’s growth, then the price of the company’s stock may decrease, or may not increase to the level anticipated by the sub-adviser. Growth companies
are often newer or smaller companies, or established companies that may be entering a growth cycle in their business. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investors’ perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. Also, the growth investing style may over time go in and out of favor. At times when the growth investing style is out of favor, a Fund may underperform other equity funds that use different investing styles.
ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS RISK
– An illiquid investment means an investment that a Fund reasonably
expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions within seven calendar days without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment, as determined under the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. In addition, securities and other investments purchased by a Fund that are liquid at the time of purchase may
subsequently become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the securities, market events, rising interest rates, economic conditions or investor perceptions. If a Fund holds illiquid investments, it may be unable to quickly sell them or may be able to sell them only at a price below current value. If one or more of a Fund’s investments becomes illiquid, the Fund may exceed its limit on such investments. In this case, the Fund will consider appropriate steps to bring the Fund’s holdings back under the limit.
ISSUER RISK – The performance of a Fund depends on the performance of individual securities to which the Fund has exposure.
Any issuer of these securities may perform poorly, causing the value of its securities to decline. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive
pressures, changes in technology, expiration of patent protection, disruptions in supply, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures or other factors. Issuers may, in times of distress or at their own discretion, decide to reduce or eliminate dividends, which may also cause their stock prices to decline.
JAPAN RISK – The Japanese economy is heavily dependent upon international trade and may
be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability, which could negatively impact a Fund. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely during recent periods and may be affected by currency volatility elsewhere in Asia, especially Southeast Asia. In addition, the yen has had a history of unpredictable and volatile movements against the U.S. dollar. The performance of the global economy could have a major impact upon equity returns in Japan. Since the mid-2000s, Japan’s economic growth has remained relatively low. A recent economic recession was likely compounded by an unstable financial sector, low domestic consumption, and certain corporate structural weaknesses, which remain some of the major issues facing the Japanese economy. Japan’s geography also subjects it to an increased risk of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and tsunamis.
LARGE CAP SECURITIES RISK
– The securities of large market capitalization companies may underperform other segments of the market because
such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic
expansion.
LARGE SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION RISK
– Certain shareholders, including funds advised by Hartford Funds
Management Company, LLC (“HFMC” or the “Investment Manager”) or an affiliate, may from time to time own a substantial amount of a Fund’s shares. A third-party investor, HFMC or an affiliate of HFMC, an authorized participant, a lead market maker, or another entity may invest in a Fund and hold its investment for a limited period of time solely to facilitate commencement of the Fund or to facilitate the Fund’s achieving a specified size or scale. There can be no assurance that any large shareholder would not redeem its investment, that the size of the Fund would be maintained at such levels or that the Fund would continue to meet applicable listing requirements. In addition, transactions by large shareholders may account for a large percentage of the trading volume on a Fund’s listing exchange and may, therefore, have a material upward or downward effect on the market price of the Fund’s shares.
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LEVERAGE RISK – Certain transactions, including derivatives, to-be-announced investments and
other when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions, involve a form of leverage. Transactions involving leverage provide investment exposure in an amount exceeding the initial investment. Leverage can increase market exposure, magnify investment risks, and cause losses to be realized more quickly. Certain derivatives have the potential to cause unlimited losses for a Fund, regardless of the size of the initial investment. Leverage may also cause a Fund’s NAV to be more volatile than if the Fund had not been leveraged, as relatively small market movements may result in large
changes in the value of a leveraged investment. The use of leverage may cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations when it may not be advantageous to do so.
LIQUIDITY RISK – Liquidity risk exists when the markets for particular investments or types of investments are or become
relatively illiquid so that it is difficult or impossible for a Fund to sell the investment at the price at which the Fund has valued it. Illiquidity may result from
political, economic or issuer specific events; changes in a specific market’s size or structure, including the number of participants; or overall market disruptions.
Securities with reduced liquidity or that become illiquid involve greater risk than securities with more liquid markets. If a Fund and its affiliates hold a significant portion of a single issuer’s outstanding securities, the Fund may be subject to greater liquidity risk than if the issuer’s securities were more widely held.
Market quotations for illiquid or less liquid securities may be volatile and/or subject to large spreads between bid and ask prices. Reduced liquidity may have a negative impact on market price and a Fund’s ability to sell particular securities when necessary to meet the Fund’s liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event. In addition, during periods of reduced market liquidity or in the absence of readily available market quotations for particular investments in a Fund’s portfolio, it may be difficult for the Fund to value these investments and it may be necessary to fair value the investments. Illiquidity can be caused by a drop in overall market trading volume, an inability to find a willing buyer, or legal restrictions on the securities’ resale. In addition, during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries in which a Fund may invest, or all securities within a particular investment category in which the Fund may invest, may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or
political events (including periods of rapid interest rate changes), or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. There can be no assurance that a security’s fair value accurately reflects the price at which a Fund could sell that security at that time, which could affect the proceeds of any sale or the number of Fund shares you receive upon purchase.
Bond markets have consistently grown over the past three decades while the capacity for traditional dealer
counterparties to engage in fixed income trading has not kept pace and in some cases has decreased. As a result, dealer inventories of corporate bonds are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. The significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be worse during periods of economic uncertainty.
MARKET PRICE RISK – The net asset value (“NAV”) of a Fund’s shares and the value of your investment may fluctuate. The market prices of a Fund’s shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV, and changes in the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings, as well as the relative supply of and demand for the shares on the listing exchange. Although it is expected that a Fund’s shares will remain listed on an exchange, disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of market volatility or lack of an active trading market for the shares (including through a trading halt), as well as other factors, may result in the shares trading significantly above (at a premium to) or below (at a discount to) a Fund’s NAV or the intraday value of a Fund’s holdings. In addition, because liquidity in certain underlying portfolio securities may fluctuate over time, shares of a Fund may, at times, trade at a larger than normal premium or discount to NAV. In addition, to the extent certain of a Fund’s portfolio securities are trading on days or at times a Fund’s shares are not trading, bid-ask spreads and the resulting premium or discount to the NAV of a Fund’s shares may widen. During such periods, you may be unable to sell your shares or may incur significant losses if you sell your shares. There are various methods by which investors can purchase and sell shares and various types of orders that may be placed. Investors should consult their financial intermediary before purchasing or selling shares of a Fund. Neither the Investment Manager nor a Fund’s sub-adviser can predict whether a Fund’s shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for a Fund’s shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of a Fund’s portfolio holdings trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. Authorized Participants may be less willing to create or redeem Fund shares if there is a lack of an active market for such shares or a Fund’s underlying investments, which may contribute to the Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to NAV. There can be no assurance as to whether and/or to what extent a Fund’s shares will trade at premiums or discounts to NAV or to the intraday value of a Fund’s holdings.
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MARKET RISK – Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which a Fund invests will go down in value, including the
possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. Securities or other investments may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets
generally or individual issuers. The value of a security or other investment may change in value due to general market conditions that are not related to a particular
issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for revenues or corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally as well as global trade policies and political unrest or uncertainties. The value of a security or other investment may also change in value due to factors that affect an individual issuer, including data breaches and cybersecurity attacks, or a particular sector or industry. During a general downturn in the securities or other markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value
simultaneously. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that securities or other investments held by a Fund will participate in or otherwise benefit from the advance. Any market disruptions, including those arising out of geopolitical events (including wars, military conflicts, trade disputes, tariffs, economic sanctions, export controls, retaliatory measures, pandemics and epidemics) or natural/environmental disasters, could also prevent a Fund from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner. These events may adversely affect the value of a
Fund’s investments, which are particularly sensitive to these types of market risks given increased globalization and interconnectedness of markets. The adverse impact of any one or more of these events on the market value of Fund
investments could be significant and cause losses. A widespread health crisis, such as a global pandemic, could cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions or restrictions and closures of securities exchanges and businesses, impact the ability to complete redemptions, and adversely impact Fund performance. The
interconnectedness of certain markets, particularly the markets for novel or emerging products or services, and the related impacts on economies, markets and issuers, as well as the systemic risk of those markets, may not be known until a future time, making it difficult to predict the potential impact of adverse events in those markets on a Fund or a Fund’s investments.
MID-CAP SECURITIES RISK – Mid-capitalization stocks involve greater risks than stocks of larger, more
established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. These companies often have narrower markets, more limited operating or business history, and more limited
managerial or financial resources than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of a Fund’s portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks.
NEW FUND RISK – Each Fund is a new fund which may result in additional risks. There can be no assurance that a Fund will grow
to an economically viable size, in which case a Fund may cease operations. In such an event, investors may be required to liquidate or transfer their investments at an
inopportune time.
NO GUARANTEE OF ACTIVE TRADING
MARKET RISK – While Fund shares are listed on an exchange, there
can be no assurance that active trading markets for shares will be maintained by market makers or authorized participants. Decisions by market makers or authorized participants to reduce their role or “step away” from these activities in times of market stress may inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying value of a Fund’s holdings and a Fund’s NAV. Such reduced effectiveness could result in a Fund’s shares trading at a discount to its NAV and also in greater than normal intraday bid/ask spreads for a Fund’s shares.
NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK – A Fund that is non-diversified is permitted to invest a greater portion of its assets in a smaller number of
issuers than a “diversified” fund. For this reason, a Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than
a fund that invests more widely, which may result in a greater risk of loss. A Fund may also be subject to greater market fluctuation and price volatility than a more
broadly diversified fund.
OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES RISK – Investments in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs, are
generally subject to limitations prescribed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and its rules, and applicable SEC staff interpretations or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC. Such investments subject a Fund to the risks that apply to the other investment company, including market and selection risk, and may increase a Fund’s expenses to the extent a Fund pays fees, including investment advisory and administrative fees, charged by the other investment company. The success of a Fund’s investment in these securities is directly related, in part, to the ability of the other investment companies, including ETFs, to meet their investment objective.
A business development company (“BDC”), which is a type of closed-end
fund, typically invests in small and medium-sized companies. A BDC’s portfolio is subject to the risks inherent in investing in smaller companies, including that
portfolio companies may be dependent on a small number of products or services and may be more adversely affected
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by poor economic or market conditions. Some
BDCs invest substantially, or even exclusively, in one sector or industry group and therefore the BDC may be susceptible to adverse conditions and economic or regulatory
occurrences affecting the sector or industry group, which tends to increase volatility and result in higher risk. The Small Business Credit Availability Act permits BDCs to adopt a lower asset coverage ratio, thereby enhancing their ability to use leverage. Investments in BDCs that use greater leverage may be subject to heightened risks.
PREFERRED AND OTHER HYBRID SECURITIES RISK
– The prices and yields of nonconvertible preferred stocks generally
move with changes in interest rates and the issuer’s credit quality, similar to debt securities. The value of convertible preferred stocks varies in response to many factors, including, for example, the value of the underlying equity
securities, general market and economic conditions and convertible market valuations, as well as changes in interest rates, credit spreads and the credit quality of the issuer.
Preferred and other hybrid securities may be subject to greater credit risk and other
risks than more senior debt instruments. Preferred and other hybrid securities are also subject to risks related to limited or no voting rights, deferred and omitted distributions, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, regulatory or tax changes, volatility risk, and optional or mandatory redemption provisions. When debt obligations are prepaid or when securities are redeemed, a Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield. A Fund also may fail to recover additional amounts (i.e., premiums) paid for securities with higher coupons, resulting in an unexpected capital loss. Investments in preferred and other hybrid securities may also be subject to extension risk (the risk that a rise in interest rates or credit spreads will extend the life of a security to a date later than the anticipated repayment date, causing the value of the investment to decrease). Trust preferred securities are issued by a special purpose trust that holds the subordinated debt of a company and, as such, are subject to the risks associated with such debt obligation. The market for trust preferred securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities and there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of trust preferred securities and the ability of holders, such as a Fund, to sell its holdings.
PRIVATE PLACEMENT RISK
– Investments in private placements are generally considered to be illiquid. Privately placed securities may be
difficult to sell promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby cause a Fund difficulty in satisfying redemption requests. In addition, less information may be
available about companies that make private placements than about publicly offered companies and such companies may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor
protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. Privately placed securities are typically fair valued and generally have no secondary trading market; therefore, such investments may be more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. Difficulty in valuing a private placement may make it difficult to accurately determine a Fund’s exposure to private placement investments, which could cause the Fund to invest to a greater extent than permitted in illiquid investments and subject the Fund to increased risks. Private placement investments may subject the Fund to contingent liabilities in the event a private issuer is acquired by another company during the period it is held by the Fund. Private placement investments may involve a high degree of business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses. These factors may have a negative effect on a Fund’s performance.
QUANTITATIVE INVESTING RISK – The value of securities or other investments selected using quantitative analysis may perform differently from
the market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including, but not limited to, factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the
weights placed on each factor, the accuracy of historical data supplied by third parties, and changing sources of market returns. The models used may be predictive in nature and such models may result in an incorrect assessment of future events. There may also be
technical issues with the construction and implementation of quantitative models (for example, software or other technology malfunctions, or programming inaccuracies). The use of quantitative analysis to support investment
decisions may cause a Fund to underperform other funds that have similar investment strategies or that select securities or other investments using other types of analysis. In addition, considerations that affect a security’s or other investment’s value can change over time and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. There can be no assurance that quantitative investing will help a Fund to achieve its investment objective.
REAL ESTATE RELATED SECURITIES RISK
– The main risk of real estate related securities, including real
estate investment trusts (“REITs”), is that the value of the underlying real estate may go down. Many factors may affect real estate values. These factors include both the general and local economies, vacancy rates, tenant bankruptcies, the ability to re-lease space under expiring leases on attractive terms, the amount of new construction in a particular area, the laws and regulations (including zoning and tax laws) affecting real estate and the costs of owning, maintaining and improving real estate. The availability of mortgages and changes in interest rates, a decline in rents resulting from unanticipated economic, legal or technological developments or a decline in the price of securities of real estate companies due to a failure of borrowers to pay their loans or poor management may also affect real estate values. The
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real estate sector is particularly
sensitive to economic downturns. When economic growth is slow, demand for property decreases and prices may decline. If a Fund’s real estate related investments are
concentrated in one geographic area or in one property type, the Fund will be particularly subject to the risks associated with that area or property type.
Investments in REITs, which pool investor money to invest in real estate and real
estate related holdings, involve unique risks. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in limited volume and may be more volatile than other securities. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders, and may be subject to defaults by borrowers and to self-liquidations. Many issuers of real estate related securities are highly leveraged, which increases the risk to holders of such securities. REITs are also subject to additional risks, such as poor performance by the manager of the REIT, adverse changes to the tax laws, failure by the REIT to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. In addition, some REITs have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property, which may make REITs more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market
segment than more broadly diversified investments. Also, the organizational documents of a REIT may contain provisions that make changes in control of the REIT difficult and time-consuming. Because REITs are pooled investment vehicles that have expenses of their own, a Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of those expenses. REITs and other real estate related securities tend to be small- to mid-cap stocks that are subject to risks of investing in small- to mid-cap stocks.
Investments in debt securities of REITs are subject to the risks of debt securities in general and the value of the underlying real estate. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. REITs, including mortgage REITs, are also subject to interest rate risk. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investment in such loans will gradually align themselves to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.
REGIONAL/COUNTRY FOCUS RISK – To the extent that a Fund focuses its investments in a particular geographic region or country, the Fund may
be subject to increased currency, political, social, environmental, regulatory and other risks not typically associated with investing in a larger number of regions or
countries. In addition, certain foreign economies may themselves be focused in particular industries or more vulnerable to political changes than the U.S. economy, which may have a pronounced impact on the Fund’s investments. As a result, such Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments. Regional and country focus risk is heightened in emerging markets.
The following sets forth additional information regarding risks associated with investing in certain regions:
Investments in Asian
Securities – Certain Asian economies have experienced high inflation, high unemployment, currency devaluations and
restrictions, and over-extension of credit. Many Asian economies have experienced rapid growth and industrialization, and there is no assurance that this growth rate will be
maintained. Economic events in any one Asian country may have a significant economic effect on the entire Asian region, as well as on major trading partners outside Asia. Any adverse event in the Asian markets may have a significant adverse effect on some or all of the economies of the countries in which a Fund invests. Many Asian countries are subject to political risk,
including corruption and regional conflict with neighboring countries. In addition, many Asian countries are subject to social and labor risks associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions.
Investments in Central and South America – The economies of certain Central and South American countries are generally considered emerging markets and are generally characterized by high interest rates, economic volatility, inflation, currency devaluations, government defaults and high unemployment rates. Currency devaluations in any
one Latin American country can have a significant effect on the entire Latin American region. In addition, commodities (such as oil, gas and minerals) represent a significant percentage of exports for these regions and
many economies in these regions are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. A relatively small number of Latin American companies represents a large portion of Latin America’s total market and thus may be more sensitive to adverse political or economic circumstances and market movements. Adverse economic events in
one country may have a significant adverse effect on other countries in these regions.
Investments in Europe –
The Economic and Monetary Union of the EU requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls,
each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain EU countries), the default or threat of
26
default by an EU member
country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their
trading partners. The European financial markets have experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns or rising government debt levels in several European countries. These events have adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the euro. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others,
including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or
restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. Uncertainty relating to the United Kingdom’s post-departure framework and relationships from the EU may have adverse effects on asset valuations and the renegotiation of
trade agreements, as well as an increase in financial regulation in such markets. This may adversely impact Fund performance.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS RISK – A Fund may enter into certain types of repurchase agreements or purchase and
sale contracts. Under a repurchase agreement, the seller agrees to repurchase a security (typically a security issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government) at a mutually agreed upon time and price. This insulates a Fund from changes in the market value of the security during the period. A purchase and sale contract is similar to a repurchase agreement, but purchase and sale contracts provide that the purchaser receives any interest on the security paid during the period. If the seller fails to repurchase the security in either situation and the market value declines, a Fund may lose money.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES RISK – Restricted securities are securities that cannot be offered for public resale unless registered under the
applicable securities laws or that have a contractual restriction that prohibits or limits their resale. Restricted securities include private placement securities that have
not been registered under the applicable securities laws, such as Rule 144A securities, securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that are issued pursuant to Regulation S, and
securities that are offered in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”). Restricted securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market. Restricted securities may be
illiquid. A Fund may be unable to sell them on short notice or may be able to sell them only at a price below current value. Also, a Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a restricted security, so it may be less able to predict a loss. In addition, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer, a Fund may as a result be unable to sell the securities. Certain restricted securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses. Certain transactions in Section 4(a)(2) securities may qualify for the registration exemption provided in Rule 144A under the 1933 Act.
Rule 144A Securities and Regulation S Securities Risk –
“Rule 144A” securities are privately placed, restricted securities that may only be resold under certain circumstances to other qualified institutional buyers.
Rule 144A investments are subject to certain additional risks compared to publicly traded securities. If there are not enough qualified buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities when a Fund wishes to sell such securities, the
Fund may be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. For this reason, although Rule 144A securities are generally considered to be liquid, a Fund’s holdings in Rule 144A securities may
adversely affect the Fund’s overall liquidity if qualified buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Issuers of Rule 144A securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon
request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies and is not publicly available. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect a Fund’s ability to dispose of a security. Offerings of Regulation S securities may be conducted outside of the United
States. Regulation S securities are generally less liquid than registered securities, as a result, a Fund may take longer to liquidate these positions than would be the case
for publicly traded securities. Although Regulation S securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the price realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by a Fund. Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded
may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. Accordingly, Regulation S securities may involve a high degree of business and
financial risk and may result in substantial losses.
SECONDARY TRADING MARKET ISSUES – Trading in shares on a listing exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the
view of the exchange, make trading in shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in shares on an exchange is subject to the risk of trading halts caused by extraordinary
market volatility pursuant to the specific exchange’s “circuit breaker” rules. If a trading halt or unanticipated early closing of the listing exchange
occurs, a shareholder may be unable to purchase or sell shares of a Fund. There also can be no assurance that the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of a Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.
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While the creation/redemption feature is
designed to make it likely that shares normally will trade close to a Fund’s NAV, market prices are not expected to correlate exactly to a Fund’s NAV due to
timing reasons, supply and demand imbalances and other factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions, adverse developments impacting market makers, authorized participants or other market participants, high market volatility or lack of an active trading market for the shares (including through a trading halt) may result in market prices for shares of a Fund that differ significantly from its NAV or to the intra-day value of a Fund’s holdings. If an investor purchases shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV of the shares or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV of the shares, then the investor may sustain losses.
Given the nature of the relevant markets for certain of the securities held by a Fund, shares may trade at a larger premium or discount to NAV than shares of other kinds of ETFs. In addition, the securities held by a Fund may be
traded in markets that close at a different time from a Fund’s listing exchange. Liquidity in those securities may be reduced after the applicable closing times. Accordingly, during the time when the listing exchange is open but after the applicable market closing, fixing or settlement times, bid/ask spreads and the resulting premium or discount to the shares’ NAV may widen.
When you buy or sell shares of a Fund through a broker, you will likely incur a brokerage commission or other charges imposed by that broker. In addition, the market price of Fund shares, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid-ask spread” charged by the market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. The spread of a Fund’s shares varies over time based on a Fund’s trading volume and market liquidity and may increase if a Fund’s trading volume, the spread of a Fund’s underlying securities, or market liquidity decrease. In times of severe market disruption, including when trading of a Fund’s holdings may be halted, the bid-ask spread on a Fund’s shares may increase significantly. This means that Fund shares may trade at a discount to a Fund’s NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest during periods of significant market volatility.
Shares of a Fund, similar to shares of other issuers listed on a stock exchange, may be sold short and are, therefore, subject to the risk of increased volatility and price decreases associated with being sold short.
SECTOR RISK – To the extent a Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its
performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market.
Agricultural Sector Investment
Risk – The performance of a Fund in part is linked to the daily performance of the
spot price of certain agricultural commodities, including corn, soybeans, sugar and wheat. Investments in the agriculture sector may be highly volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably due to a number of factors,
including the supply of and demand of each commodity, legislative or regulatory developments relating to food safety, political, legal, financial, accounting and tax matters and other events that a Fund cannot control. In addition, increased competition caused by economic recession, labor difficulties and changing consumer tastes and spending
can affect the demand for agricultural products, and consequently the value of investments in that sector. As a result, the price of an agricultural commodity could decline, which would adversely affect an investment in a Fund if it held that commodity.
Communication Services Sector Risk – Companies in the communication services sector may be greatly affected by technological advancements and market competition, including research and development costs, substantial capital
requirements, pricing competition and government regulations. Certain communication services companies may also be susceptible to network security breaches and may be targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service. This sector may be impacted by fluctuating market demands, as
well as shifting demographics and unpredictable changes in consumer preferences.
Consumer Discretionary Sector
Risk – Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to the risks associated with adverse changes in
consumer sentiment and buying patterns, the effects of inflation, and disruptions in the supply chain that negatively impact the availability of products. Companies in this
sector may also be adversely affected by supply and demand for certain products and services, price fluctuations, product obsolescence and product liability claims, governmental regulation, exchange rates, world events, general economic conditions and other factors. In addition, certain companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements resulting from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements
and insurance costs.
Energy Sector Investment Risk – The performance of a Fund in part is linked to the daily performance of the spot price of certain
energy-related commodities, including crude oil, NY Harbor ULSD, gasoline and natural gas. The market values of such commodities are strongly affected by the supply of, and
demand for, those commodities, as well as, among other factors, capital expenditures on exploration and production, energy conservation efforts,
28
government regulation and
subsidization, world events, technological advances and general economic conditions. Therefore, energy commodities are subject to swift price fluctuations, and investments
in such commodities can be cyclical and/or highly volatile. Additionally, significant declines in the price of oil may contribute to significant market volatility, which may materially adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Financial Sector Risk
– Companies in the financial services sector are subject to extensive governmental
regulation and their profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers and financial losses associated with investment activities can negatively impact the sector. Insurance companies
may be subject to severe price competition. Adverse economic, business or political developments could adversely affect financial institutions engaged in mortgage finance or other lending or investing activities directly or indirectly connected to the value of real estate.
Health Care Sector Risk – Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. These companies may also be
subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims.
Industrials Sector Risk –
The prices of securities in the industrials sector can be volatile and can be impacted significantly by supply and demand for certain products and services, product
obsolescence and product liability claims, government regulation, exchange rates, world events, general economic conditions and other factors. In addition, certain companies in the industrials sector may be cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements
resulting from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Information Technology Sector
Risk – A Fund’s performance may be closely tied to the performance of information technology issuers and, as a
result, a Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, factors impacting this sector. The information technology sector
includes companies engaged in internet software and services, technology hardware and storage peripherals, electronic equipment instruments and components, and semiconductors and semiconductor equipment. Information technology companies face intense
competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on their profit margins. Like other technology companies, information technology
companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments, frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes
in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the information technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies.
Metals Sector Investment Risk – The performance of a Fund in part is linked to the daily performance of the spot price of certain industrial
and precious metals, including aluminum, copper, gold, silver and zinc. Investments in metals may be highly volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably due to a number
of factors, including the supply and demand of each metal, environmental or labor costs, political, legal, financial, accounting and tax matters and other events that a Fund cannot control. In addition, changes in international monetary policies or
economic and political conditions can affect the supply of metals, and consequently the value of metal investments. The United States or foreign governments may pass laws or regulations limiting metal investments for strategic or other policy reasons. Further, the principal supplies of metal industries may be concentrated in a small number of countries and regions. Consequently, the price of a metal held by a Fund could decline, which would adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Utilities Sector Risk – The prices of securities in the utilities sector can be volatile and can be impacted
significantly by supply and demand for services or fuel, financing costs, government regulation, conservation programs, commodity price fluctuations and other factors. Government regulation of utility companies may limit such
companies’ profits or the dividends they can pay to investors. In addition, utility companies may face regulatory restrictions with respect to expansion to new markets, limiting their potential.
SECURITIES LENDING RISK
– Securities lending involves the risk that a Fund may lose money because the borrower of the securities the
Fund has loaned out fails to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. A Fund could also lose money in the event of a decline in the value of the collateral
provided for loaned securities or a decline in the value of any investments made with cash collateral. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for a Fund.
Securities lending also involves exposure to certain additional risks, including operational risk (i.e., the risk of losses resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process – especially so in certain international markets), “gap” risk (i.e., the risk of a mismatch between
the return on cash collateral reinvestments and the fees a Fund has
29
agreed to pay a borrower), risk of loss of
collateral, credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. Although a Fund’s securities lending agent has agreed to provide the Fund with indemnification in the event of
a borrower default, the Fund is still exposed to the risk of losses in the event a borrower does not return the Fund’s securities as agreed and the agent fails to indemnify the Fund.
SMALL CAP SECURITIES RISK – Small capitalization stocks may be more risky than stocks of larger
capitalization companies. Historically, small capitalization stocks and stocks of recently organized companies are subject to increased price volatility due to: less certain growth prospects; lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such stocks; thin trading that could result in the stocks being sold at a discount or in small lots over an extended period of time; limited product lines, markets or financial resources; dependence on a few key management personnel; increased sensitivity to changes in interest rates, borrowing costs and earnings; difficulty in obtaining information on smaller capitalization companies as compared with larger capitalization companies; greater sensitivity to changing economic conditions and increased risk of bankruptcy due to adverse developments or management changes affecting the company; and
greater difficulty borrowing money to continue or expand operations. There generally is less publicly available information concerning small cap securities compared to what is available for securities of larger companies. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, can decrease the value and liquidity of such securities resulting in more price volatility.
When a Fund invests in smaller company stocks that might trade infrequently, investors
might seek to trade Fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of a Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.
USE AS AN UNDERLYING FUND RISK – A Fund may be an investment (an “Underlying Fund”) of one or more fund of funds. The term
“fund of funds” refers to a fund that pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in other funds. As a result, a Fund may be subject to the following
risks:
●
A Fund, as an Underlying Fund, may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as a fund of funds
periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions, to the extent they are effected on a cash basis, may cause a Fund to sell securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest in cash, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect Fund performance.
●
Such transactions could increase or decrease the frequency of capital gain
recognition by a Fund and could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions you receive from a Fund.
U.S.
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES RISK – Treasury obligations may differ in
their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Securities backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States
are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government. U.S. Government securities are also subject to default risk, which is the risk that the U.S. Treasury will be unable to meet its payment obligations. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by a Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.
VALUATION RISK – The risk that the sale price a Fund could receive for a security may differ from the Fund’s valuation
of the security, particularly for securities that trade in low volume or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair value methodology. In addition, the value of the securities in a Fund’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell the Fund’s shares. In addition, a Fund may rely on various third-party sources to calculate its net asset value. As a result, a Fund is subject to certain operational risks associated with reliance on service providers and service providers’ data sources. In particular, errors or system failures and other technological issues may adversely impact a Fund’s calculation of its net asset value, and such net asset value calculation issues may result in inaccurately calculated net asset values, delays in net asset value calculation, and/or the inability to calculate net asset value over extended periods. A Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures.
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VOLATILITY RISK – The value of a Fund’s investments may fluctuate over a relatively short period of time. These
fluctuations may cause a Fund’s net asset value per share to experience significant changes over similarly short periods of time.
WARRANTS RISK – Warrants give a Fund the right to purchase equity securities (“underlying stock”) at specific prices valid for a specific period of time. If the price of the underlying stock does not rise above the exercise price before the warrant expires, the warrant generally expires without any value and a Fund loses any amount it paid for the warrant. Thus, investments in warrants may involve substantially more risk than investments in common stock. Warrants may
trade in the same markets as their underlying stock; however, the price of the warrant does not necessarily move with the price of the underlying stock and can be more volatile than the prices of the underlying stocks. The market for warrants may be limited and it may be difficult for a Fund to sell a warrant promptly at an advantageous price.
TRANSACTIONS IN FUND SHARES BY THE
Investment Manager AND ITS AFFILIATES
HFMC and its affiliates may
purchase and sell Fund shares in secondary market transactions on behalf of their own accounts or the accounts of their advisory clients. Such investments and transactions
in Fund shares may be substantial in comparison to the investments and transactions in Fund shares by non-affiliated investors. In particular, HFMC is the investment manager to a group of asset allocation funds (each an “Asset Allocation Fund” and, collectively, the “Asset Allocation Funds”), each of which operates as a fund of funds and invests substantially all of its assets in underlying funds for which HFMC serves as the investment manager, including the Funds. The Asset Allocation Funds may currently and from time to time hold (or beneficially own) a substantial percentage of a Fund’s outstanding shares. To the extent that an Asset Allocation Fund owns more than 25% of a Fund’s shares, the Asset Allocation Fund will be deemed to hold a controlling interest in the Fund. Such controlling interest may create a conflict of interest for HFMC in managing both the Fund and the Asset Allocation Funds. To address the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from managing a Fund and other accounts, including the Asset Allocation Funds, HFMC has adopted policies and
procedures that are designed to identify and mitigate the risks associated with these potential conflicts of interests. For example, HFMC or an Asset Allocation Fund generally will vote Fund shares that it beneficially owns in the same
proportion as the votes of other non-affiliated beneficial owners of the same Fund. In addition, HFMC and its affiliates, including the Asset Allocation Funds, may from time to time be substantially, if not entirely, responsible for the trading activity in a Fund’s shares, which may be comprised of purchase or sale transactions initiated by HFMC and its affiliates. Such trading activity by a Fund’s affiliates may impact other investors seeking to purchase or sell Fund shares at the same time, which may diminish over time to the extent that the Fund increases in size and becomes more broadly
owned.
Use of Cash or Money Market Investments
Each Fund may participate in a cash sweep program whereby a Fund’s uninvested cash balance is held in a demand deposit account at the end of each day or used to purchase shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or cash management pooled investment vehicles at the end of each day. To the extent a Fund invests its uninvested cash through a sweep program, it is subject to the risks of the account or fund into which it is investing, including liquidity issues that may delay the Fund from accessing its cash.
A Fund may invest some or all of its assets in cash, high quality money market instruments (including, but not limited to U.S. government securities, bank obligations, commercial paper and repurchase agreements involving the foregoing
securities) and shares of money market funds for temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions. In addition, a Fund may invest some of its assets in these instruments to maintain liquidity, for cash management purposes, or in response to atypical circumstances such as unusually large cash inflows or redemptions. Under such conditions, a Fund may not invest in accordance with its investment objective or principal investment strategy and, as a result, there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, and may lose the benefit of market upswings.
Participation In Securities Lending Activities
Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain borrowers in U.S. and non-U.S. markets in an amount not to exceed one third (33 1/3%) of the value of its total assets.
Operational Risks Associated With
Cybersecurity
Each Fund and its service providers use internet,
technology and information systems, which may expose the Fund to potential risks linked to cybersecurity breaches of those technological or information systems.
Cybersecurity breaches, amongst other things, could allow an unauthorized party to gain access to proprietary information, customer data, or Fund assets, or cause a Fund and/or its service providers to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. For instance, cybersecurity breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Fund’s ability
31
to calculate its NAV, cause the release of
private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulator fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational
damage. Additionally, technological developments such as the use of cloud-based service providers and/or services and the integration of artificial intelligence in systems and operations create new risks, which can be difficult to assess.
About Each Fund’s Investment Objective
Each Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Funds’ Board
without approval of the shareholders of the Fund. A Fund’s prospectus will be updated prior to any change in the Fund’s investment objective. In addition, the
Trust may determine to cease operating a Fund as an “exchange-traded” fund and cause the Fund’s shares to stop trading on a securities exchange.
The Board reserves the right to convert a Fund to a master-feeder structure without shareholder approval and with advance notice to the Fund’s shareholders. Under a master-feeder structure, a Fund (i.e., feeder fund) would seek to achieve its investment objective by investing all or a portion of its investable assets in another open-end investment management company (i.e., master fund) with substantially the same investment objective, restrictions and policies, instead of investing in portfolio securities directly.
Consequences of Portfolio Trading Practices
Each Fund may have a relatively high portfolio turnover and may, at times, engage in short-term trading. To the extent that Creation Unit purchases from and redemptions by a Fund are effected in cash, frequent purchases and
redemptions may increase the rate of portfolio turnover. Such activity could produce higher brokerage expenses for a Fund and higher taxable distributions to the Fund’s shareholders and therefore could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. In addition, large movements of cash into or out of a Fund may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective or maintain a consistent level of operating expenses. Each Fund is not managed to achieve a particular tax result for shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisor for individual tax advice.
INVESTMENT POLICIES
Each Fund has a name that suggests a focus on a particular type of investment. In accordance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, which means each Fund has adopted a policy that it will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of the value of its assets net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in investments of the type suggested by its name, as set forth in the Fund’s Principal Investment Strategy section (“80% Policy”). This requirement is applied at the time a Fund invests its assets and will be tested on a quarterly basis for both new and existing investments. If, subsequent to an investment by a Fund, this requirement is no longer met, the Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this requirement. A Fund may
count its investments in other investment companies, including ETFs, that have an 80% investment policy consistent with the investment focus suggested by the Fund’s name, toward compliance with the Fund’s 80% Policy. In addition, in appropriate circumstances, synthetic investments may count toward the 80% minimum if they have economic
characteristics similar to the other investments included in the basket. Any derivatives that provide exposure to the investment focus suggested by a Fund’s name, or to one or more market risk factors associated with the investment focus suggested by the Fund’s name, will be counted (as applicable) toward compliance with the Fund’s 80% Policy. A Fund’s 80% Policy is not a “fundamental” one, which means that it may be changed without the vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares as defined in the 1940 Act. The name of a Fund may be changed at any time by a vote of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Shareholders will be given written notice at least 60 days prior to any change by a Fund of its 80% Policy covered by Rule 35d-1.
Additional Investment Strategies and Risks
Each Fund may invest in various securities and engage in various investment techniques that are not the principal focus of the Fund and, therefore, are not described in this prospectus. These securities and techniques, together with their risks, are discussed in the Funds’ SAI, which may be obtained free of charge by contacting the Funds (see back cover for address, phone number and website address).
32
Disclosure of Portfolio
Holdings
On each business day, before commencement of trading on [Cboe
BZX], each Fund will disclose on hartfordfunds.com the identities and quantities of the Fund’s portfolio holdings that will form the basis for the Fund’s
calculation of NAV at the end of the business day.
A description of each Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the
disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Funds’ SAI.
33
The Investment Manager and
Sub-Adviser
THE INVESTMENT
MANAGER
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (“HFMC” or the “Investment Manager”) is the investment manager to each Fund. The Investment Manager is an indirect subsidiary of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (“The Hartford”), a Connecticut-based financial services company. As of June 30, 2026, the Investment Manager and its wholly owned
subsidiary, Lattice Strategies LLC, had approximately $[xxx] billion in discretionary assets under management. The Investment Manager is responsible for the management of the Funds and supervises the activities of the investment sub-adviser described below. The Investment Manager is principally located at 690 Lee Road, Wayne, Pennsylvania
19087.
The investment management agreement between the Trust and HFMC, on behalf of the Funds, will terminate upon the
closing of the Transaction (as defined below) due to a proposed change of control of HFMC, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. The Hartford and Wellington Management have reached a definitive agreement under
which Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings, LLP (“WIAH”), Wellington Management’s corporate parent, will acquire Hartford Funds Management Group, Inc. (“HFMG”), the direct parent company of HFMC, and certain affiliates (including HFMC) (the “Transaction”). The change in control resulting from the Transaction will constitute an “assignment” of the existing investment management agreement between the Trust and HFMC within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Because an investment management agreement automatically terminates upon its “assignment” under the terms of the agreement and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the change in control will terminate the existing investment management agreement entered into by the Trust on behalf of the Funds and require that the Board and Fund shareholders approve a new investment management agreement for
the Funds. To address this requirement, prior to each Fund’s public offering to shareholders, the Board and the sole initial shareholder of each Fund are expected to approve both the current investment management agreement and a
new investment management agreement, with the latter to take effect upon the closing of the Transaction to replace the current investment management agreement.
Following the closing of the Transaction, HFMC will continue to serve as investment
manager to the Funds pursuant to the new investment management agreement. The investment management services to be provided by HFMC under the new investment management agreement are identical to the services provided under the existing investment
management agreement, and no changes in the contractual management fees will result from the new agreement.
“MANAGER OF MANAGERS”
STRUCTURE
The Investment Manager relies on an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the Funds under which it uses a “Manager of Managers” structure (the “Order”). The Investment Manager has responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees, to oversee the sub-adviser and recommend its hiring, termination and replacement. The Order permits the Investment Manager, on behalf of the Funds and subject to the approval of the
Board of Trustees, to hire, and to materially amend any existing or future sub-advisory agreements with sub-advisers that are not affiliated with the Investment Manager as well as sub-advisers that are indirect or direct, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Investment Manager or of another company that, indirectly or directly wholly owns the Investment Manager, in each case without obtaining approval from the Fund’s shareholders. Within 90 days after hiring any new sub-adviser, the Fund’s shareholders will receive information about any new sub-advisory relationship.
Each Fund’s sole initial shareholder is expected to approve the operation of the
Fund under any “Manager of Managers” structure, including under (i) the Order, and/or (ii) any future law, regulation, guidance or exemptive relief provided by
the SEC.
THE INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER
Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington Management”) serves as the sub-adviser to the Funds. Wellington Management performs the daily investment of the assets for the Funds. Wellington Management is a Delaware limited liability partnership with principal offices at 280 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. Wellington
Management is a professional investment counseling firm which provides investment services to investment companies, employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations, and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years. Wellington Management is
owned by the partners of Wellington Management Group LLP, a Massachusetts limited liability partnership. As of June 30, 2026, Wellington Management and its investment advisory affiliates had investment management authority
with respect to approximately $[xxx] trillion in assets.
34
Portfolio Manager
The portfolio manager for each Fund is set forth below. The individual responsibilities of the portfolio manager to the Fund include, among other things, security selection for all or a portion of the Fund, the involvement in portfolio construction, asset allocation, and/or general oversight of the portfolio management of the Fund. The Funds’ SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities in the Funds.
Thomas S. Simon, CFA, FRM, Senior Managing Director and
Portfolio Manager of Wellington Management, has served as portfolio manager for the Fund since 2026. Mr. Simon joined Wellington Management in 2009 and has been an investment professional since 2001.
MANAGEMENT FEE
Each Fund pays a monthly management fee to the Investment Manager as set forth in its investment management
agreement at an annual rate based on each Fund’s average daily net asset value set forth below. The Investment Manager, not the Fund, pays a sub-advisory fee to Wellington Management out of its management fee.
Alpha Capture International Growth ETF
| Average Daily Net Assets |
Annual Rate |
| First $[xxx] billion |
[xxx]% |
| Amount Over $[xxx] billion |
[xxx]% |
Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF
| Average Daily Net Assets |
Annual Rate |
| First $[xxx] billion |
[xxx]% |
| Amount Over $[xxx] billion |
[xxx]% |
With respect to each Fund, a discussion regarding the basis for the Board of
Trustees’ approval of the investment management agreement with the Investment Manager, as well as the investment sub-advisory agreement, will be available in the Funds’ Annual Financial Statements and Other Information filed on Form N-CSR for the period ended October 31, 2026.
ACQUIRED FUND FEES AND EXPENSES. A Fund will indirectly bear a pro rata share of fees and
expenses incurred by any investment companies, including business development companies, in which the Fund is invested. A Fund’s pro rata portion of the cumulative expenses charged by the investment companies is calculated as a percentage of the Fund’s average net assets. The pro rata portion of the cumulative expenses may be higher or lower depending on the
allocation of a Fund’s assets among the investment companies and the actual expenses of the investment companies. Business development company expenses are similar to the expenses paid by any operating company held by a Fund.
They are not direct costs paid by Fund shareholders and are not used to calculate a Fund’s net asset value. They have no impact on the costs associated with Fund operations.
35
How To Buy And Sell
Shares
BUYING AND SELLING
SHARES
Shares of a Fund may be acquired or redeemed directly with
the Fund only in Creation Units or multiples thereof, as discussed in the “Creation and Redemption of Shares” section of the Statement of Additional Information.
Once created, shares of a Fund generally trade in the secondary market in amounts less than a Creation Unit.
Shares of each Fund are listed for trading on a national securities exchange and can
be bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker-dealer at market price throughout the trading day like shares of other publicly traded companies. The price of Fund shares is based on market price, and because ETF shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (a premium) or less than NAV (a discount). However, there can be no guarantee that an active trading market will develop or be maintained, or that a Fund shares listing will continue or remain unchanged. The Trust does not impose any minimum investment amount for shares of a Fund
purchased on an exchange. Buying or selling a Fund’s shares involves certain costs that apply to all securities transactions. When buying or selling shares of a Fund through a financial intermediary, you may incur a brokerage commission or other charges determined by your financial intermediary. Due to these brokerage costs, if any, frequent trading may detract significantly from investment returns. In addition, you may also incur the cost of the spread - the difference between the bid price (the highest price at which buyers are willing to buy shares) and the ask price (the lowest price at which sellers are willing to sell shares) (the “bid-ask spread”). The commission is frequently a fixed amount and may be a significant cost for investors seeking to buy or sell small amounts of shares. The spread varies over time for shares of a Fund based on its trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally less if the Fund has more trading volume and market liquidity and more if the Fund has less trading volume and market liquidity.
The Trust’s Board of Trustees has not adopted a policy of monitoring for frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares (“frequent trading”) that appear to attempt to take advantage of potential arbitrage opportunities presented by a lag between a change in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities after the close of the primary markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities and the reflection of that change in the Fund’s NAV (“market timing”). The Trust believes such a policy is not necessary or appropriate because ETFs, such as the Funds, are intended to be attractive to arbitrageurs, as trading activity is critical to ensuring that the market price of Fund shares remains at or close to NAV. Since each Fund issues and redeems Creation Units at NAV plus applicable transaction fees, and the Fund’s shares may be purchased and sold on [Cboe BZX] at prevailing market prices, the risks of frequent trading are limited.
[Cboe BZX] is the primary listing exchange for each Fund. The
exchange is open for trading Monday through Friday and is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good
Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
A “Business Day” with respect to the Funds is each day the New York Stock
Exchange (the “Exchange”) is open. Orders from Authorized Participants to create or redeem Creation Units will only be accepted on a Business Day. On days when
the Exchange closes earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create or redeem Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. See the Statement of Additional Information for more information.
Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act limits investments by registered investment companies and companies relying on Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act in the securities of other investment companies. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Funds beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), in reliance on certain exemptions, such as Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. When a Fund serves as an underlying fund in reliance on
Rule 12d1-4, a Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies and private funds will generally be limited to 10% of a Fund’s assets, subject to certain exceptions.
Additional information about each Fund, including the Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts and median bid-ask spreads, can be found at hartfordfunds.com.
BOOK ENTRY
Shares of each Fund are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding shares of the Funds and is recognized as the owner of all shares for all purposes. Investors owning shares of a Fund are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for shares of each Fund. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a
36
registered owner of shares. Therefore, to
exercise any right as an owner of shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other
exchange-traded securities that you hold in book-entry or “street name” form.
Share Prices
The trading price of each Fund’s shares in the secondary market will generally differ from the Fund’s daily NAV per share and is affected by market forces such as supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors. The
quotations and/or valuations of certain Fund holdings may not be updated during U.S. trading hours if such holdings do not trade in the United States.
PREMIUMS AND DISCOUNTS
The daily market prices on secondary markets for shares of a Fund may differ from the Fund’s NAV. NAV is the price per share at which a Fund issues and redeems shares. See “Valuation of Shares” below. The price used to calculate market returns (“Market Price”) of a Fund generally is determined using the last trade price on the national securities exchange on which shares of the Fund are primarily listed for trading, as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. A Fund’s Market Price may be at, above or below its NAV. The NAV of a Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio holdings. The Market Price of each Fund will fluctuate in accordance with changes in its NAV, as well as market supply and demand. Premiums or discounts are the differences (expressed as a percentage) between the NAV and the
Market Price of a Fund on a given day, generally at the time the NAV is calculated. A premium is the amount that a Fund is trading above the reported NAV, expressed as a percentage of the NAV. A discount is the amount that a Fund is
trading below the reported NAV, expressed as a percentage of the NAV. A discount or premium could be significant. Information regarding the frequency of daily premiums or discounts, generally at the time the NAV is calculated, during the Fund’s most recently completed calendar year and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year (or the life of the Fund, if shorter) can be found at hartfordfunds.com.
VALUATION OF SHARES
Each Fund’s NAV per share is determined as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) (the “NYSE Close”) on each day that the Exchange is open (“Valuation Date”). If the Exchange is closed due to weather or other extraordinary circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, a Fund may treat such day as a typical business day and accept purchase and redemption orders from Authorized Participants and calculate the Fund’s NAV in accordance with applicable law. The net asset value for the shares is determined by dividing the value of a Fund’s net assets attributable to the shares by the number of shares outstanding. Information that becomes known to a Fund after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the NAV determined earlier that day.
For purposes of calculating the NAV, a Fund’s portfolio securities for which market quotations are readily available are priced at market value. A security’s market quotation is considered to be readily available only when the quotation is an unadjusted quoted price in active markets for that security that the Fund could purchase or sell as of the NYSE Close on the Valuation Date. Generally, readily available market quotations are determined based on the official close price or last reported trade price of a security on each Valuation Date. Market quotations are considered not readily available where there is an absence of current or reliable and unadjusted market-based data, including where events occur after the close of the relevant market, but prior to the NYSE Close that materially affect the values of a Fund’s portfolio holdings or assets. In addition, market prices are considered not readily available when, due to extraordinary
circumstances, the exchanges or markets on which the securities or other instruments trade, do not open for trading for the entire day and no other market prices are available.
With respect to a Fund’s portfolio securities that do not have readily available or reliable market quotations and with respect to a Fund’s portfolio assets that are not securities, the Trust’s Board of Trustees has designated the Investment Manager as its valuation designee (the “Valuation Designee”) to determine the fair valuation of such portfolio assets pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. The Valuation Designee determines the fair value of the security or other instrument under policies and procedures established by and under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (“Valuation Procedures”). The Valuation Designee has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for implementing the Valuation Procedures to the Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee will consider all available relevant factors in determining an investment’s fair value. The Valuation Designee reports fair value matters to the Audit Committee of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
Where a security does not have a readily available market quotation, the Valuation
Designee will determine in good faith the fair value of securities based on prices obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers (including evaluated prices), or independent pricing services. Pricing vendors may use evaluated or matrix
37
pricing or valuation models that utilize
certain inputs and assumptions to derive values, including transaction data, credit quality information, general market conditions, news, and other factors and assumptions.
Special valuation considerations may apply with respect to a Fund’s “odd-lot” positions. Although the Valuation Designee seeks to determine the fair value in good faith, determining fair value is subjective in nature.
The market value of the foreign securities or other instruments in which
a Fund invests may change after the closing of the foreign exchange or market but before the NYSE Close. The Fund’s NAV as of the NYSE Close may not reflect such
change in the market value of the foreign security. In addition, the value of foreign securities or other investments may change on days on which a Fund shareholder will not be able to purchase or sell shares of the Fund.
Fixed income investments (other than short-term obligations) and non-exchange traded derivatives held by a Fund are normally valued at prices supplied by independent pricing services in accordance with the Valuation Procedures. Short term investments maturing in 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost.
Exchange-traded derivatives, such as options, futures and options on futures, are valued at the last sale price determined by the exchange where such instruments principally trade as of the close of such exchange (“Exchange Close”). If a last sale price is not available, the value will be the mean of the most recently quoted bid and ask prices as of the Exchange Close. If a mean of the bid and ask prices cannot be calculated for the day, the value will be the most recently quoted bid price as of the Exchange Close. Over-the-counter derivatives are normally valued based on prices supplied by independent pricing services in accordance with the Valuation Procedures.
Investments valued in currencies other than U.S. dollars are converted to U.S. dollars using the prevailing spot currency exchange rates obtained from independent pricing services for calculation of the NAV. As a result, the NAV of a Fund’s shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of securities or other instruments traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the Exchange is closed and the market value may change on days when an investor is not able to purchase or sell shares of a Fund.
Foreign currency contracts represent agreements to exchange currencies on specific future dates at predetermined
rates. Foreign currency contracts are valued using foreign currency exchange rates and forward rates as provided by an independent pricing service on the Valuation Date.
Investments in investment companies that are not listed or traded on an exchange (“Non-Traded Funds”), if any, are valued at the respective NAV of each Non-Traded Fund on the Valuation Date. Shares of investment companies listed and traded on an exchange are valued in the same manner as any exchange-listed equity security. Such Non-Traded
Funds and listed investment companies may use fair value pricing as disclosed in their prospectuses.
38
Distribution
Arrangements
ALPS Distributors, Inc., a registered broker-dealer and
member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), serves as the principal underwriter and distributor for the Funds pursuant to a
Distribution Agreement approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Distributor will not distribute shares in an amount that is less than a Creation Unit, and it does not maintain a secondary market in the shares. The Distributor may enter into participant agreements with other qualified financial institutions (i.e., Authorized Participants) with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Trust has adopted a Distribution and Servicing Plan for shares of each Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”). The 12b-1 Plan permits compensation in connection with the distribution and marketing of Fund shares and/or the provision of certain shareholder services. The 12b-1 Plan permits each Fund to pay compensation at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. However, the Board of Trustees has determined not to authorize payment of a 12b-1 Plan fee with respect to the Fund at this time.
The 12b-1 Plan fee may only be imposed or increased when the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of shareholders to do so. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, to the extent that a fee is authorized, over time it will increase the cost of an investment in the Fund. The 12b-1 Plan fee may cost an investor more than other types of sales charges.
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES AND OTHER ENTITIES
The Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may make a variety of payments to broker-dealers and financial institutions (“Financial Intermediaries”) for access to brokerage platforms or distribution channels and/or support and/or services related to activities that are designed to make registered representatives, other professionals and individual investors more knowledgeable about the Funds or for other activities, such as participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, the support of technology platforms and/or reporting systems, all of which are intended to encourage the sale of Fund shares. The Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may also make payments to Financial Intermediaries for the provision of analytical or other data to the Investment Manager or its affiliates relating to sales of Fund shares. For these reasons, (1) if your Financial Intermediary receives greater payments with respect to a Fund than it receives with respect to other products, it may be more inclined to sell you shares of a Fund rather than another product and/or (2) if your Financial Intermediary receives greater payments with respect to a Fund, such payments may create an incentive for the Financial Intermediary to favor the Fund rather than other fund companies or investment products for which it may receive a lower payment. You may contact your
Financial Intermediary if you want additional information regarding any additional payments it receives.
39
Fund Distributions and Tax
Matters
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net
investment income and capital gains to shareholders at least once a year. Capital gains of each Fund are normally declared and paid annually. Dividends from net investment
income for the Funds are normally declared and paid annually.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust’s Board of Trustees has delegated
authority to the Funds’ Treasurer to reduce the frequency with which dividends are declared and paid and to declare and make payments of long-term capital gains as permitted or required by law or in order to avoid tax penalties. Further, each Fund reserves the right to change its dividend distribution policy at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. Dividend payments are made through DTC participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners then of record with proceeds received from a Fund.
Unless your investment is in a tax-deferred account, you may want to avoid buying
shares before a Fund pays a dividend. The reason? If you buy shares when a Fund has realized but not yet distributed taxable income or capital gains, you will pay the full price for the shares and then receive a portion of the price back in the form of a taxable dividend. To avoid buying a dividend, check a Fund’s distribution schedule before you invest. Before investing you may want to consult your tax advisor.
No dividend reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. Financial intermediaries
may make the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service available for use by beneficial owners of Fund shares for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Beneficial owners should contact their financial intermediary to determine the availability and costs of the service and the details of participation therein. Financial intermediaries may require beneficial owners to adhere to specific procedures and timetables. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and net capital gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares of a Fund purchased in the secondary market.
TAXABILITY OF DIVIDENDS
Unless your shares are held in a tax-advantaged account, dividends and distributions
you receive from a Fund, whether reinvested or taken as cash, are generally considered taxable. Distributions from a Fund’s long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you held your shares. Distributions from short-term capital gains and from ordinary income (other than certain qualified dividend income) are generally taxable as ordinary
income. A portion of dividends from ordinary income may qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations. Distributions from certain qualified dividend income generally are taxable to individuals at the same rates that apply to long-term capital gains, if certain holding period and other requirements are met. The maximum
individual rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” and long-term capital gains is currently generally either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts.
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net
investment income (including taxable distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions of Fund shares) of individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that
such person’s gross income, with certain adjustments, exceeds certain threshold amounts.
Some dividends paid in January may be taxable as if they had been paid the previous
December.
Dividends and capital gains distributed by the Fund to
tax-deferred retirement plan accounts are not taxable currently but are taxed later upon withdrawal of your investment from such accounts.
Each Fund may be subject to non-U.S. income taxes withheld at the source. Each Fund, if permitted to do so, may elect to “pass through” to its investors the amount of non-U.S. income taxes paid by the Fund provided that the Fund held the security on the dividend settlement date and for at least 15 additional days immediately before and/or thereafter, with the result that each investor with respect to shares of the Fund held for a minimum 16-day holding period at the time of deemed distribution will (i) include in gross income, even though not actually received, the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes (with such included amount potentially subject to U.S. withholding tax), and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S. taxable income, but only for investors who itemize their deductions on their personal tax returns) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal income tax) the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes. Withholding taxes on dividends on non-U.S. securities while such securities are lent out by a Fund are not eligible for non-U.S. tax credit pass through. Taxes not “passed through” for tax purposes will not be available to shareholders for foreign tax credit purposes. A non-U.S. person invested in a Fund in a year that the Fund elects to “pass through” its non-U.S. taxes may be treated as receiving additional dividend income subject to U.S. withholding tax. A non-U.S. tax credit may not exceed the investor’s U.S. federal income tax otherwise payable with respect to the investor’s non-U.S. source income. For this purpose, shareholders must treat as non-U.S. source gross income (i) their proportionate
40
shares of non-U.S. taxes paid by the Fund
and (ii) the portion of any dividend paid by the Fund that represents income derived from non-U.S. sources; the Fund’s gain from the sale of securities will generally
be treated as U.S.-source income. Certain limitations will be imposed to the extent to which the non-U.S. tax credit may be claimed. If your Fund shares are loaned pursuant to securities lending arrangements, you may lose the ability to use any non-U.S. tax credits passed through by a Fund or to treat Fund dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividends. Regarding a short sale with respect to shares of a Fund, substitute payments made to the lender of such shares may not be deductible under certain circumstances. Consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor.
TAXES ON EXCHANGE-LISTED SHARES
SALES
Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of shares is
generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year and as short-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held
for one year or less. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited. Consult your tax advisor if you sell shares held for less than six months at a loss after receiving a long-term capital gain distribution from a Fund.
TAXES ON PURCHASE AND
REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS
An Authorized Participant who
exchanges equity securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the
Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the cash component paid. A person who exchanges Creation Units for equity securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities received and the cash redemption amount. The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Persons exchanging securities should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether the wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.
Under current federal tax laws, any capital gain or loss realized upon redemption of
Creation Units is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for one year or less.
If you purchase or redeem Creation Units, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many and at what price you purchased or sold shares.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of any taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, or if at least 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable year is represented by interests in other regulated investment companies, such Fund will be eligible to file an election with the IRS that would generally enable its shareholders to benefit from any foreign tax credit or deduction available for any foreign taxes such Fund pays. Pursuant to this election (if made), a shareholder will be required to include in gross income (in addition to dividends actually received) its pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct its pro rata share of the foreign taxes in computing its taxable income or to use the amount as a foreign tax credit against its U.S. federal income tax liability (subject to certain holding period and other
requirements). The consequences of such an election are discussed in more detail in the SAI. A Fund’s investments in certain debt obligations, derivative instruments and so-called “passive foreign investment companies” may require such Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. In order to generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, such Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in its portfolio that it otherwise would have continued to hold, including when it is not advantageous to do so.
A Fund’s investments in REIT securities also may result in such Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if a Fund distributes such amounts, such distributions could constitute a return of capital to its shareholders for federal income tax purposes.
A Fund’s transactions in futures contracts, options, foreign currency contracts, swaps and other derivatives will be subject to special tax rules, the effect of which may be to accelerate income to such Fund, defer losses to such Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of such Fund’s securities, and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. A Fund’s use of these types of transactions may result in such Fund realizing more short-term capital gain and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such transactions.
41
Shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal
income tax withholding (currently, at the rate of 24%) of all taxable distributions if they fail to provide their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required
certifications, or if they have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against U.S. federal income tax liability.
IRS Regulations require reporting to the IRS and furnishing to shareholders the cost
basis information and holding period for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and sold on or after that date. Shareholders may elect from among several cost basis methods accepted by the IRS, including average cost. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting rules apply to them. Shareholders should contact their financial intermediaries with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for their accounts.
Shareholders that are non-resident aliens or foreign entities will generally be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 30% of all ordinary dividends if there is no applicable tax treaty or if they are claiming reduced withholding under a tax treaty and have not properly completed and signed the appropriate IRS Form W-8. Provided
that the appropriate IRS Form W-8 is properly completed and provided to the applicable withholding agent, long-term capital gains distributions and proceeds of sales are not subject to withholding for foreign shareholders.
Withholding of U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) is required on payments of taxable dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to
inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to enable the applicable withholding agent to determine whether withholding is
required.
Distributions from a Fund may also be subject to state, local and foreign taxes. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the particular tax consequences of an investment in a Fund.
This section summarizes some of the consequences under current Federal tax law of an investment in a Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in a Fund under all applicable tax laws.
42
Performance
Notes
INDICES:
The indices are unmanaged, and their results include reinvested dividends and/or
distributions, but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, expenses or taxes.
The MSCI EAFE Growth Index is designed to capture large and mid cap securities
exhibiting overall growth style characteristics across developed markets countries around the world, excluding the US and Canada.
The Russell 2500 Index is designed to measure the performance of the small to mid-cap
segment of the US equity universe, commonly referred to as “smid” cap. The Russell 2500 Index is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index that is designed to measure the performance of the 2,500 smallest US companies based on their market capitalization and
current index membership.
Additional Information Regarding MSCI Indices. Neither MSCI nor any other party involved in or related to compiling,
computing or creating the MSCI data makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such data (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any of such data. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, any of its affiliates or any third-party involved in or related to compiling, computing or creating the data have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages. No further distribution or dissemination of the MSCI data is permitted without MSCI’s express written consent.
43
Financial
Highlights
Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of their fiscal year end, no financial highlight information is available for the Funds.
44
For More
Information
Two documents are or will be available that offer further
information on the Funds:
Annual/Semi-Annual
Report To Shareholders
Additional information about each
Fund’s investments is available in its annual and semi-annual reports, when available, and in the Annual Financial Statements and Other Information, when available,
filed on Form N-CSR. In each Fund’s annual report you will also find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year (or the period as the case may be). The Annual Financial Statements and Other Information filed on Form N-CSR include financial statements as well as the report of the
independent registered public accounting firm.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
The SAI contains more detailed information on the Funds. A current SAI has been filed with the SEC and the SAI is incorporated by reference into (which means it is legally a part of) this prospectus.
The Funds make available this prospectus, the SAI and annual/semi-annual
reports, when available, free of charge, on the Funds’ website at
hartfordfunds.com.
To request a free copy of the current annual/semi-annual report, when available, for the Funds and/or the SAI or for shareholder inquiries or other information about the Funds, please contact the Funds at:
By
Mail:
| Hartford Funds |
(For overnight mail) |
| 690 Lee Road |
Hartford Funds |
| Wayne, PA 19087 |
690 Lee Road |
| |
Wayne, PA 19087 |
By Phone:
1-800-456-7526
On The Internet:
hartfordfunds.com
Or you may view or obtain these documents from the SEC on the
Internet or by E-Mail:
Internet: (on the EDGAR Database on the
SEC’s internet website) www.sec.gov
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Requests which are made by e-mail require the payment of a duplicating fee to the SEC in order to obtain a document.
Net Asset Value. Each Fund’s net asset value is available on a daily basis on the Funds’ website at hartfordfunds.com.
Investment Company Act SEC File Number Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust 811-23222
[ACSM]PRO-09[ ]2026 September [ ], 2026
Preliminary
Statement of Additional Information dated July 10, 2026
Subject to
Completion
The information in this statement of additional information is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This statement of additional information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
COMBINED STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FOR HARTFORD EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
FOR HARTFORD EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
This Combined Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of Hartford Alpha Capture International Growth ETF ("Alpha Capture International Growth ETF") and Hartford Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF (“Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF”) (each a "Fund", and collectively the "Funds"), each a series of Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust (the “Trust”), as described below and as may be amended, restated or supplemented from time to time. The Trust is an open-end management investment company currently consisting of [thirteen] series. This SAI relates only to the series of the Trust listed below.
HARTFORD FUNDS EXCHANGE-TRADED TRUST
| Fund |
Exchange |
Ticker |
| Hartford Alpha Capture International Growth ETF |
[Cboe BZX
Exchange, Inc.] |
ACIG |
| Hartford Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF |
[Cboe BZX
Exchange, Inc.] |
ACSM |
Each Fund operates as an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). As identified and described in more detail within the prospectus and this Combined SAI, each Fund is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.
Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, the Funds’ audited financial statements are not yet available. The Funds’ prospectus is incorporated by reference into this SAI, and this SAI has been incorporated by reference into the Funds’ prospectus. A free copy of the Funds’ Annual and Semi-Annual Reports (when available), the Annual and Semi-Annual Financial Statements and Other Information (when available), and the Funds’ prospectus (upon commencement of operations) will be available on the Funds’ website at hartfordfunds.com, and upon request by writing to: Hartford Funds, 690 Lee Road, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087 or by calling 1-800-456-7526.
Date of Prospectus: September [xx], 2026, as may be amended, restated or supplemented from time to time
Date of Statement of Additional Information: September [xx], 2026
Table of Contents
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General Information
This SAI relates to the Funds listed on the front cover page.
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust established under a Certificate of Trust dated September 20, 2010. The Trust operates pursuant to an Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated December 8, 2016. Each Fund operates as an exchange-traded fund and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The offering of the Trust’s shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).
Each Fund offers and issues shares at its net asset value per share (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (“Creation Units”), generally in exchange for a basket of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) together with a deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). Alternatively, each Fund may issue and redeem Creation Units in exchange for a specified all-cash payment. Shares are redeemable by a Fund only in Creation Units, and, generally, in exchange for securities and/or cash. Shares trade in the secondary market and elsewhere at market prices that may be at, above or below NAV. Creation Units typically are comprised of a specified number of shares.
Each Fund may charge creation/redemption transaction fees for each creation and redemption. In all cases, redemption transaction fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities (currently, no more than 2% of the value of the shares redeemed). See the “Creation and Redemption of Shares” section below.
The Funds are not index funds. Each Fund is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. Each Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means that it may invest its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (“HFMC” or the
“Investment Manager”) is the investment manager to the Funds. HFMC is an indirect subsidiary of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (“The Hartford”),
a Connecticut-based financial services company. The Hartford may be deemed to control HFMC through the indirect ownership of such entity. In addition, Wellington Management
Company LLP (“Wellington Management” or the "sub-adviser") is the sub-adviser to the Funds and performs the daily investment of the assets for each Fund. ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ALPS” or the “Distributor”) is the principal underwriter to the Funds.
HFMC also serves as the investment manager to the series of The
Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc., the series of The Hartford Mutual Funds II, Inc., the series of Hartford Series Fund, Inc., and Hartford Schroders Private Opportunities
Fund.
Investments in the Funds are not:
●
Deposits or obligations of any bank;
●
Guaranteed or endorsed by any bank; or
●
Federally insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the
Federal Reserve Board or any other federal agency.
The prospectus and SAI do not purport to create any contractual
obligations between the Trust or any Fund and its shareholders. Further, shareholders are not intended third-party beneficiaries of any contracts entered into by (or on
behalf of) the Funds, including contracts with the Investment Manager or other parties who provide services to the Funds.
Exchange Listing and Trading
A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in a Fund is contained in the “Summary Information About the Exchange-Traded Funds” and “How To Buy And Sell Shares” sections of the prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, such sections of the prospectus. Shares of each Fund are listed and trade throughout the day on [Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Cboe BZX”)]. Shares of a Fund may also trade on other secondary markets. Shares of a Fund may also be listed on certain foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the [Cboe BZX] necessary to maintain the listing of shares of a Fund will be met on a continuing basis. The listing exchange may, but is not required to, remove the shares of a Fund from listing if: (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of Fund shares, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of shares of the Fund; (ii) the exchange becomes aware that the Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act to the extent the Fund’s listing is conditioned upon reliance on Rule 6c-11; (iii) the Fund no longer complies with the applicable rules for continued listing on the exchange; or (iv) any other event shall occur or condition shall exist that, in the opinion of the applicable exchange, makes further dealings on that exchange inadvisable. The [Cboe BZX] will delist the shares of a Fund upon termination of the Fund. In the event a Fund ceases to be listed on an exchange, the Fund may cease operating as an “exchange-traded” fund and operate as a mutual fund, provided that shareholders are given advance notice.
As in the case of other publicly traded securities, when you buy or sell shares through a financial intermediary you will incur a brokerage commission determined by that financial intermediary.
3
The Trust reserves the
right to adjust the share prices of a Fund in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or
reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of a Fund.
Investment Objectives and Policies
The investment objective and principal investment strategies of
each Fund are described in the Fund's prospectus. Additional information concerning certain of each Fund’s investments, strategies and risks is set forth below.
A.
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS OF THE FUNDS
Each Fund
has adopted the fundamental investment restrictions set forth below. Fundamental investment restrictions may not be changed without the approval of a majority
of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities as defined in the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act and as used in the prospectus and this SAI, a “majority
of the outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of (1) the holders of 67% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund represented at a meeting if
the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (2) the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund.
Unless otherwise provided below, all references below to the
assets of each Fund are in terms of current market value.
Each Fund:
1. will not borrow money or issue any class of senior securities, except to the extent consistent with the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or as may otherwise be permitted from time to time by regulatory authority;
2. will not concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder as such may be interpreted or modified from time to time by regulatory authorities having appropriate jurisdiction;
3. will not make loans, except to the extent consistent with the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or as may otherwise be permitted from time to time by regulatory authority;
4. will not act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers,
except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under applicable laws;
5. will not purchase or sell real estate, except to the extent
permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such may be interpreted or modified from time to time by regulatory authorities having appropriate
jurisdiction; and
6. will not invest in
physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as
such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time and as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus and SAI.
B.
NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS OF THE FUNDS
The
following restrictions are non-fundamental restrictions and may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) without shareholder
approval.
Each Fund may not:
1. Pledge its assets other than to secure permitted borrowings or
to secure investments permitted by the Fund’s investment policies as set forth in its prospectus and this SAI, as they may be amended from time to time, and applicable
law.
2. Purchase securities on margin except to
the extent permitted by applicable law.
3.
Purchase securities while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets, except where the borrowing is for temporary or emergency purposes. Reverse
repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, securities lending, borrowing securities in connection with short sales (where permitted in the Fund’s prospectus and SAI), and
other investments or transactions described in the Fund’s prospectus and this SAI, as they may be amended from time to time, are not deemed to be borrowings for
purposes of this restriction.
4. Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except to the extent permitted by the Fund’s prospectus and SAI, as amended from time to time, and applicable law.
5. Invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments as determined pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act and the Fund's procedures adopted thereunder.
C.
NON-FUNDAMENTAL TAX RESTRICTIONS OF THE FUNDS
Each Fund
must:
1. Maintain its assets so that, at the
close of each quarter of its taxable year,
4
(a)
at least 50% of the fair market value of its total assets is comprised of cash, cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated
investment companies and other securities (including bank loans), limited in respect of any one issuer to no more than 5% of the fair market value of the
Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and
(b) no more than 25% of the fair market value of
its total assets is invested in the securities (including bank loans) of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other
regulated investment companies), or of two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or of
one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
These tax-related limitations are subject to cure provisions under applicable tax laws and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval to the extent appropriate in light of changes to applicable tax law requirements.
D.
CLASSIFICATION
Each Fund has elected to be classified as a
non-diversified series of an open-end management investment company, which means that the Fund is not required to comply with the diversification rules of the 1940 Act,
although the Fund must meet the tax-related diversification requirements set forth in Section C above. The Fund may change its classification status from
non-diversified to diversified without the prior approval of shareholders.
E.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The information below is not considered to be part of each Fund’s fundamental policies and is provided for informational
purposes only.
Except with respect to the asset coverage requirements included in the limitation on borrowing set forth in Section A.1 above, if the percentage restrictions on investments described in this SAI and the prospectus are adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in such percentage resulting from a change in the values of securities or loans, a change in a Fund’s net assets or a change in security characteristics is not a violation of any of such restrictions.
With respect to investment restriction A.2,
the 1940 Act does not define what constitutes “concentration” in an industry. However, the SEC has taken the position that an investment in excess of 25% of a
Fund’s total assets in one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry generally constitutes concentration. The Funds do not
apply this restriction to municipal securities, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or other investment companies. For purposes of this restriction, each foreign government is considered to be a separate industry. Currency positions are not considered to be an investment in a foreign government for industry concentration purposes. To the extent an underlying investment company has adopted an 80% policy that indicates investment in a particular industry, a Fund will take such policy into consideration for purposes of the Fund’s industry concentration policy.
With respect to investment restriction A.5, the 1940 Act does not directly restrict a Fund’s ability to invest in real estate,
but does require that every fund have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. A Fund may acquire real estate as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments and a Fund may invest in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business or real estate investment trusts. Each Fund is limited in the amount of illiquid assets it may purchase, and to the extent that investments in real estate are considered illiquid, Rule 22e-4 generally limits the Fund’s purchases of illiquid investments to 15% of its net assets.
With respect to investment restriction A.6, although the 1940 Act does not directly limit a Fund’s ability to invest in
physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities, a Fund’s investments in physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities may be limited by a Fund’s intention to qualify as a registered investment company, as at least 90% of its gross income must come from certain qualifying sources of income, and income from physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities does not constitute qualifying income for this purpose. In addition, to the extent that any physical commodity or contracts relating to a physical commodity is considered to be an illiquid investment, Rule 22e-4 generally limits the Fund’s purchases of illiquid investments to 15% of its net assets. Other restrictions that could also limit a Fund’s investment in physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities include where that investment implicates a Fund’s diversification, concentration, or securities-related issuer policies, and where the Fund would need to take certain steps as set forth in its policies to avoid being considered to issue any class of senior securities.
F.
CERTAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, RISKS AND CONSIDERATIONS
The investment objective and principal investment strategies for each Fund are discussed in the Fund's prospectus. Set forth below are further descriptions of certain types of investments and investment strategies used by the Funds. Please see the Fund's prospectus and the “Investment Objectives and Policies” section of this SAI for further information on a Fund’s investment policies and risks.
5
Certain descriptions
in the Fund's prospectus and this SAI of a particular investment practice or technique in which a Fund may engage or a financial instrument that the Fund may purchase are
meant to describe the spectrum of investments that the Fund’s sub-adviser, in its discretion, might, but is not required to, use in managing the Fund’s portfolio
assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. The sub-adviser in its discretion may employ any such practice, technique or instrument for one or more of the Funds, but may not for all of the Funds, for which it serves as the investment manager or sub-adviser, as applicable. It is possible that certain types of financial instruments or techniques may not be available, permissible or effective for their intended purposes in all markets.
Investments in a new Fund with limited operating history give rise to additional risks because there can be no assurance that the new Fund will grow to or be able to maintain an economically viable size. To the extent a Fund fails to grow to and maintain an economically viable size, the Board may decide to liquidate the Fund or reorganize the Fund into another Fund. While shareholder interests will be the paramount consideration, the timing of any liquidation or reorganization may not be favorable to certain individual shareholders.
As a result of amendments to rules under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), HFMC must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to a Fund’s use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) with respect to the Fund and be required to operate the Fund in compliance with certain disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. Under CFTC Regulation 4.5, the investment adviser of a registered investment company may claim an exclusion from the definition of CPO with respect to the operation of the registered investment company only if the registered investment company that it advises uses futures contracts, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps solely for “bona fide hedging purposes,” or limits its use of such instruments for non-bona fide hedging purposes to certain de minimis amounts.
Under CFTC Regulation 4.12(c)(3), a registered CPO may claim substituted compliance relief from certain disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements with respect to the operation of a commodity pool that is a registered investment company, subject to certain conditions.
HFMC has elected to claim the CFTC Regulation 4.5 exclusion from
the definition of CPO with respect to the operation of the Fund. As a result, the Fund will not purchase commodity futures, commodity options contracts, or swaps if,
immediately after and as a result of such purchase, (i) the Fund’s aggregate initial margin and premiums posted for its non-bona fide hedging trading in these instruments exceeds 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and losses and excluding the in-the-money amount of an option at the time of purchase) or (ii) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s positions in such instruments not used solely for bona fide hedging purposes exceeds 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and losses).
HFMC may choose to change its election with respect to the
operation of each Fund at any time. If the Fund operates subject to CFTC regulation, it may incur additional expenses.
Investment Risks
The table and discussion set forth below provide descriptions of
some of the types of investments and investment strategies that the Funds may use, and the risks and considerations associated with those investments and investment
strategies. Please see the Funds' prospectus and the “Investment Objectives and Policies” section of this SAI for further information on each Fund’s
investment policies and risks. Information contained in this section about the risks and considerations associated with a Fund’s investments and/or investment strategies applies only to the Funds.
A Fund may engage in any of the investment strategies or purchase
any of the investments described below directly, through its investment in one or more other investment companies, or through hybrid instruments, structured investments, or
other derivatives.
| |
Alpha Capture
International
Growth ETF |
Alpha Capture
SMID Cap ETF |
| Active Investment Management Risk |
X |
X |
| Active Trading Risk |
X |
X |
| Asset-Backed Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) Risk |
X |
X |
| Asset Coverage Risk |
X |
X |
| Authorized Participant Concentration Risk |
X |
X |
| Bond Forwards Risk |
X |
X |
| Borrowing Risk |
X |
X |
| Call Risk |
X |
X |
| Cash Transactions Risk |
X |
X |
| Commodities Regulatory Risk |
X |
X |
| Convertible Securities Risk |
X |
X |
6
| |
Alpha Capture
International
Growth ETF |
Alpha Capture
SMID Cap ETF |
| Contingent Convertibles Risk |
X |
X |
| Synthetic Convertibles Risk |
X |
X |
| Counterparty Risk |
X |
X |
| Credit Risk |
X |
X |
| Currency Risk |
X |
X |
| Cybersecurity Risk |
X |
X |
| Depositary Receipts Risk |
X |
X |
| Derivatives Risk |
X |
X |
| Commodity Futures Risk |
X |
X |
| Special Risks of Commodity Futures Contracts |
X |
X |
| Position Limits |
X |
X |
| Hedging Risk |
X |
X |
| Options Contracts Risk |
X |
X |
| Equity Linked Notes Risk |
X |
X |
| Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts
Risk |
X |
X |
| Swap Agreements and Swaptions Risk |
X |
X |
| Inflation-Linked Instruments Risk |
X |
X |
| Hybrid Instruments Risk |
X |
X |
| Credit-Linked Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Indexed Securities and Structured Notes Risk |
X |
X |
| Event-Linked Bonds Risk |
X |
X |
| Foreign Currency Transactions Risk |
X |
X |
| P-Notes and Non-Standard Warrants Risk |
X |
X |
| Risk Factors in Derivative Instruments |
X |
X |
| Regulatory Aspects of Derivatives and Hedging
Instruments |
X |
X |
| Additional Risk Factors and Considerations of OTC
Transactions |
X |
X |
| Dividend Risk |
X |
X |
| Dollar Rolls Risk |
X |
X |
| Emerging Markets Risk |
|
X |
| Equity Risk |
X |
X |
| Special Purpose Acquisition Companies Risk |
X |
X |
| ESG Integration Risk |
X |
X |
| Event Risk |
X |
X |
| Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Risk |
X |
X |
| Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs) Risk |
X |
X |
| Fixed Income Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Foreign Investments Risk |
X |
X |
| Currency Risk and Exchange Risk |
X |
X |
| Principal Exchange Rate Linked Securities Risk
|
X |
X |
| Performance Indexed Paper Risk |
X |
X |
| Settlement Risk |
X |
X |
| Investments in Central and South America |
X |
X |
| Investments in Europe |
X |
X |
| Investments in Asia |
X |
X |
| Investments in China |
X |
X |
| Investments in Japan |
X |
X |
| Government Intervention in Financial Markets Risk |
X |
X |
| Growth Investing Style Risk |
X |
|
| Illiquid Investments Risk |
X |
X |
| Inflation Protected Debt Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Inflation Risk |
X |
X |
| Initial Public Offerings (“IPO”) Risk |
X |
X |
| Interfund Lending Program Risk |
X |
X |
| Investment Grade Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Investments in Emerging Market Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Sukuk Risk |
X |
X |
| Issuer Risk |
X |
X |
| Japan Risk |
|
X |
| Large Cap Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Large Shareholder Transaction Risk |
X |
X |
| Leverage Risk |
X |
X |
| Liquidation of Funds Risk |
X |
X |
| Liquidity Risk |
X |
X |
| Market Price Risk |
X |
X |
| Market Risk |
X |
X |
| Mid-Cap Securities Risk |
X |
X |
7
| |
Alpha Capture
International
Growth ETF |
Alpha Capture
SMID Cap ETF |
| Money Market Instruments and Temporary Investment Strategies |
X |
X |
| Mortgage-Related Securities Risk |
X |
|
| New Fund Risk |
X |
X |
| No Guarantee of Active Trading Market Risk |
X |
X |
| Non-Diversification Risk |
X |
X |
| Operational Risks |
X |
X |
| Other Capital Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Other Investment Companies Risk |
X |
X |
| Preferred Stock Risk |
X |
X |
| Private Placement Risk |
X |
X |
| Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs) Risk
|
X |
X |
| Quantitative Investing Risk |
X |
X |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) Risk |
X |
X |
| Real Estate Related Securities Risks |
X |
X |
| Regional/Country Focus Risk |
X |
X |
| Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk |
X |
X |
| Restricted Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Risks of Qualified Financial Contracts |
X |
X |
| Secondary Trading Market Issues |
X |
X |
| Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Agricultural Sector Investment Risk |
X |
X |
| Communication Services Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Energy Sector Investment Risk |
X |
X |
| Financial Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Health Care Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Industrials Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Information Technology Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Metals Sector Investment Risk |
X |
X |
| Utilities Sector Risk |
X |
X |
| Securities Lending Risk |
X |
X |
| Securities Trusts Risk |
X |
X |
| Small Capitalization Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Sovereign Debt Risk |
X |
X |
| Structured Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Use as an Underlying Fund Risk |
X |
X |
| U.S. Government Securities Risk |
X |
X |
| Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities |
X |
X |
| Valuation Risk |
X |
X |
| Volatility Risk |
X |
X |
| Warrants and Rights Risk |
X |
X |
| Zero Coupon Securities Risk |
X |
X |
ACTIVE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT RISK. The risk that, if a
portfolio manager’s investment decisions and strategy do not perform as expected, a Fund could underperform its peers or lose money. A Fund’s performance depends
on the portfolio managers' judgment about a variety of factors, such as markets, interest rates and/or the attractiveness, relative value, liquidity, or potential appreciation of particular investments made for the Fund’s portfolio. The portfolio managers' investment models may not adequately take into account certain factors, may perform differently than anticipated and may result in a Fund having a lower return than if the portfolio managers used another model or investment strategy. In addition, to the extent a Fund allocates a portion of its assets to specialist portfolio managers, the styles employed by the different portfolio managers may not be complementary, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
ACTIVE TRADING RISK. Active or frequent trading of a Fund’s portfolio securities could increase a Fund’s transaction costs and may increase an investor’s tax liability as compared to a fund with less active trading policies. These effects may adversely affect Fund performance.
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
RISK. Asset-backed securities are securities backed by a pool of some underlying asset, including
but not limited to home equity loans, installment sale contracts, credit card receivables or other assets. Asset-backed securities are “pass-through” securities,
meaning that principal and interest payments — net of expenses — made by the borrower on
the underlying assets (such as credit card receivables) are passed through to a Fund. The value of asset-backed securities, like that of traditional fixed income securities, typically increases when interest rates fall and decreases when interest rates rise. However, asset-backed securities differ from traditional fixed income securities because of their potential for prepayment. The price paid by
8
a Fund for its
asset-backed securities, the yield the Fund expects to receive from such securities and the average life of the securities are based on a number of factors,
including the anticipated rate of prepayment of the underlying assets. In a period of declining interest rates, borrowers may prepay the underlying assets
more quickly than anticipated, thereby reducing the yield to maturity and the average life of the asset-backed securities. Moreover, when a Fund reinvests the
proceeds of a prepayment in these circumstances, it will likely receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the security that was prepaid. To
the extent that a Fund purchases asset-backed securities at a premium, prepayments may result in a loss to the extent of the premium paid. If a Fund buys such securities at a discount, both scheduled payments and unscheduled prepayments will increase current and total returns and unscheduled prepayments will also accelerate the recognition of income which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. In a period of rising interest rates, prepayments of the underlying assets may occur at a slower than expected rate, creating maturity extension risk. This particular risk may effectively change a security that was considered short- or intermediate-term at the time of purchase into a longer term security. Since the value of longer-term securities generally fluctuates more widely in response to changes in interest rates than does the value of shorter term securities, maturity extension risk could increase the volatility of the Fund. When interest rates decline, the value of an asset-backed security with prepayment features may not increase as much as that of other fixed-income securities, and, as noted above, changes in market rates of interest may accelerate or retard prepayments and thus affect maturities.
Asset-backed securities do not always have the benefit of a security interest in the underlying asset. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured, and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set off amounts owed. The ability of an issuer of asset-backed securities to enforce its security interest in the underlying securities may be limited, and recoveries on repossessed collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support payments on these securities. If the Funds purchase asset-backed securities that are “subordinated” to other interests in the same asset-backed pool, a Fund as a holder of those securities may only receive payments after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. Tax-exempt structured securities, such as tobacco bonds, are not considered asset-backed securities for purposes of each Fund’s investments.
Collateralized Debt
Obligations (CDOs) Risk. A Fund may invest in collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. CBOs and CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust that is typically backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. The collateral can be from many different types of fixed income securities such as high yield debt, residential privately issued mortgage-related securities, commercial privately issued mortgage-related securities, trust preferred securities and emerging market debt. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Other CDOs are trusts backed by other types of assets representing obligations of various parties. CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses.
For CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since they are partially protected from defaults, senior tranches from a CBO trust, CLO trust or trust of another CDO typically have higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO, CLO or other CDO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CBO, CLO or other CDO securities as a class.
The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type of collateral held by the special purpose entity (SPE) and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. Investment risk may also be affected by the performance of a CDO’s collateral manager (the entity responsible for selecting and managing the pool of collateral securities held by the SPE trust), especially during a period of market volatility. CDOs may be deemed to be illiquid investments and subject to Rule 22e-4’s restrictions on investments in illiquid investments. However, an active dealer market may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO to qualify for Rule 144A transactions. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. The Fund’s investment in CDOs will not receive the same investor protection as an investment in registered securities. In addition, prices of CDO tranches can decline considerably. In addition to the normal risks associated with debt securities and asset backed securities (e.g., interest rate risk, credit risk and default risk), CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or quality or go into default or be downgraded; (iii) a Fund may invest in tranches of a CDO that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer, difficulty in valuing the security or unexpected investment results.
9
Newly issued CLOs
purchased in the primary market typically experience delayed or extended settlement periods. In the period following such a purchase and prior to settlement these CLOs may
be considered less liquid than similar CLOs available in the secondary market. In such circumstances, a Fund bears a risk of loss if the value of the CLO declines before the
settlement date or if a Fund is required to sell the CLO prior to settlement. There is also the risk that the security will not be issued or that the counterparty will not meet its obligation, resulting in a loss of the investment opportunity.
ASSET COVERAGE RISK.
To the extent required by the 1940 Act and current SEC regulations, if a Fund engages in transactions that are borrowings or expose a Fund to certain obligations to another
party and a Fund elects to treat those obligations as borrowings, a Fund will maintain assets with a value sufficient at all times to meet the asset coverage ratio required
by the 1940 Act and other applicable rules and regulations. The need to maintain this level of assets could impede portfolio management or a Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. Each Fund reserves the right to modify its asset coverage policies in the future to comply with any changes in the SEC’s positions regarding asset coverage. See "Derivatives Regulatory Matters" herein.
AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT CONCENTRATION RISK. Only an
authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with a Fund. Each Fund has a limited number of intermediaries that act as authorized
participants, and none of these authorized participants are or will be obligated to engage in creation or redemption transactions. To the extent that these
intermediaries exit the business or are unable to or choose not to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders with respect to a Fund and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, Fund shares may trade at a premium or discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting.
BOND FORWARDS RISK. A bond forward is a contractual
agreement between a Fund and another party to buy or sell an underlying asset at an agreed-upon future price and date. When a Fund enters into a bond forward, it will also
simultaneously enter into a reverse repurchase agreement. In a bond forward transaction, no cash premium is paid when the parties enter into the bond forward. If the transaction is collateralized, an exchange of margin collateral will take place according to an agreed-upon schedule. Otherwise, no asset of any kind changes hands until the bond forward matures (typically in 30 days) or is rolled over for another agreed-upon period. Generally, the value of the bond forward will change based on changes in the value of the underlying asset. Bond forwards are subject to market risk (the risk that the market value of the underlying bond may change), non-correlation risk (the risk that the market value of the bond forward might move independently of the market value of the underlying bond) and counterparty credit risk (the risk that a counterparty will be unable to meet its obligation under the contract). If there is no cash exchanged at the time a Fund enters into the bond forward, counterparty risk may be limited to the loss of any marked-to-market profit on the contract and any delays or limitations on the Fund’s ability to sell or otherwise use the investments used as collateral for the bond forward. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by a Fund with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements carry the risk that the market value of the securities that a Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price. A Fund could also lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Fund is less than the value of securities. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may increase the possibility of fluctuation in a Fund’s net asset value.
BORROWING RISK. Each Fund may borrow money to the extent set forth under “Investment Objectives and Policies.” The
Funds do not intend to borrow for leverage purposes, except as may be set forth under “Investment Objectives and Policies.” Interest paid on borrowings will decrease the net earnings of a Fund and will not be available for investment.
The Fund is expected to participate in a 364-day committed line of credit pursuant to a credit agreement and may borrow under the line of credit for temporary or emergency purposes.
CALL RISK. Call risk is the risk that an issuer,
especially during periods of falling interest rates, may redeem a security by repaying it early. Issuers may call outstanding securities prior to their maturity due to a
decline in interest rates, a change in credit spreads or changes to or improvements in the issuer’s credit quality. If an issuer calls a security in which a Fund has
invested, the Fund may not recoup the full amount of its initial investment and may be forced to reinvest the money it receives in lower-yielding securities, securities with greater credit risks or securities with other, less favorable features. This could potentially lower the Fund’s income, yield and its distributions to shareholders.
CASH TRANSACTIONS RISK. A Fund may effect creations and
redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than through in-kind distributions of securities. As a result, an investment in a Fund may be less tax-efficient than an
investment in an ETF that primarily or wholly effects creations and redemptions in-kind. ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and thereby avoid being taxed on gain on the distributed portfolio securities at the Fund level. Because each Fund may effect redemptions partly or wholly for cash, rather than in-kind, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds, which involves transaction costs. If a Fund realizes a gain on these sales, the Fund generally will be required to recognize a gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. Each Fund generally distributes these gains to shareholders to avoid capital gains taxes at the Fund level and the need to otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to such gains. This strategy may cause shareholders to be required to pay a tax on gains they would not otherwise have to pay or to pay such tax at an earlier date than would be the case if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several
10
days if the securities
markets are relatively illiquid at the time the Fund must sell securities and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and
taxes, which will be higher than if a Fund sold and redeemed its shares principally in-kind, will be passed on to purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units
in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. As a result of these factors, the spreads between the bid and the offered prices of a Fund’s
shares may be wider than for shares of ETFs that transact primarily in-kind.
COMMODITIES
REGULATORY RISK. Commodity-related companies are subject to significant federal, state and local government regulation in virtually every aspect of their operations, including how facilities are constructed, maintained and operated, environmental and safety controls, and the prices they may charge for the products and services they provide. In addition, certain derivatives (for example, interest rate swaps) are considered to be commodity interests for regulatory purposes. The CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the retroactive implementation of speculative position limits or higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily limits and the suspension of trading. Any of these actions, if taken, could adversely affect the returns of a Fund by limiting or precluding investment decisions the Fund might otherwise make. Periodically, the CFTC and exchanges change the position limits to which futures, options on futures and some swaps are subject. To the extent these contracts are traded, the Fund may be constrained by how many contracts it may trade. The CFTC has also modified the bona fide hedging exemption for which certain swap dealers have historically been eligible, which could limit the amount of speculative OTC transaction capacity each such swap dealer would have available for an applicable Fund prior to the applicable compliance date. In addition, various national governments have expressed concern regarding the derivatives markets and the need to regulate such markets. Stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies, with respect to the derivatives market, could be enacted in the future which would likely increase compliance costs and may adversely affect the operations and financial performance of commodity-related companies. The effect of any future regulatory change on a Fund is impossible to predict, but could be substantial and adverse to the Fund. Also, future regulatory developments may impact a Fund’s ability to invest in commodity-linked derivatives. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has currently suspended the issuance of private letter rulings relating to the tax treatment of income and gain generated by investments in commodity-linked notes and income generated by investments in controlled foreign corporations that invest in commodity-linked derivative instruments.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
RISK. The market value of a convertible security typically performs like that of a regular debt
security; this means that if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. Convertible securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risk that apply to the underlying common stock. A convertible security tends to perform more like a stock when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security’s value resides in the option to convert) and more like a debt security when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the option to convert is less valuable).
Contingent Convertibles Risk. Contingent convertible
securities (also known as contingent capital securities or CoCos) (“CoCos”) are a form of hybrid debt security that are intended to either convert into equity or
have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain “triggers.” The triggers are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory
actions calling into question the issuing banking institution’s continued viability as a going-concern. CoCos’ unique equity conversion or principal write-down
features are tailored to the issuing banking institution and its regulatory requirements. Some additional risks associated with CoCos include, but are not limited to:
Loss absorption risk – CoCos have no stated maturity and have fully discretionary coupons. This means coupons can potentially be cancelled at the banking institution’s discretion or at the request of the relevant regulatory authority in order to help the bank absorb losses.
Subordinated
instruments – CoCos will, in the majority of circumstances, be issued in the form of subordinated debt
instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital treatment prior to a conversion. Accordingly, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a conversion having occurred, the rights and claims of the holders of the CoCos, such as a Fund, against the issuer in respect of or arising under the terms of the CoCos shall generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. In addition, if the CoCos are converted into the issuer’s underlying equity securities following a conversion event (i.e., a “trigger”), each holder will be subordinated due to their conversion from being the holder of a debt instrument to being the holder of an equity instrument. In certain circumstances, the principal of CoCos may be written down to zero even when the underlying equity may retain value.
Market value will
fluctuate based on unpredictable factors – The value of CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many factors including,
without limitation: (i) the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in such issuer’s applicable capital ratios; (ii) supply and demand for
the CoCos; (iii) general market conditions and available liquidity; and (iv) economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, its particular market or the
financial markets in general.
11
Synthetic Convertibles Risk. Synthetic convertible
securities involve the combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security (i.e., an income-producing
component and a right to acquire an equity security). Synthetic convertible securities are often achieved, in part, through investments in warrants or options to buy
common stock (or options on a stock index), and therefore are subject to the risks associated with derivatives. The value of a synthetic convertible security will respond differently to market fluctuations than a traditional convertible security because a synthetic convertible is composed of two or more separate securities or instruments, each with its own market value. Because the convertible component is typically achieved by investing in warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index, synthetic convertible securities are subject to the risks associated with derivatives. In addition, if the value of the underlying common stock or the level of the index involved in the convertible component falls below the exercise price of the warrant or option, the warrant or option may lose all value.
COUNTERPARTY RISK. With respect to certain transactions,
such as over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives contracts or repurchase agreements, a Fund will be exposed to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may
be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a
counterparty, a Fund could experience delays in liquidating its positions and significant losses, including declines in the value of its investment during the period in which the Fund seeks to enforce its rights, the inability to realize any gains on its investment during such period and any fees and expenses incurred in enforcing its rights. A Fund also bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a derivative transaction in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a counterparty. OTC derivatives may not offer a Fund the same level of protection as exchange traded derivatives.
CREDIT RISK. Credit
risk is the risk that the issuer of a security will not be able to make timely principal and interest payments. Changes in an issuer’s financial strength, credit
rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of a Fund’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit
risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation. Although the U.S. government has honored its credit obligations, it remains
possible that the U.S. could default on its obligations. A U.S. credit rating downgrade or a U.S. credit default could decrease the value and increase the volatility of a Fund’s investments. While it is impossible to predict the consequences of such an event, a default by the U.S. or credit downgrade could be highly disruptive to the U.S. and global securities markets and could significantly impair the value of a Fund’s investments. Periods of market volatility may increase credit risk.
CURRENCY RISK. The risk that the value of a Fund’s
investments in foreign securities or currencies will be affected by the value of the applicable currency relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign currency exchange rates may
fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including: interest rates, inflation, changes in balance or payments and governmental surpluses or deficits, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the U.S. dollar market value of securities denominated in such foreign currencies and any income received or expenses paid by a Fund in that foreign currency. This may affect the Fund’s share price, income and distributions to shareholders. When a Fund sells a foreign currency or foreign currency denominated security, its value may be worth less in U.S. dollars even if the investment increases in value in its local market. U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers may also be affected by currency risk, as the revenue earned by issuers of these securities may also be affected by changes in the issuer’s local currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets. Currency risk may be particularly high to the extent that the Fund invests in foreign securities or currencies that are economically tied to emerging market countries. Some countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. The dollar value of foreign investments may be affected by exchange controls. A Fund may be positively or negatively affected by governmental strategies intended to make the U.S. dollar, or other currencies in which the Fund invests, stronger or weaker. Devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority also will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. For example, the Chinese government heavily regulates the domestic exchange of foreign currencies and renminbi ("RMB") exchange rates in China, which may adversely affect the operations and financial results of a Fund’s investments in China. At times, there may be insufficient offshore RMB for a Fund to remain fully invested in Chinese equities. Although offshore RMB (CNH) and onshore RMB (CNY) are the same currency, they trade at different rates. Any divergence between CNH and CNY may adversely impact investors. Under exceptional circumstances, payment of proceeds from underlying investments and/or dividend payments in RMB may be delayed due to the exchange controls and restrictions applicable to RMB. Certain currencies may not be internationally traded, which could cause illiquidity with respect to a Fund’s investments in that currency and any securities denominated in that currency. Some countries may adopt policies that would prevent a Fund from transferring cash out of the country or withhold portions of interest and dividends at the source. Certain currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. Any devaluations in the currencies in which a Fund’s portfolio securities are denominated may have a detrimental impact on the Fund. Where the exchange rate for a currency declines materially after a Fund’s income has been accrued and translated into U.S. dollars, the Fund may need to redeem portfolio securities to make required distributions. Similarly, if an exchange rate declines between the time a Fund incurs expenses in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses are paid, the Fund will have to convert a greater amount of the currency into U.S. dollars in order to pay the expenses. Investing in foreign currencies for purposes of gaining from projected changes in exchange rates further increases a Fund's exposure to foreign securities losses.
12
CYBERSECURITY RISK. Cybersecurity breaches are either
intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a Fund or Fund
service provider to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Intentional cybersecurity incidents include: unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices (such as through “hacking” activity); infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. In addition, unintentional incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information. Recently, geopolitical tensions may have increased the scale and sophistication of deliberate cybersecurity attacks, particularly those from nation-states or from entities with nation-state backing.
A cybersecurity breach could result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, the inability to access electronic systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or costs associated with system repairs, any of which could have a substantial impact on the Funds. For example, in a denial of service, Fund shareholders could lose access to their electronic accounts indefinitely, and employees of the Investment Manager, the sub-adviser, or the Funds' other service providers may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Funds, such as trading, NAV calculation, shareholder accounting, or fulfillment of Fund share purchases and redemptions. Cybersecurity incidents could cause the Funds, the Investment Manager, the sub-adviser, or other service provider to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, compliance costs associated with corrective measures, or financial loss. They may also result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws. In addition, such incidents could affect issuers in which a Fund invests, thereby causing the Fund’s investments to lose value. The use of cloud-based service providers and the integration of certain technologies in systems and operations could heighten or change these risks. For example, the Funds' service providers and market participants on which the Funds rely may use generative artificial intelligence and similar technologies in the provision of services to the Funds and their operations generally. Such use may subject these service providers and market participants and, in turn, their services and operations to increased risks associated with such technologies, including risk of errors, cyber security, data protection and information technology risk, operational risk, and legal, regulatory and compliance risk. In addition, any controls in place designed to mitigate such risks may be ineffective and the use of these technologies may change over time, which may present new risks and vulnerabilities. As a result, a Fund may experience adverse consequences, such as operational errors.
The Investment Manager, the sub-adviser, and their affiliates
have established risk management systems that seek to reduce cybersecurity risks, and business continuity plans in the event of a cybersecurity breach. However, there are
inherent limitations in such plans, including that certain risks have not been identified, and there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially since none of the Investment Manager, the sub-adviser, or their affiliates controls the cybersecurity systems of the Funds' third-party service providers (including the Funds' custodian), or those of the issuers of securities in which the Funds invests.
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
RISK. A Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers in the form of depositary receipts or other securities that are convertible into securities of foreign issuers, including depositary receipts that are not sponsored by a financial institution (“Unsponsored Depositary Receipts”). Examples of depositary receipts include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and Chinese Depositary Receipts (“CDRs”). ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that evidence underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. ADRs are traded on U.S. securities exchanges, or in over-the-counter markets, and are denominated in U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are similar instruments that are issued in Europe (EDRs) or globally (GDRs), traded on foreign securities exchanges and denominated in foreign currencies. Generally, CDRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the Chinese securities markets. CDRs may involve certain risks not applicable to investing in U.S. issuers, including changes in currency rates, application of local tax laws, changes in governmental administration or economic or monetary policy or changed circumstances in dealings between nations. The value of a depositary receipt will fluctuate with the value of the underlying security, reflect changes in exchange rates and otherwise involve the same risks associated with the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. Depositary receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted. The issuers of Unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose information that would be considered material in the United States. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding their issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. The issuers of Depositary Receipts may discontinue issuing new Depositary Receipts and withdraw existing Depositary Receipts at any time, which may result in costs and delays in the distribution of the underlying assets to a Fund and may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
A Fund may also invest in Global Depositary Notes (“GDN”), a form of depositary receipt. A GDN is a debt instrument
created by a bank that evidences ownership of a local currency-denominated debt security. An investment in GDNs involves further risks due to certain features of GDNs. GDNs emulate the terms (interest rate, maturity date, credit quality, etc.) of particular local currency-denominated bonds; however, they trade, settle, and pay interest and principal in U.S. dollars, and are Depository Trust Company/Euroclear/Clearstream eligible. Any distributions paid to the holders of GDNs are usually subject to a fee charged by the depositary.
Certain investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of GDNs because such restrictions may limit the ability to convert bonds into GDNs and vice versa. Such restrictions may cause bonds of the underlying issuer to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the GDN. See also “Foreign Investments Risk” below.
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DERIVATIVES RISK. Each Fund may use instruments called
derivatives or derivative instruments. A derivative is a financial instrument the value of which is derived from the value of one or more underlying securities, commodities,
currencies, indices, debt instruments, other derivatives or any other agreed upon pricing index or arrangement (e.g., the movement over time of the Consumer Price Index or freight rates) (each an “Underlying Instrument”). Derivative contracts are either physically settled, which means the parties trade the Underlying Instrument itself, or cash settled, which means the parties simply make cash payments based on the value of the Underlying Instrument (and do not actually deliver or receive the Underlying Instrument). Derivatives may allow a Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk to which the Fund is exposed more quickly and efficiently than transactions in other types of instruments.
Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or futures exchanges, the contract terms are generally standard, and the parties make payments due under the contracts through the exchange. Most exchanges require the parties to post margin against their obligations under the contracts, and the performance of the parties’ obligations under such contracts is usually guaranteed by the exchange or a related clearing corporation. Other derivative contracts are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) in transactions negotiated directly between the counterparties. OTC derivative contracts do not have standard terms, so they are generally less liquid and more difficult to value than exchange-traded contracts. OTC derivatives also expose a Fund to additional credit risks to the extent a counterparty defaults on a contract. See “Additional Risk Factors and Considerations of OTC Transactions” below.
Depending on how a Fund uses derivatives and the relationships between the market values of the derivative and the Underlying Instrument, derivatives could increase or decrease a Fund’s exposure to the risks of the Underlying Instrument. Derivative contracts may also expose the Fund to additional liquidity and leverage risks. See “Risk Factors in Derivative Instruments” below.
Each Fund may use derivatives for various purposes, including for
cash flow management or, as part of its overall investment strategy, to seek to replicate the performance of a particular index or to seek to enhance returns. The use of
derivatives to seek to enhance returns is considered speculative because a Fund is primarily seeking to achieve gains rather than to offset, or hedge, the risks of other positions. When a Fund invests in a derivative for speculative purposes, the Fund is fully exposed to the risks of loss of that derivative, which may sometimes be greater than the cost of the derivative itself. The Fund may not use any derivative to gain exposure to an asset or class of assets that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
Commodity Futures Risk. A Fund may hold positions in
commodity futures contracts on individual underlying commodities or commodity indices. A Fund’s investments in commodity futures contracts may involve substantial
risks. Commodity futures contracts are traded on futures exchanges, which offer a central marketplace in which to transact futures contracts, a clearing organization to process trades, as well as standardization of expiration dates and contract sizes, and the availability of a trading market. Futures markets also specify the terms and conditions of delivery as well as the maximum permissible price movement during a trading session.
In the futures markets, the clearing organization acts as the counterparty to all exchange-traded futures contracts. A Fund’s
obligation is to the futures commission merchant that carries the Fund’s account, whose obligation is in turn to the clearing organization, and the Fund will look indirectly to the clearing organization to satisfy the Fund’s rights under the futures contract.
Some commodity futures exchanges impose on each commodity futures contract traded on that exchange a maximum permissible price movement for each trading session. If the maximum permissible price movement is achieved on any trading day, no more trades may be executed above (or below, if the price has moved downward) that limit. If a Fund wishes to execute a trade outside the daily permissible price movement, it would be prevented from doing so by exchange rules, and would have to wait for another trading session to execute its transaction. Despite the daily price limits on various futures exchanges, the price volatility of commodity futures contracts may be greater than that for traditional securities such as stocks and bonds. To the extent a Fund invests in commodity futures contracts, the assets of the Fund, and therefore the prices of the Fund’s shares, may be subject to greater volatility. The futures clearinghouse marks every futures contract to market at the end of each trading day to ensure that the outstanding futures obligations are limited to the marked-to-market change in price from one day for any given futures contract. This process of marking-to-market is designed to prevent losses from accumulating in any futures account. Therefore, if a Fund’s futures positions have declined in value, the Fund may be required to post variation margin to cover this decline.
Alternatively, if a Fund’s futures positions have increased in value, this increase will be credited to the Fund’s account.
Special Risks of Commodity Futures
Contracts. Commodity futures contracts also may be subject to the following special risks:
Storage Costs – The
price of the commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity. These storage costs include the time value of money invested in
the physical commodity plus the actual costs of storing the commodity less any benefits from ownership of the physical commodity that are not obtained by the holder of a
futures contract (this is sometimes referred to as the “convenience yield”). To the extent that these storage costs change for an underlying commodity while a Fund is long futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately.
Reinvestment Risk – In the
commodity futures markets, if producers of the underlying commodity wish to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity, they may sell futures contracts today to lock in
the price of the commodity at delivery in the future. In order to induce speculators to take the corresponding long side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer
may have to sell the futures contract at a price that is below the expected future spot price. Conversely, if the predominate hedgers in the futures
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market are the purchasers
of the underlying commodity who purchase futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will generally be expected to only take the
short side of the futures contract if the futures price is greater than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of hedgers and
speculators in the commodity markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price. This can have significant
implications for a Fund when it is time to replace an expiring contract with a new contract. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in futures markets has
shifted such that commodity purchasers are the predominate hedgers in the market, a Fund might open the new futures position at a higher price or choose other related commodity investments.
Additional Economic Factors – The values of certain commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts are subject to additional variables which may be less significant to the values of traditional securities such as stocks and bonds. Variables such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes and tariffs may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity futures contracts, as well as other commodity-linked instruments, including commodity-linked notes, commodity options and commodity swaps, than on traditional securities. These additional variables may create additional investment risks which subject a Fund’s investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.
Deflation and Inflation –
Deflation or unanticipated changes in the rate of inflation may result in changes in the future spot price of the underlying commodities that could negatively affect a Fund.
In addition, reduced economic growth may lead to reduced demand for the underlying commodities and put downward pressure on future spot prices, adversely affecting a
Fund.
Risk of Temporary Market Aberrations or
Distortions – A Fund is subject to the risk that temporary aberrations or distortions in the markets (such as those
resulting from war, strikes, geopolitical events and natural disasters) will occur that impact commodity prices and negatively impact the value of the Fund’s
positions, thereby adversely affecting the value of your shares.
Volatility Risk – The commodity markets have experienced periods of extreme volatility. General market uncertainty and
consequent re-pricing risk have led to market imbalances of sellers and buyers, which in turn have resulted in significant reductions in values of a variety of commodities. Similar future market conditions may result in rapid and substantial valuation increases or decreases in a Fund’s holdings.
Position Limits. The CFTC and various futures exchanges
have established limits, referred to as position limits, on the maximum net long or net short positions that any person may hold or control in certain options and futures
contracts. More specifically, the CFTC has long established and enforced speculative position limits for futures and options contracts on various agricultural
commodities (e.g., corn, oats, wheat, soybeans and cotton). In addition, various futures exchanges currently impose position limits on many other commodities.
CFTC position limits rules establish position limits for 25 specified physical commodity futures and related options contracts traded on exchanges, other futures contracts and related options directly or indirectly linked to such 25 specified contracts, and any OTC transactions that are economically equivalent to the 25 specified contracts. The position limits rules apply to both the Funds and their swap dealer counterparties. If a swap dealer is unable to rely on certain exemptions, such as the bona fide hedging exemption, the speculative OTC transaction capacity the swap dealer has available for the Funds may be limited.
In order to avoid exceeding position limits, a sub-adviser may
have to modify its trading decisions for a Fund, and the Fund’s positions may have to be liquidated. Additionally, an exchange may order the liquidation of positions
found to be in violation of applicable limits and it may impose other sanctions or restrictions. Such actions could limit the implementation of a Fund’s
investment strategy and adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
The CFTC’s existing regulations require the
aggregation of all positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, for the purpose of determining whether applicable position
limits have been exceeded, unless an exemption from such aggregation is available. Due to this requirement, even if a Fund does not intend to exceed applicable position
limits, it is possible that the positions of other clients managed by a sub-adviser and their related parties may be aggregated with those of the Fund for this purpose. As a result, a sub-adviser may have to limit a Fund’s investment strategy and liquidate Fund positions even where the Fund has not exceeded any position limits on its own.
Hedging Risk. Each Fund may use derivative instruments to offset the risks, or to “hedge” the risks, associated with other Fund holdings. For example, derivatives may be used to hedge against movements in interest rates, currency exchange rates and the equity markets through the use of options, futures transactions and options on futures. Derivatives may also be used to hedge against duration risk in fixed-income investments. Losses on one Fund investment may be substantially reduced by gains on a derivative that reacts to the same market movements in an opposite manner. However, while hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains or cause losses if the market moves in a manner different from that anticipated by the Fund or if the cost of the derivative offsets the advantage of the hedge.
Among other risks, hedging involves correlation risk, which is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match (i.e., will not offset) changes in the value of the holdings being hedged as expected by a Fund. In such a case, any losses on the Fund holdings being hedged may not be reduced or may even be increased as a result of the use of the derivative. The inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse impact on a Fund’s ability effectively to hedge its portfolio.
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There can be no
assurance that the use of hedging transactions will be effective. No Fund is required to engage in hedging transactions, and each Fund may choose not to do so. A decision as
to whether, when and how to hedge involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior
or unexpected interest rate trends.
The Funds might not employ any of the derivatives strategies
described below, and there can be no assurance that any strategy used will succeed. A Fund’s success in employing derivatives strategies may depend on the
sub-adviser’s correctly forecasting interest rates, market values or other economic factors, and there can be no assurance that the sub-adviser’s forecasts will
be accurate. If the sub-adviser’s forecasts are not accurate, the Fund may end up in a worse position than if derivatives strategies had not been employed at all. A Fund’s ability to use certain derivative transactions may be limited by tax considerations and certain other legal considerations. Further, suitable derivative transactions might not be available at all times or in all circumstances. Described below are certain derivative instruments and trading strategies the Funds may use (either separately or in combination) in seeking to achieve its overall investment objective.
Options Contracts Risk. An options contract, or an
“option,” is a type of derivative. An option is an agreement between two parties in which one gives the other the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell
an Underlying Instrument at a set price (the “exercise price” or “strike price”) for a specified period of time, or to receive a cash settlement
payment. The buyer of an option pays a premium for the opportunity to decide whether to carry out the transaction (exercise the option) when it is beneficial. The option seller (writer) receives the initial premium and is obligated to carry out the transaction if and when the buyer exercises the option. Options can trade on exchanges or in the OTC market and may be bought or sold on a wide variety of Underlying Instruments. Options that are written on futures contracts, or futures options (discussed below), are subject to margin requirements similar to those applied to futures contracts. A Fund may engage in options transactions on any security or instrument in which it may invest, on any securities index based on securities in which it may invest or on any aggregates of equity and debt securities consisting of securities in which it may invest (aggregates are composites of equity or debt securities that are not tied to a commonly known index). The Funds may also enter into options on foreign currencies. As with futures and swaps (discussed below), the success of any strategy involving options depends on the sub-adviser’s analysis of many economic and mathematical factors, and a Fund’s return may be higher if it does not invest in such instruments at all. The sections below describe certain types of options and related techniques that the Funds may use.
Call Options – A call option gives the holder the right to purchase the Underlying Instrument at the exercise price,
or to receive a cash settlement payment, for a fixed period of time. A Fund would typically purchase a call option in anticipation of an increase in value of the Underlying Instrument because owning the option allows the Fund to participate in price increases on a more limited risk basis than if the Fund had initially directly purchased the Underlying Instrument. If, during the option period, the market value of the Underlying Instrument exceeds the exercise price, plus the option premium paid by the Fund and any transaction costs the Fund incurs in purchasing the option, the Fund realizes a gain upon exercise of the option. Otherwise, the Fund realizes either no gain or a loss on its purchase of the option.
A Fund is also permitted to write (i.e., sell) “covered” call options, which obligate a Fund, in return for the option premium, to sell the Underlying Instrument to the option holder for the exercise price, or to make a cash settlement payment, if the option is exercised at any time before or on its expiration date. In order for a call option to be covered, a Fund must have at least one of the following in place with respect to the option and for so long as the option is outstanding: (i) the Fund owns the Underlying Instrument subject to the option (or, in the case of an option on an index, owns securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index), (ii) the Fund has an absolute and immediate right to acquire the Underlying Instrument without additional cash consideration upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio, or (iii) the Fund enters into an offsetting forward contract and/or purchases an offsetting option or any other option that, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the Fund’s net exposure on its written option position.
A Fund would typically write a call option to generate income from the option premium and/or in anticipation of a decrease, or only a limited increase (i.e., an increase that is less than the option premium received by the Fund in writing the option), in the market value of the Underlying Instrument. In writing a call option, however, a Fund would not profit if the market value of the Underlying Instrument increases to an amount that exceeds the sum of the exercise price plus the premium received by the Fund. Also, a Fund cannot sell the Underlying Instrument while the option is in effect unless the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction cancels out the Fund’s position as option writer by means of an offsetting purchase of an identical option prior to the expiration or exercise of the option it has written.
Put Options
– A put option gives the holder the right to sell the Underlying Instrument at the exercise
price, or to receive a cash settlement payment, for a fixed period of time. A Fund would typically purchase a put option in anticipation of a decline in market values of securities. This limits the Fund’s potential for loss in the event that the market value of the Underlying Instrument falls below the exercise price.
A Fund is also permitted to write covered put options on the securities or instruments in which it may invest. In order for a put option to be covered, a Fund must enter into an offsetting forward contract and/or purchases an offsetting option or any other option that, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the Fund’s net exposure on its written option position.
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A Fund would typically
write a put option on an Underlying Instrument to generate income from premiums and in anticipation of an increase or only a limited decrease in the value of the Underlying
Instrument. However, as writer of the put and in return for the option premium, a Fund takes the risk that it may be required to purchase the Underlying Instrument at a
price in excess of its market value at the time of purchase. Because the purchaser may exercise its right under the option contract at any time during the option period, a Fund has no control over when it may be required to purchase the Underlying Instrument unless it enters into a closing purchase transaction.
Collars and Straddles – A Fund may employ collars, which are options strategies in which a call with an exercise price greater
than the price of the Underlying Instrument (an “out-of-the-money call”) is sold and an in-the-money put (where the exercise price is again above the price of the Underlying Instrument) is purchased, to preserve a certain return within a predetermined range of values. A Fund may also write covered straddles consisting of a combination of a call and a put written on the same Underlying Instrument. A straddle is covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet a Fund’s immediate obligations. A Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put.
Options on Indices – A Fund is permitted to invest in options on any index made up of securities or other instruments in
which the Fund itself may invest. Options on indices are similar to options on securities except that index options are always cash settled, which means that upon exercise of the option the holder receives cash equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option times a specified multiple that determines the total monetary value for each point of such difference. As with other written options, index options written by a Fund may be covered.
Risks Associated with Options – There
are several risks associated with options transactions. For example, there are significant differences between the options market and the securities markets that could
result in imperfect correlation between the two markets. Such imperfect correlation could then cause a given transaction to fail to achieve its objectives. Options are also
subject to the risks of an illiquid secondary market, whether those options are traded over-the-counter or on a national securities exchange. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option at any particular time. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to options it has written, the Fund will not be able to sell the Underlying Instruments until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if a Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of the Underlying Instruments. Moreover, a Fund’s ability to engage in options transactions may be limited by tax considerations and other legal considerations.
The presence of a liquid secondary market on an options exchange
may dry up for any or all of the following reasons: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) the exchange may impose restrictions on opening
or closing transactions or both; (iii) the exchange may halt or suspend trading, or impose other restrictions, on particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal exchange operations; (v) the facilities of the exchange or its related clearing corporation may at times be inadequate to handle trading volume; and/or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or particular classes or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in such classes or series of options) would cease to exist. However, if the secondary market on an exchange ceases to exist, it would be expected (though it cannot be guaranteed) that outstanding options on that exchange, if any, that had been issued as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
A Fund’s options transactions will also be subject to
limitations, established by exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities, governing the maximum number of options in each class that may be written or purchased by
any single investor or a group of investors acting in concert. As such, the number of options any single Fund can write or purchase may be affected by options already written or purchased by other Hartford Funds. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits and/or impose sanctions. Also, the hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the Underlying Instruments are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the Underlying Instruments, significant price movements can take place in the underlying markets that would not be reflected in the options markets.
OTC options implicate additional liquidity and credit risks.
Unlike exchange-listed options, where an intermediary or clearing corporation assures that the options transactions are properly executed, the responsibility for performing
OTC options transactions rests solely on the writer and holder of those options. See “Additional Risk Factors and Considerations of OTC Transactions”
below.
The writing and purchase of options is
a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The successful
use of options depends on the sub-adviser’s ability to predict correctly future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities
markets. See “Risk Factors in Derivative Instruments” below.
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Additional Risk Associated with Options on
Indices – The writer’s payment obligation under an index option (which is a cash-settled option) usually equals a
multiple of the difference between the exercise price, which was set at initiation of the option, and the closing index level on the date the option is exercised. As such,
index options implicate a “timing risk” that the value of the underlying index will change between the time the option is exercised by the option holder and the
time the obligation thereunder is settled in cash by the option writer.
Equity Linked Notes
Risk. Investments in equity linked notes (“ELNs”) often have risks similar to their underlying securities, which could include management risk, market risk and, as applicable, foreign securities and currency risks. In addition, since ELNs are in note form, ELNs are also subject to certain debt securities risks, such as interest rate and credit risk. Should the prices of the underlying securities move in an unexpected manner, a Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of an investment in an ELN, and may realize losses, which could be significant and could include the Fund’s entire principal investment. An investment in an ELN is also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the ELN will default or become bankrupt and a Fund will have difficulty being repaid, or fail to be repaid, the principal amount of, or income from, its investment. Investments in ELNs are also subject to liquidity risk, which may make ELNs difficult to sell and value. In addition, ELNs may exhibit price behavior that does not correlate with the underlying securities or a fixed income investment.
Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts Risk. A futures contract, which is a type of derivative, is a standardized, exchange-traded contract that obligates the purchaser to take delivery, and the seller to make delivery, of a specified quantity of an Underlying Instrument at a specified price and specified future time, or to make a cash settlement payment. The Fund is generally permitted to invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts with respect to, but not limited to, equity and debt securities and foreign currencies, aggregates of equity and debt securities (aggregates are composites of equity or debt securities that are not tied to a commonly known index), interest rates, indices, commodities and other financial instruments.
No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Rather,
when a Fund purchases or sells a futures contract it is required to post margin (“initial margin”) with the futures commission merchant (“FCM”)
executing the transaction. The margin required for a futures contract is usually less than 10% of the contract value, but it is set by the exchange on which the contract is
traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” to and from the FCM, will then be made daily as the currency, financial instrument or securities index underlying the futures contract fluctuates (a process known as “marking to market”). If a Fund has insufficient cash available to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous. Futures involve substantial leverage risk.
An option on a futures contract (“futures option”)
gives the option holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy or sell its position in the underlying futures contract at a specified price on or before a specified
expiration date. As with a futures contract itself, a Fund is required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to futures options it writes. Such margin deposits will
vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option and other futures positions held by the Fund.
The sale of a futures contract limits a Fund’s risk of loss, prior to the futures contract’s expiration date, from a decline in the market value of portfolio holdings correlated with the futures contract. In the event the market values of the portfolio holdings correlated with the futures contract increase rather than decrease, however, a Fund will realize a loss on the futures position and a lower return on the portfolio than would have been realized without the purchase of the futures contract.
Positions taken in the futures markets are usually not held to
maturity but instead liquidated through offsetting transactions that may result in a profit or loss. While the Fund’s futures contracts will usually be liquidated in
this manner, a Fund may instead make or take delivery of the Underlying Instrument whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so.
A Fund is permitted to enter into a variety of futures contracts,
including interest rate futures, index futures, currency futures and commodity futures, and options on such futures contracts. A Fund may also invest in instruments that
have characteristics similar to futures contracts, such as debt securities with interest or principal payments determined by reference to the value of a security, an index of securities or a commodity or currency at a future point in time. The risks of such investments reflect the risks of investing in futures and derivatives generally, including volatility and illiquidity.
Risks Associated
with Futures and Futures Options – The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts and options are: (a) imperfect correlation
between the change in market value of instruments held by a Fund and the price of the futures contract or option; (b) the possible lack of an active market for a futures
contract or option, or the lack of a liquid secondary market for a futures option, and the resulting inability to close the futures contract or option when desired; (c)
losses, which are potentially unlimited, caused by unanticipated market movements; (d) the sub-adviser’s failure to predict correctly the direction of securities
prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; and (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations. Futures contracts and futures options also involve brokerage costs and require margin deposits. Moreover, futures are inherently volatile, and a Fund’s ability to engage in futures transactions may be limited by tax considerations and other legal considerations.
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U.S. futures exchanges
and some foreign exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices which may occur in a single business day (generally referred to as “daily price
fluctuation limits”). The maximum or minimum price of a contract as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” If the limit price has been
reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made beyond the limit price. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the
liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices.
Additional Considerations of Commodity Futures Contracts – In
addition to the risks described above, there are several additional risks associated with transactions in commodity futures contracts. In particular, the costs to store
underlying physical commodities are reflected in the price of a commodity futures contract. To the extent that storage costs for an underlying commodity change while a Fund is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately. Further, the commodities that underlie commodity futures contracts may be subject to additional economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, pandemics, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments and may be subject to broad price fluctuations.
Other Considerations Related to Options
and Futures Options – A Fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts and related options only to the extent such
transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) for maintaining qualification as a regulated
investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Swap Agreements and Swaptions Risk. A swap agreement, or a swap, is a type of derivative instrument. Swap agreements are entered into for periods
ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard swap, two parties exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on an
Underlying Instrument. The gross returns to be exchanged (or “swapped”) between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” which
is a predetermined dollar principal that represents the hypothetical underlying quantity upon which the parties’ payment obligations are computed. The notional amount
may be, among other things, a specific dollar amount invested, for example, at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency or in a “basket” of securities or commodities that represents a particular index. The notional amount itself normally is not exchanged between the parties, but rather it serves as a reference amount from which to calculate the parties’ obligations under the swap.
A Fund will usually enter into swap agreements on a “net basis,” which means that the two payment streams are netted out with each party receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the payments. A Fund’s obligations under a swap agreement are generally accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund). A Fund may enter into swaps, caps, collars, floors and related instruments with member banks of the Federal Reserve System, members of the New York Stock Exchange or other entities determined by the sub-adviser to be creditworthy. If a default occurs by the other party to such transaction, a Fund will have contractual remedies under the transaction documents, but such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws that could affect the Fund’s rights as a creditor.
A Fund may engage in a wide variety of swap transactions,
including, but not limited to, credit- and event-linked swaps, interest rate swaps, swaps on specific securities or indices, swaps on rates (such as mortgage prepayment
rates) and other types of swaps, such as caps, collars, and floors. In addition, to the extent a Fund is permitted to invest in foreign currency-denominated securities, it may invest in currency swaps. A Fund may also enter into options on swap agreements (“swaptions”). Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a Fund’s investments and its share price and yield. The sections below describe certain swap arrangements and related techniques that the Funds may use.
Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Floors and
Collars – Interest rate swaps consist of an agreement between two parties to exchange their respective commitments to
pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed-rate payments). Interest rate swaps are generally entered into on a net basis. Interest rate
swaps do not involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets, or principal. Accordingly, the risk of market loss with respect to interest rate and total rate of
return swaps is typically limited to the net amount of interest payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make.
Among other techniques, a Fund may use interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate and duration risk, which can be particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Duration measures the sensitivity in prices of fixed-income securities to changes in interest rates; the duration of a portfolio or basket of bonds is the weighted average of the individual component durations. Longer maturity bonds typically have a longer duration than shorter maturity bonds and, therefore, higher sensitivity to interest rate changes. In an environment where interest rates are expected to rise, a Fund may use interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate and duration risk across a portfolio at particular duration points (such as two-, five- and 10- year duration points).
A Fund may also buy or sell interest rate
caps, floors and collars. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified interest rate index exceeds a predetermined level, to
receive payments of interest on a specified notional amount from the party selling the interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to
the extent that a specified interest rate falls below a predetermined level, to receive payments of interest on a specified notional amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates. Caps, floors and collars may be less liquid than other types of derivatives.
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Commodity Swaps – A commodity swap agreement is a contract in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to
another party based on the change in market value of a commodity-based Underlying Instrument (such as a specific commodity or commodity index) in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from another commodity-based Underlying Instrument. In a total return commodity swap, a Fund receives the price appreciation of a commodity index, a portion of a commodity index or a single commodity in exchange for paying an agreed-upon fee. As with other types of swap agreements, if the commodity swap lasts for a finite period of time, the swap may be structured such that the Fund pays a single fixed fee established at the outset of the swap. However, if the term of the commodity swap is ongoing, with interim swap payments, the Fund may pay a variable or “floating” fee. Such a variable fee may be pegged to a base rate, and is adjusted at specific intervals. As such, if interest rates increase over the term of the swap contract, the Fund may be required to pay a higher fee at each swap reset date.
Currency Swaps – A currency swap agreement is a contract in which two parties exchange one currency (e.g., U.S.
dollars) for another currency (e.g., Japanese yen) on a specified schedule. The currency exchange obligations under currency swaps could be either interest payments calculated on the notional amount or payments of the entire notional amount (or a combination of both). A Fund may engage in currency swap agreements as a tool to protect against uncertainty and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates in the purchase and sale of securities. However, the use of currency swap agreements does not eliminate, or even always mitigate, potential losses arising from fluctuations in exchange rates. In the case of currency swaps that involve the delivery of the entire notional amount of currency in exchange for another currency, the entire notional principal of the currency swap is subject to the risk that the counterparty will default on its contractual delivery obligations.
Credit Default Swaps – A credit
default swap (“CDS”) is an agreement between two parties whereby one party (the “protection buyer”) makes an up-front payment or a stream of periodic
payments over the term of the CDS to the other party (the “protection seller”), provided generally that no event of default or other credit-related event (a
“credit event”) with respect to an Underlying Instrument occurs. In return, the protection seller agrees to make a payment to the protection buyer if a credit
event does occur with respect to the Underlying Instrument. The CDS market allows a Fund to manage credit risk through buying and selling credit protection on a specific issuer, asset or basket of assets. Credit default swaps typically last between six months and three years, provided that no credit event occurs. Credit default swaps may be physically settled or cash settled.
A Fund may be either the protection buyer or the protection
seller in a CDS. A Fund generally will not buy protection on issuers that are not currently held by the Fund. However, a Fund may engage in credit default swap trades on
single names, indices and baskets to manage asset class exposure and to capitalize on spread differentials in instances where there is not complete overlap between the Fund’s holdings or exposures and the reference entities in the credit default swap. If the Fund is the protection buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund loses its entire investment in the CDS (i.e., an amount equal to the aggregate amount of payments made by the Fund to the protection seller over the term of the CDS). However, if a credit event does occur, the Fund (as protection buyer), will deliver the Underlying Instrument to the protection seller and is entitled to a payment from the protection seller equal to the full notional value of the Underlying Instrument, even though the Underlying Instrument at that time may have little or no value. If the Fund is the protection seller and no credit event occurs, the Fund receives a fixed income throughout the term of the CDS (or an up-front payment at the beginning of the term of the CDS) in the form of payments from the protection buyer. However, if the Fund is the protection seller and a credit event occurs, the Fund is obligated to pay the protection buyer the full notional value of the Underlying Instrument in return for the Underlying Instrument (which may at that time be of little or no value).
A Fund may also engage in transactions on credit default swap indices, including CDX and iTraxx indices (collectively referred to as “CDSIs”). A CDSI is based on a portfolio of credit default swaps with similar characteristics, such as credit default swaps on high-yield bonds. In a typical CDSI transaction, one party — the protection buyer — is
obligated to pay the other party — the protection seller — a stream of
periodic payments over the term of the contract. If a credit event, such as a default or restructuring, occurs with respect to any of the underlying reference obligations,
the protection seller must pay the protection buyer the loss on those credits. Also, if a restructuring credit event occurs in an iTraxx index, the Fund as protection buyer
may receive a single name CDS contract representing the relevant constituent.
A Fund may enter into a CDSI transaction as either protection buyer or protection seller. If the Fund is a protection buyer, it
would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract and would not recover any of those payments if no credit events were to occur with respect to any of the underlying reference obligations. However, if a credit event did occur, the Fund, as a protection buyer, would have the right to deliver the referenced debt obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending on the terms of the applicable agreement, and to receive the par value of such debt obligations from the counterparty protection seller. As a protection seller, the Fund would receive fixed payments throughout the term of the contract if no credit events were to occur with respect to any of the underlying reference obligations. If a credit event were to occur, however, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the Fund, coupled with the periodic payments previously received by the Fund, may be less than the full notional value that the Fund, as a protection seller, pays to the counterparty protection buyer, effectively resulting in a loss of value to the Fund. Furthermore, as a protection seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because it would have investment exposure to the notional amount of the swap transaction.
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The use of CDSI, like
all other swap agreements, is subject to certain risks, including the risk that a Fund’s counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default were to occur,
any contractual remedies that the Fund might have may be subject to applicable bankruptcy laws, which could delay or limit the Fund’s recovery. Thus, if the
Fund’s counterparty to a CDSI transaction defaults on its obligation to make payments thereunder, the Fund may lose such payments altogether or collect only a portion
thereof, which collection could involve substantial costs or delays. Certain CDSI transactions are subject to mandatory central clearing or may be eligible for voluntary central clearing. Because clearing interposes a central clearinghouse as the ultimate counterparty to each participant’s swap, central clearing is intended to decrease (but not eliminate) counterparty risk relative to uncleared bilateral swaps.
Total return swaps, asset swaps, inflation swaps and similar instruments – A Fund
may enter into total return swaps, asset swaps, inflation swaps and other types of swap agreements. In a total return swap, the parties exchange the total return (i.e.,
interest payments plus any capital gains or losses) of an Underlying Instrument (or basket of such instruments) for the proceeds of another Underlying Instrument (or basket of such instruments). Asset swaps combine an interest rate swap with a bond and are generally used to alter the cash flow characteristics of the Underlying Instrument. For example, the parties may exchange a fixed investment, such as a bond with guaranteed coupon payments, for a floating investment like an index. Inflation swaps are generally used to transfer inflation risk. See “Inflation-Linked Instruments Risk” herein.
Swaptions – A Fund
may also enter into swap options, or “swaptions.” A swaption is a contract that gives one party the right (but not the obligation), in return for payment of the
option premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time and on
specified terms. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, a Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When a Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the option premium it paid should it decide not to exercise the option. When a Fund writes a swaption, however, it is obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement if the option holder exercises the option.
Risks Associated with Swaps and
Swaptions – Investing in swaps and swaptions, and utilizing these and related techniques in managing a Fund portfolio,
are highly specialized activities that involve investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio transactions. These investments
involve significant risk of loss. Whether a Fund’s use of swaps will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend on the sub-adviser’s
ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. If the sub-adviser is incorrect in its
forecast of market values, the sub-adviser’s utilization of swap arrangements and related techniques could negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
The swaps market is largely unregulated. It
is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap
agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements. Also, certain restrictions imposed by the Code may limit a Fund’s ability to use swap
agreements.
If the creditworthiness of a Fund’s swap counterparty declines, it becomes more likely that the counterparty will fail to meet its obligations under the contract, and consequently the Fund will suffer losses. Although there can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to do so, a Fund may be able to reduce or eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or another creditworthy party. However, a Fund may have limited ability to eliminate its exposure under a credit default swap if the credit of the reference entity or underlying asset has declined. There can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to enter into swap transactions at prices or on terms the sub-adviser believes are advantageous to the Fund. In addition, although the terms of swaps, caps, collars and floors may provide for termination, there can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to terminate a swap or to sell or offset caps, collars or floors that it has purchased. Investing in swaps and related techniques involves the risks associated with investments in derivative instruments. See “Risk Factors in Derivative Instruments” and “Additional Risk Factors and Considerations of OTC Transactions” below.
Inflation-Linked Instruments
Risk. A Fund is permitted to invest in a variety of inflation-linked instruments, such as inflation-indexed securities and inflation-linked derivatives, to manage inflation risk or to obtain inflation exposure. Inflation – a general rise in the
prices of goods and services – is measured by inflation indices like the Consumer Price
Index (CPI), which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Retail Prices Index (RPI), which is calculated by the United Kingdom's Office
for National Statistics. The CPI is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy.
Inflation-linked derivatives are derivative instruments that tie payments to an inflation index. Currently, most inflation derivatives are in the form of inflation swaps, such as CPI swaps. A CPI swap is a fixed-maturity, over-the-counter derivative where one party pays a fixed rate in exchange for payments tied to the CPI. The fixed rate, which is set by the parties at the initiation of the swap, is often referred to as the “breakeven inflation” rate and generally represents the current difference between Treasury yields and Treasury inflation protected securities (“TIPS”) yields of similar maturities at the initiation of the swap agreement. CPI swaps are typically designated as “zero coupon,” where all cash flows are exchanged at maturity. The value of a CPI swap is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation, as measured by the CPI. A CPI swap can lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (the breakeven inflation rate) the investor agreed to pay at the initiation of the swap.
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Other types of
inflation derivatives include inflation options and futures. There can be no assurance that the CPI, or any foreign inflation index, will accurately measure the rate of
inflation in the prices of consumer goods and services. Further, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of
inflation in the United States. Moreover, inflation-linked instruments are subject to the risks inherent in derivative transactions generally. See “Risk Factors in
Derivative Instruments” herein. The market for inflation-linked instruments is still developing. Each Fund reserves the right to use the instruments discussed above and similar instruments that may be available in the future.
Hybrid Instruments
Risk. A hybrid instrument is an interest in an issuer that combines the characteristics of an equity security, a debt security, a commodity and/or a derivative. For example, an oil company might issue a commodity-linked bond that pays a fixed level of interest plus additional interest that accrues in correlation with the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. This is a hybrid instrument combining a bond with an option on oil.
Depending on the types and terms of hybrid instruments, they present risks that may be similar to, different from or greater than those associated with more traditional investments with similar characteristics. Hybrid instruments are potentially more volatile than more traditional investments and, depending on the structure of the particular hybrid, may expose a Fund to additional leverage and liquidity risks. Moreover, the purchase of hybrids exposes a Fund to the credit risk of the issuers of the hybrids. Described below are certain hybrid instruments a Fund may use in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Each Fund reserves the right to use the instruments mentioned below and similar instruments that may be available in the
future.
Credit-Linked Securities Risk. Credit-linked securities
are issued by a limited purpose trust or other vehicle that, in turn, invests in a basket of derivative instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and
other securities. Investments in credit-linked securities normally consist of the right to receive periodic payments during the term and payment of principal at the end of the term. However, these payments depend on the issuer’s own investments in derivative instruments and are, accordingly, subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments, which include volatility, illiquidity and counterparty risk.
Indexed Securities and
Structured Notes Risk. Indexed securities are derivative securities the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator (e.g., a currency, security, commodity or index). Structured notes are debt indexed securities. Indexed securities implicate a high degree of leverage, which magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss, when they include a multiplier that multiplies the indexed element by a specific factor.
Structured notes and indexed securities can be very volatile investments because, depending on how they are structured, their value may either increase or decrease in response to the value of the Underlying Instruments. The terms of these securities may also provide that in some instances no principal is due at maturity, which may result in a loss of invested capital. These instruments also may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of securities because the investor bears the risk not only of the instrument but also of the unrelated indicator. Indexed securities may involve significant credit risk and liquidity risk and, as with other sophisticated strategies, a Fund’s use of these instruments may not work as intended.
Event-Linked Bonds
Risk. A Fund may invest in “event-linked bonds” (or “catastrophe bonds”). The event-linked bond market is a growing sector of the global fixed income market that provides investors with high return potentials in exchange for taking on “event risk,” such as the risk of a major hurricane, earthquake or pandemic. If such trigger event occurs, a Fund may lose a portion or its entire principal invested in the bond. Some event-linked bonds provide for an extension of maturity to process and audit loss claims if a trigger has, or possibly has, occurred. Such extension may increase volatility. Event-linked bonds may also expose a Fund to other unanticipated risks including credit risk, counterparty risk, liquidity risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations and adverse tax consequences. Event-linked bonds are subject to the risks inherent in derivative transactions. See “Risk Factors in Derivative Instruments” below.
Foreign Currency Transactions Risk. A Fund also may
purchase and sell foreign currency options and foreign currency futures contracts and futures options, and may engage in foreign currency transactions either on a spot
(cash) basis at prevailing currency exchange rates or through forward currency contracts. A Fund may engage in these transactions to hedge, directly or indirectly, against currency fluctuations, for other investment purposes and/or to seek to enhance returns. A Fund may enter into currency transactions only with counterparties that a sub-adviser deems to be creditworthy. Certain of the foreign currency transactions the Funds may use are described below.
Forward Currency Contracts – A Fund may enter into forward currency contracts (“forwards”) in connection with settling
purchases or sales of securities, to hedge the currency exposure associated with some or all of the Fund’s investments or as part of its investment strategy. Forwards are contracts to purchase or sell a specified amount of a specified currency or multinational currency unit at a set price or to make a cash settlement payment on a future date. The market value of a forward fluctuates with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Forwards are marked to market daily based upon foreign currency exchange rates from an independent pricing service, and the change in value is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. A Fund’s gains from its positions in forward foreign currency contracts may accelerate and/or recharacterize the Fund’s income or gains and its distributions to shareholders. A Fund’s losses from such positions may also recharacterize the Fund’s income and its distributions to shareholders and may cause a return of capital to Fund shareholders. Such acceleration or recharacterization could affect an investor’s tax liability. Forwards are highly volatile, involve substantial currency risk and may also involve credit and liquidity risks.
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A Fund may use a
forward in a “settlement hedge,” or “transaction hedge,” to lock in the U.S. dollar price on the purchase or sale of securities denominated in a
foreign currency between the time when the security is purchased or sold and the time at which payment is received. Forward contracts on foreign currency may also be used by
a Fund in anticipation generally of the Fund’s making investments denominated in a foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected by the
sub-adviser.
In a “position hedge,” a
Fund uses a forward contract to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. For example, a Fund may enter into a forward
contract to sell Japanese yen in return for U.S. dollars in order to hedge against a possible decline in the yen’s value. Position hedges tend to offset both positive
and negative currency fluctuations. Alternately, a Fund could hedge its position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the Japanese yen. This is
called a “proxy hedge” and may offer advantages in terms of cost, yield or efficiency. However, proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not move in tandem with the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.
A Fund may also engage in cross-hedging by entering into forward contracts in one currency against a different currency. Cross-hedging may be used to limit or increase exposure to a particular currency or to establish active exposure to the exchange rate between the two currencies.
Options on foreign currencies are affected by the factors that
influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally. A Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on foreign currency options is subject to the
maintenance of a liquid secondary market, and there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time.
Forward Rate Agreements – A Fund may also enter into forward rate agreements. Under a forward rate agreement, the buyer locks in an interest rate at a future settlement date. If the interest rate on the settlement date exceeds the lock rate, the buyer pays the seller the difference between the two rates. If the lock rate exceeds the interest rate on the settlement date, the seller pays the buyer the difference between the two rates. Any such gain received by a Fund would be taxable. These instruments may be traded in the OTC market. These transactions involve risks, including counterparty risk. See “Risk Factors in Derivative Instruments” below.
Currency Swaps, Options and
Futures – In order to protect against currency fluctuations and for other investment purposes, the Funds may enter into
currency swaps, options and futures. Options on foreign currencies are affected by the factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally. A
Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on foreign currency options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market, and there can be no
assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. See “Swap Agreements and Swaptions Risk – Currency Swaps,” “Options Contracts Risk,” and “Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts Risk” herein.
Additional Risks Associated with Foreign Currency Transactions – It is
extremely difficult to forecast currency market movements, and whether any hedging or other investment strategy will be successful is highly uncertain. Further, it is
impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a foreign currency forward. Therefore, a Fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such transaction) if the sub-adviser’s predictions regarding the movement of foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. To the extent a Fund hedges against anticipated currency movements that do not occur, the Fund may realize losses and reduce its total return as a result of its hedging transactions. It is impossible to hedge fully or perfectly against the effects of currency fluctuations on the value of non-U.S. securities because currency movements impact the value of different securities in differing degrees. Foreign currency transactions, like currency exchange rates, can be affected unpredictably by intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or by currency controls or political developments. Such events may prevent or restrict a Fund’s ability to enter into foreign currency transactions, force a Fund to exit a foreign currency transaction at a disadvantageous time or price or result in penalties for the Fund, any of which may result in a loss to the Fund.
A Fund may buy or sell foreign currency options either on exchanges or in the OTC market. Foreign currency transactions on foreign exchanges may not be regulated to the same extent as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States and (v) lesser trading volume. Foreign currency transactions are also subject to the risks inherent in investments in foreign markets. See “Foreign Investments Risk” below.
P-Notes and Non-Standard Warrants Risk. A Fund may use
synthetic foreign equity derivatives in the form of P-Notes and non-standard warrants, including low exercise price warrants and low exercise price options to gain exposure
to certain issuers and markets where direct investment is either impossible or difficult due to local restrictions. These securities are issued by banks and other financial institutions and represent interest in securities listed on certain non-U.S. exchanges. Non-standard warrants are different from standard warrants in that they do not typically give their holders the right to receive a security of the issuer upon exercise, instead they typically pay the holder the difference in price of the underlying security between the date the non-standard warrant was
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purchased and the date it
is sold. In addition to risks similar to those associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, such as foreign investments risk, the holder of
a P-Note or non-standard warrant is not entitled to the same rights as an underlying security’s direct owner. P-Notes and non-standard warrants are also subject to
counterparty risk and liquidity risk.
Risk Factors in Derivative Instruments. Derivatives are volatile and
involve significant risks, including:
Correlation Risk – the risk that changes in the value of a derivative instrument will not match the changes in the value
of the Fund holdings that are being hedged.
Counterparty Risk – the risk that the party on the other side of an OTC derivatives contract or a borrower of a
Fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations.
Credit Risk – the risk
that the issuer of a security will not be able to make timely principal and interest payments. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of
an issuer’s creditworthiness may affect the value of a Fund’s investment in and/or exposure to that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the
financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation.
Currency Risk
– the risk that changes in the exchange rate between currencies will adversely affect the
value (in U.S. dollar terms) of an investment.
Derivatives Regulatory Matters – Under Rule 18f-4, the Fund needs to trade derivatives and other transactions that
potentially create senior securities (except reverse repurchase agreements) subject to a value-at-risk (“VaR”) leverage limit, certain other testing and derivatives risk management program requirements and requirements related to board reporting. These requirements apply unless the Fund qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” as defined in Rule 18f-4. Reverse repurchase agreements continue to be subject to the current asset coverage requirements, and the Fund trading reverse repurchase agreements needs to aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness when calculating the Fund’s asset coverage ratio (unless the Fund determines to treat such agreements and transactions as derivatives for all purposes under the rule). Reverse repurchase agreements are not included in the calculation of whether the Fund is a limited derivatives user (unless the Fund determines to treat such agreements and transactions as derivatives for all purposes under the rule), but if the Fund is subject to the VaR testing, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions are included for purposes of such testing. These requirements may limit the Fund’s ability to use derivatives and reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions as part of the Fund’s investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors.
Index Risk – in respect of index-linked derivatives, the risks associated with changes in the underlying indices.
If an underlying index changes, a Fund may receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below what the Fund paid. Certain indexed securities, including inverse securities (which move in an opposite direction from the reference index), may create leverage to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.
Interest Rate Risk – the risk that the value of an investment may decrease when interest rates rise because when interest
rates rise, the prices of bonds and fixed rate loans fall. Generally, the longer the maturity of a bond or fixed rate loan, the more sensitive it is to this risk (interest rate risk is commonly measured by a fixed income investment’s duration). Falling interest rates also create the potential for a decline in a Fund’s income.
Leverage Risk – the risk associated with certain types of investments or trading strategies (for example, borrowing
money to increase the amount being invested) that relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of an investment. Certain investments or trading strategies that involve leverage can result in losses that substantially exceed the amount originally invested.
Liquidity Risk – the risk
that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time that the seller would like to sell them or at the price the seller believes the security is
currently worth, and the risk that a Fund may not be able to meet margin and payment requirements and maintain a derivatives position.
Market Risk – the risk from potential adverse market movements in relation to a Fund’s derivatives positions,
or the risk that markets could experience a change in volatility that adversely impacts Fund returns and the Fund’s obligations and exposures.
Operational and Legal Risk – The risk that certain investments may involve risk of operational issues such as documentation issues, settlement issues, system failures, inadequate controls and human error, and the risk of insufficient capacity or authority of a derivatives counterparty and risk related to the legality or enforceability of a derivatives trading contract.
Short Position Risk - A Fund may also take a short position in a derivative instrument, such as a future, forward or swap. A
short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument which could cause a Fund to suffer a (potentially unlimited) loss.
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Tax Risk – The tax treatment of a derivative may not be as favorable as a direct investment in the underlying
asset. The use of derivatives may adversely affect the timing, character and amount of income the Fund realizes from its investments, and could impair the ability of a sub-adviser to use derivatives when it wishes to do so.
The potential loss on derivative instruments may be substantial relative to the initial investment therein. A Fund incurs
transaction costs in opening and closing positions in derivative instruments. There can be no assurance that the use of derivative instruments will be advantageous.
Regulatory Aspects of
Derivatives and Hedging Instruments. Under the CEA and CFTC regulations, thereunder, HFMC must
either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to a Fund’s use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) with respect to the Fund and be required to operate the Fund in compliance with certain disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.
Under current CFTC rules, the investment adviser of a registered investment company may claim an exemption from registration as a CPO only if the registered investment company that it advises uses futures contracts, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps solely for “bona fide hedging purposes,” or limits its use of such instruments for non-bona fide hedging purposes to certain de minimis amounts.
HFMC has filed a notice of eligibility claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term CPO and, therefore, HFMC is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to its service as investment adviser to a Fund. In the event that a Fund for which HFMC is not currently registered with or regulated by the CFTC engages in transactions that require registration as a CPO in the future, HFMC will comply with applicable regulations. If HFMC operates a Fund subject to CFTC regulation, the Fund may incur additional expenses.
Additional Risk Factors and Considerations of OTC Transactions. Certain derivatives traded in OTC markets, including swaps, OTC options and indexed securities, involve
substantial liquidity risk. This risk may be increased in times of financial stress if the trading market for OTC derivatives contracts or otherwise becomes restricted. The
absence of liquidity may make it difficult or impossible for a Fund to ascertain a market value for such instruments and/or to sell them promptly and at an acceptable
price.
Because derivatives traded in OTC
markets are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing corporation, to the extent that a Fund has unrealized gains in such instruments or has deposited collateral with its
counterparty, the Fund is at risk that its counterparty will become bankrupt or otherwise fail to honor its obligations. The counterparty’s failure to honor its
obligations would result in the loss of any premium paid by a Fund as well as the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction. Certain swaps traded in the OTC markets require exchange of variation margin payments between the parties, which can reduce but does not eliminate counterparty credit risk. In addition, closing transactions can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counterparty or effecting a transaction in the secondary market (if any such market exists). There can be no assurance that a Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC option position at a favorable price prior to expiration. In the event of insolvency of the counterparty, a Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option at any time prior to its expiration, if at all.
DIVIDEND RISK. Income
provided by a Fund may be affected by changes in the dividend policies of the companies in which the Fund invests and the capital resources available for such payments at
such companies. Issuers that have paid regular dividends or distributions to shareholders may not continue to do so at the same level or at all in the future. In addition,
securities that pay dividends as a group can fall out of favor with the market, causing a Fund to underperform funds that do not focus on dividends. If a Fund focuses on dividend yielding investments, it may cause the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate more than the share price and total return of funds that do not focus their investments on dividend paying securities.
DOLLAR ROLLS RISK. A Fund may enter into “dollar
rolls” in which a Fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase substantially similar
(same type, coupon and maturity) but not identical securities on a specified future date. A Fund gives up the right to receive principal and interest paid on the securities
sold. However, a Fund would benefit to the extent that the price received for the securities sold is higher than the forward price for the future purchase plus any fee income received. Unless such benefits exceed the income and capital appreciation that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the dollar roll, the use of this technique would adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance. The benefits derived from the use of dollar rolls may depend, among other things, upon the ability of a Fund’s sub-adviser to predict interest rates correctly. There can be no assurance that dollar rolls can be successfully employed. In addition, if a Fund uses dollar rolls while remaining substantially fully invested, the amount of a Fund’s assets that are subject to market risk would exceed the Fund’s net asset value, which could result in increased volatility of the price of the Fund’s shares. Further, entering into dollar rolls involves potential risks that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. For example, if the counterparty becomes insolvent, a Fund’s right to purchase from the counterparty may be restricted. Also, the value of the underlying security may change adversely before a Fund is able to purchase it, or a Fund may be required to purchase securities in connection with a dollar roll at a higher price than may be otherwise available on the open market. Further, because the counterparty may deliver a similar, but not identical, security, a Fund may be required to buy a security under the dollar roll that may be of less value than an identical security would have been.
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EQUITY RISK. Equity securities represent an ownership
interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in a company. Equity securities include but are not limited to common stock, preferred stock, securities convertible
into common or preferred stock and warrants or rights to acquire common stock, including options. The value of an equity security may be based on the real or perceived success or failure of the particular company’s business, any income paid to stockholders in the form of a dividend, the value of the company’s assets, general market conditions, or investor sentiment generally. Equity securities may have greater price volatility than other types of investments. These risks are generally magnified in the case of equity investments in distressed companies.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies Risk
– A Fund may invest in special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) or
similar special purpose entities. SPACs are collective investment structures that pool funds in order to seek potential acquisition opportunities. SPACs and similar entities may be blank check companies with no operating history or ongoing business other than to seek a potential acquisition. Because SPACs and similar entities have no operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their securities’ prices. In addition, these securities, which are typically traded in the OTC market, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.
ESG INTEGRATION RISK. The financially material ESG characteristics that may be evaluated as part of a Fund’s investment
process are anticipated to evolve over time and one or more characteristics may not be relevant with respect to all issuers that are eligible for investment. The relevance and weightings of specific ESG characteristics to the investment process varies across asset classes, sectors and strategies. ESG characteristics are not the only factors that may be considered by the portfolio manager(s) and as a result, the companies (or issuers) in which a Fund invests may not be companies (or issuers) with favorable ESG characteristics or high ESG ratings. ESG characteristics may be evaluated differently by different portfolio manager(s) and may not carry the same meaning to all investors and portfolio manager(s). While the portfolio manager(s) believe that the integration of material ESG characteristics into a Fund’s investment process has the potential to identify financial risks and contribute to a Fund’s long-term performance, there is no guarantee that the integration of ESG characteristics will result in better performance. In addition, changing market conditions could cause the consideration of ESG characteristics to negatively impact a Fund's performance in certain market cycles or conditions. The analysis of ESG characteristics is subjective and investors can differ in their views of what constitutes positive or negative ESG characteristics. ESG information and data, including that provided by third parties, may be incomplete, inaccurate, or unavailable, which could adversely affect the analysis relevant to a particular investment. Further, the regulatory landscape with respect to ESG investing in the United States is still developing and future rules and regulations may require a Fund to modify or alter its investment process with respect to ESG integration.
EVENT RISK. Event risk is the risk that corporate issuers
may undergo restructurings, such as mergers, leveraged buyouts, takeovers or similar events financed by the issuer’s taking on additional debt. As a result of the
added debt, the credit quality and market value of a company’s bonds and/or other debt securities may decline significantly.
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS (ETFs) RISK. ETFs are registered
investment companies that trade their shares on stock exchanges (such as the [Cboe BZX]) at market prices (rather than net asset value) and only are redeemable from the fund
itself in large increments or in exchange for baskets of securities. As an exchange traded security, an ETF’s shares are priced continuously and trade throughout the day. ETFs may track a securities index, a particular market sector, a particular segment of a securities index or market sector, or they may be actively managed. An investment in an ETF generally implicates the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a fund that is not exchange-traded that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies of the ETF; (ii) the risk that the ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) the risk that, to the extent the ETF does not fully replicate the underlying index, the ETF’s investment strategy may not produce the intended results; (iv) the risk of more frequent price fluctuations due to secondary market trading, which may result in a loss to the Fund; (v) the risk that an ETF may trade at a price that is lower than its net asset value; and (vi) the risk that an active market for the ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained. Also, a Fund will indirectly pay a proportional share of the asset-based fees of the ETFs in which it invests. ETFs are also subject to specific risks depending on the nature of the ETF, such as liquidity risk, sector risk and foreign and emerging market risk, as well as risks associated with fixed income securities, real estate investments and commodities. An investment in an ETF presents the risk that the ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which the ETF is listed. Further, trading in an ETF may be halted if the trading in one or more of the securities held by an ETF is halted. Please see “Other Investment Companies Risk” below.
EXCHANGE-TRADED NOTES (ETNs) RISK. ETNs are a type of unsecured, unsubordinated debt security that have characteristics and risks, including
credit risk, similar to those of fixed-income securities and trade on a major exchange similar to shares of ETFs. Unlike other types of fixed income securities, however, the
performance of ETNs is based upon that of a market index or other reference asset minus fees and expenses, no coupon payments are made and no principal protection exists.
The value of an ETN may be affected by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying commodities or securities markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the referenced commodity or security. A Fund’s ability to sell its ETN holdings also may be limited by
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the availability of a
secondary market and a Fund may have to sell such holdings at a discount. ETNs also are subject to counterparty credit risk, fixed-income risk and tracking
error risk (where the ETN’s performance may not match or correlate to that of its market index). ETNs also incur certain expenses not incurred by their applicable
index.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES RISK. A Fund is permitted to
invest in fixed income securities including, but not limited to: (1) securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities; (2) non-convertible debt securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations or other issuers (including foreign issuers); (3) asset-backed securities; (4) mortgage-related securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”); (5) securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by a foreign issuer, including supranational entities such as development banks, non-U.S. corporations, banks or bank holding companies or other foreign issuers; (6) commercial mortgage-backed securities; and (7) other capital securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations or other issuers (including foreign issuers).
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
RISK. Foreign securities may be denominated or quoted in, or pay income in, U.S. dollars or in a
foreign currency. Certain companies organized outside the United States may not be deemed to be foreign issuers or borrowers if the issuer’s or borrower’s economic fortunes and risks are primarily linked with U.S. markets.
Investing in securities of foreign issuers and loans to foreign borrowers involves considerations and potential risks not typically associated with investing in obligations issued by U.S. entities. Less information may be available about foreign entities compared with U.S. entities. For example, foreign issuers and borrowers generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or to other regulatory practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers and borrowers. In addition, prices of foreign securities may fluctuate more than prices of securities traded in the United States. Other potential foreign market risks include difficulties in pricing securities, defaults on foreign government securities, difficulties in enforcing favorable legal judgments in foreign courts and political and social conditions, such as diplomatic relations, confiscatory taxation, expropriation, limitation on the removal of funds or assets or imposition of (or change in) exchange control regulations. Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be less extensive than those available to investors in the United States or other foreign countries. In addition, changes in government administrations or economic or monetary policies in the United States or abroad could result in appreciation or depreciation of portfolio securities. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair a Fund’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer the Fund’s assets or income back into the United States, or otherwise adversely affect a Fund’s operations.
Geopolitical and other events (e.g., actual or threatened wars,
military conflicts, terrorism or natural disasters) may disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets, thereby decreasing the value of a
Fund’s investments. Such developments could lead to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally. Those events as well as other changes in regional economic and political conditions could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of a Fund’s investments. For example, the imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments, or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, may also result in losses. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. These types of measures may include, but are not limited to, banning a sanctioned country from global payment systems that facilitate cross-border payments, restricting the settlement of securities transactions by certain investors, and freezing the assets of particular countries, entities, or persons. The imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, downgrades in the credit ratings of the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, devaluation of the sanctioned country’s currency, and increased market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund’s liquidity and performance. Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely affect markets, issuers, and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries. Please see “Regional/Country Focus Risk” below, which sets forth additional information regarding risks associated with investing in certain geographic regions and countries.
A default or debt restructuring by any European country would
adversely impact holders of that country’s debt, and sellers of credit default swaps linked to that country’s creditworthiness (which may be located in other
countries). These events may have an adverse effect on the value and exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country
in Europe, including European Union member countries that do not use the euro and non-European Union member countries. If any member country exits the European Monetary Union, the departing country would face the risks of currency devaluation and its trading partners and banks and others around the world that hold the departing country’s debt would face the risk of significant losses. In addition, the resulting economic instability of Europe and the currency markets in general could have a severe adverse effect on the value of securities held by a Fund.
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Certain European
countries in which a Fund may invest have recently experienced significant volatility in financial markets and may continue to do so in the future. The departure of one or
more countries from the European Union may have significant political and financial consequences for global markets. These consequences include greater market volatility and
illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in such markets. Uncertainty relating to the United Kingdom’s post-departure framework and relationships may have adverse effects on asset valuations and the renegotiation of trade agreements, as well as an increase in financial regulation in such markets. This may adversely impact Fund performance.
Currency Risk and Exchange Risk. Because foreign
securities generally are denominated and pay dividends or interest in foreign currencies, the value of a Fund that invests in foreign securities as measured in U.S. dollars
will be affected by changes in exchange rates. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency loses value because the currency is worth fewer U.S. dollars. Conversely, when the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency gains value because the currency is worth more U.S. dollars. This risk, generally known as “currency risk,” means that a stronger U.S. dollar will reduce returns for U.S. investors while a weak U.S. dollar will increase those returns. Moreover, transaction costs are incurred in connection with conversions between currencies. Please see “Currency Risk” above.
Principal Exchange Rate Linked Securities Risk. Principal
exchange rate linked securities (“PERLs”) are debt obligations the principal on which is payable at maturity in an amount that may vary based on the exchange
rate between the U.S. Dollar and a particular foreign currency at or about that time. The return on “standard” PERLs is enhanced if the foreign currency to which
the security is linked appreciates against the U.S. dollar, and is adversely affected by increases in the foreign exchange value of the U.S. dollar; “reverse” PERLs are like the “standard” securities, except that their return is enhanced by increases in the value of the U.S. dollar and adversely impacted by increases in the value of foreign currency. Interest payments on the securities are generally made in U.S. dollars at rates that reflect the degree of foreign currency risk assumed or given up by the purchaser of the notes (i.e., at relatively higher interest rates if the purchaser has assumed some of the foreign exchange risk, or relatively lower interest rates if the issuer has assumed some of the foreign exchange risk, based on the expectations of the current market). PERLs may in limited cases be subject to acceleration of maturity (generally, not without the consent of the holders of the securities), which may have an adverse impact on the value of the principal payment to be made at maturity.
Performance Indexed
Paper Risk. Performance indexed paper (“PIPs”) is U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper the yield of which is linked to certain foreign exchange rate movements. The yield to the investor on PIPs is established at maturity as a function of spot exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a designated currency as of or about that time (generally, the index maturity two days prior to maturity). The yield to the investor will be within a range stipulated at the time of purchase of the obligation, generally with a guaranteed minimum rate of return that is below, and a potential maximum rate of return that is above, market yields on U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper, with both the minimum and maximum rates of return on the investment corresponding to the minimum and maximum values of the spot exchange rate two business days prior to maturity.
Settlement Risk.
Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets differ significantly from those in the United States. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may
involve certain risks (such as delays in payment for or delivery of securities) not typically generated in the settlement of U.S. investments. Settlements in certain foreign
countries at times have not kept pace with the number of securities transactions being undertaken; these problems may make it difficult for a Fund to carry out transactions. If a Fund cannot settle or is delayed in settling a purchase of securities, it may miss attractive investment opportunities and certain of its assets may remain uninvested with no return earned thereon for some period. There may also be the danger that, because of uncertainties in the operation of settlement systems in individual markets, competing claims may arise in respect of securities held by or to be transferred to a Fund. Further, compensation schemes may be non-existent, limited or inadequate to meet a Fund’s claims in any of these events. In connection with any of these events, and other similar circumstances, a Fund may experience losses because of failures of or defects in settlement systems.
There are additional and magnified risks involved with investments in emerging or developing markets, which may exhibit greater price volatility and risk of principal, have less liquidity and have settlement arrangements that are less efficient than in developed markets. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries generally are heavily dependent on international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. Emerging market economies also have been and may continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade. See “Investments in Emerging Market Securities Risk” below.
To the extent that a Fund focuses its investments in a particular geographic region or country, the Fund may be subject to increased currency, political, social, environmental, regulatory and other risks not typically associated with investing in a larger number of regions or countries. In addition, certain foreign economies may themselves be focused in particular industries or more vulnerable to political changes than the U.S. economy, which may have a pronounced impact on the Fund’s investments. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments. Regional and country focus risk is heightened in emerging markets.
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The following sets
forth additional information regarding risks associated with investing in certain geographic regions and countries.
Investments in Central and
South America. The economies of certain Central and South American countries are generally
considered emerging markets and are generally characterized by high interest rates, economic volatility, inflation, currency devaluations, government defaults, high unemployment rates, and political, economic and social instability. Currency devaluations in any one Latin American country can have a significant effect on the entire Latin American region. In addition, commodities (such as oil, gas and minerals) represent a significant percentage of exports for these regions and many economies in these regions are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. Certain Latin American countries may experience sudden and large adjustments in their currency which, in turn, can have a disruptive and negative effect on foreign investors. Certain Latin American countries may impose restrictions on the free conversion of their currency into foreign currencies, including the U.S. dollar. There is no significant foreign exchange market for many currencies and it would, as a result, be difficult for a Fund to engage in foreign currency transactions designed to protect the value of the Fund’s interests in securities denominated in such currencies. A relatively small number of Latin American companies represents a large portion of Latin America’s total market and thus may be more sensitive to adverse political or economic circumstances and market movements. Adverse economic events in one country may have a significant adverse effect on other countries in these regions. Governmental actions and political instability in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions in Latin American countries, which could affect the companies in which a Fund invests and, therefore, the value of Fund shares. Latin American economies that depend on foreign credit and loans could fall into recession because of tighter international credit supplies in a global economic crisis. Substantial limitations may exist in certain countries with respect to a Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Fund of any restrictions on investments.
Certain Latin American countries have entered into regional trade agreements that are designed to, among other things, reduce barriers between countries, increase competition among companies and reduce government subsidies in certain industries. No assurance can be given that these changes will be successful in the long term, or that these changes will result in the economic stability intended. There is a possibility that these trade arrangements will not be fully implemented, or will be partially or completely unwound. It is also possible that a significant participant could choose to abandon a trade agreement, which could diminish its credibility and influence. Any of these occurrences could have adverse effects on the markets of both participating and non-participating countries, including sharp appreciation or depreciation of participants’ national currencies and a significant increase in exchange rate volatility, a resurgence in economic protectionism, an undermining of confidence in the Latin American markets, an undermining of Latin American economic stability, the collapse or slowdown of the drive towards Latin American economic unity, and/or reversion of the attempts to lower government debt and inflation rates that were introduced in anticipation of such trade agreements. Such developments could have an adverse impact on a Fund’s investments in Latin America generally or in specific countries participating in such trade agreements.
For certain countries in Latin America, political risks have created significant uncertainty in financial markets and may further limit the economic recovery in the region. Additionally, recent political and social unrest in Venezuela has resulted in a massive disruption in the Venezuelan economy, including a deep recession and near hyperinflation. Terrorism and related geo-political risks have led, and may in the future lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
Investments in Europe. The Economic and Monetary Union of
the European Union requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may
significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or European Union regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain European Union countries), the default or threat of default by a European Union member country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in a European Union member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of European Union member countries and their trading partners. The European financial markets have experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns or rising government debt levels in several European countries. These events have adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the euro. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. A default or debt restructuring by any European country would adversely impact holders of that country’s debt, and sellers of credit default swaps linked to that country’s creditworthiness (which may be located in other countries). These events may have an adverse effect on the value and exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country in Europe, including European Union member countries that do not use the euro and non-European Union member countries. If any member country exits the European Monetary Union, the departing country would face
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the risks of currency
devaluation and its trading partners and banks and others around the world that hold the departing country’s debt would face the risk of significant
losses. In addition, the resulting economic instability of Europe and the currency markets in general could have a severe adverse effect on the value of securities held by a
Fund.
The potential departure of one or more
countries from the European Union has and may have significant political and financial consequences for global markets. These consequences include greater market volatility
and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in such
markets.
Certain European countries have also developed increasingly strained relationships with the U.S., and if these relations were to worsen, they could adversely affect European issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade. Secessionist movements, such as the Catalan movement in Spain and the independence movement in Scotland, as well as governmental or other responses to such movements, may also create instability and uncertainty in the region. In addition, the national politics of countries in the European Union have been unpredictable and subject to influence by disruptive political groups and ideologies. The governments of European Union countries may be subject to change and such countries may experience social and political unrest. Unanticipated or sudden political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. The occurrence of terrorist incidents throughout Europe also could impact financial markets. The impact of these events is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching and could adversely affect the value (and liquidity) of a Fund’s investments.
Investments in Asia.
Certain Asian economies have experienced high inflation, high unemployment, currency devaluations and restrictions, and over-extension of credit. Many Asian economies have
experienced rapid growth and industrialization, and there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. Economic events in any one Asian country may have a
significant economic effect on the entire Asian region, as well as on major trading partners outside Asia. Any adverse event in the Asian markets may have a significant adverse effect on some or all of the economies of the countries in which a Fund invests. Many Asian countries are subject to political risk, including corruption and regional conflict with neighboring countries. In addition, many Asian countries are subject to social and labor risks associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions.
Investments in China. Investments in securities of companies domiciled in the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”) involve a high degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in the U.S. securities markets. Such heightened risks include, among others, an authoritarian government, popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions, the impact of regional conflict on the economy and hostile relations with neighboring countries. Military conflicts, either in response to internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries, could disrupt economic development. The Chinese economy is vulnerable to the long-running disagreements with Hong Kong related to integration. China has a complex territorial dispute regarding the sovereignty of Taiwan; Taiwan-based companies and individuals are significant investors in China. Potential military conflict between China and Taiwan may adversely affect securities of Chinese issuers. In addition, China has strained international relations with Japan, India, Russia and other neighbors due to territorial disputes, historical animosities and other defense concerns. China could be affected by military events on the Korean peninsula or internal instability within North Korea. These situations may cause uncertainty in the Chinese market and may adversely affect the performance of the Chinese economy.
The U.S. government may occasionally place restrictions on
investments in Chinese companies. For example, a rulemaking implemented by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control prohibits U.S. persons from
purchasing or selling publicly traded securities (including publicly traded securities that are derivative of, or are designed to provide exposure to, such securities) of any Chinese company identified as a Chinese Military Industrial Complex Company (“OFAC Rules”). Certain implementation matters related to the scope of, and compliance with, the OFAC Rules have not yet been fully resolved, and the ultimate application and enforcement of the OFAC Rules may change. As a result, the OFAC Rules and related guidance may significantly reduce the liquidity of such securities, force a Fund to sell certain positions at inopportune times or for unfavorable prices, and restrict future investments by a Fund. Designation as a CMIC may also lead to securities in such CMIC (together with securities of other Chinese-based issuers) to fall in market price and liquidity, and a Fund may incur a loss as a result.
The Chinese government has implemented
significant economic reforms in order to liberalize trade policy, promote foreign investment in the economy, reduce government control of the economy and develop market
mechanisms. But there can be no assurance that these reforms will continue or that they will be effective. Despite reforms and privatizations of companies in certain
sectors, the Chinese government still exercises substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector and may own or control many companies. The Chinese government continues to maintain a major role in economic policy making and investing in China involves risks of losses due to expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property, and the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested. In addition, the imposition of sanctions and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments may also result in losses.
The Chinese government may intervene in the Chinese financial markets, such as by the imposition of trading restrictions, a ban on “naked” short selling or the suspension of short selling for certain stocks. This may affect market price and liquidity of these stocks, and may have an unpredictable impact on the investment activities of a Fund. Furthermore, such market interventions may have a negative impact on market sentiment which may in turn affect the performance of the securities markets and as a result the performance of a Fund.
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In addition, there is
less regulation and monitoring of the securities markets and the activities of investors, brokers and other participants in China than in the United States. Accordingly,
issuers of securities in China are not subject to the same degree of regulation as those in the United States with respect to such matters as insider trading rules, tender
offer regulation, stockholder proxy requirements and the requirements mandating timely and accurate disclosure of information. Stock markets in China are in the process of change and further development. This may lead to trading volatility, and difficulties in the settlement and recording of transactions and interpretation and application of the relevant regulations. Custodians may not be able to offer the level of service and safe-keeping in relation to the settlement and administration of securities in China that is customary in more developed markets. In particular, there is a risk that a Fund may not be recognized as the owner of securities that are held on behalf of a Fund by a sub-custodian. A Fund thus faces the risk of being unable to enforce its rights with respect to its holdings of Chinese investments.
The RMB, China’s official currency, is currently not a
freely convertible currency and is subject to foreign exchange control policies and repatriation restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. The imposition of currency
controls may negatively impact performance and liquidity of a Fund as capital may become trapped in the PRC. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to a Fund of any restrictions on investments. At times, there may be insufficient offshore RMB for a Fund to remain fully invested in Chinese equities. Investing in entities either in, or which have a substantial portion of their operations in, the PRC may require a Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local government approvals or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs and delays to a Fund.
While the Chinese economy has grown rapidly in recent years, there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. China may experience substantial rates of inflation or economic recessions, causing a negative effect on the economy and securities market. China’s economy is heavily dependent on export growth. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of tariffs or other trade barriers or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the securities of Chinese issuers. The tax laws and regulations in the PRC are subject to change, including the issuance of authoritative guidance or enforcement, possibly with retroactive effect. The interpretation, applicability and enforcement of such laws by the PRC tax authorities are not as consistent and transparent as those of more developed nations, and may vary over time and from region to region. The application and enforcement of the PRC tax rules could have a significant adverse effect on a Fund and its investors, particularly in relation to capital gains withholding tax imposed upon non-residents. In addition, the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices applicable to Chinese companies may be less rigorous, and may result in significant differences between financial statements prepared in accordance with PRC accounting standards and practices and those prepared in accordance with international accounting standards.
A Fund may obtain exposure to companies based or operated
in China by investing through legal structures known as variable interest entities (“VIEs”). Because of Chinese governmental restrictions on non-Chinese
ownership of companies in certain industries in China, certain Chinese companies have used VIEs to facilitate foreign investment without distributing direct ownership
of companies based or operated in China. In such cases, the Chinese operating company establishes an offshore company, and the offshore company enters into contractual arrangements (such as powers of attorney, equity pledge agreements and other services or business cooperation agreements) with the operating company. These contractual arrangements are intended to give the offshore company the ability to exercise power over and obtain economic rights from the operating company. Shares of the offshore company, in turn, are listed and traded on exchanges outside of China and are available to non-Chinese investors such as a Fund. This arrangement allows non-Chinese investors in the offshore company to obtain economic exposure to the Chinese company without direct equity ownership in the Chinese company.
On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission
("CSRC") released the "Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies" (the "Trial Measures") which had come into effect on
March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures will require Chinese companies that pursue listings outside of mainland China, including those that do so using the VIE structure, to make a filing with the CSRC. While the Trial Measures do not prohibit the use of VIE structures, this does not serve as a formal endorsement either. There is a risk that China may cease to tolerate VIEs at any time or impose new restrictions on the structure, in each case either generally or with respect to specific industries, sectors or companies. Investments involving a VIE may also pose additional risks because such investments are made through a company whose interests in the underlying operating company are established through contract rather than through equity ownership. For example, in the event of a dispute, the offshore company’s contractual claims with respect to the operating company may be deemed unenforceable in China, thus limiting (or eliminating) the remedies and rights available to the offshore company and its investors. Such legal uncertainty may also be exploited against the interests of the offshore company and its investors. Further, the interests of the equity owners of the operating company may conflict with the interests of the investors of the offshore company, and the fiduciary duties of the officers and directors of the operating company may differ from, or conflict with, the fiduciary duties of the officers and directors of the offshore company. Foreign companies listed on U.S. exchanges, including offshore companies that utilize a VIE structure, also could face delisting or other ramifications for failure to meet the requirements of the SEC, the PCAOB or other United States regulators. Any of the foregoing risks and events could negatively impact a Fund’s performance.
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Investments in China A-Shares through Stock
Connect – China A shares are equity securities of companies located in mainland China that trade on
the Shanghai Stock Exchange (“SSE”) and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“SZSE”) (“China A-shares”). Investment in eligible
China A-shares listed and traded on the SSE or SZSE is permitted through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program or the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock
Connect program, as applicable (each, a “Stock Connect” and collectively, “Stock Connects”). Each Stock Connect is a securities
trading and clearing links program established by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“SEHK”), the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company
Limited (“HKSCC”), the SSE or SZSE, as applicable, and China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited (“CSDCC”)
that aims to provide mutual stock market access between the PRC and Hong Kong by permitting investors to trade and settle shares on each market through their local securities brokers. Under Stock Connects, a Fund’s trading of eligible China A-shares listed on the SSE or SZSE, as applicable, would be effectuated through its Hong Kong broker and a securities trading service company established by SEHK.
Although no individual investment quotas or licensing requirements apply to investors in Stock Connects, trading through a Stock Connect’s Northbound Trading Link is subject to daily investment quota limitations which require that buy orders for China A-shares be rejected once the daily quota is exceeded (although a Fund will be permitted to sell China A-shares regardless of the quota). These limitations may restrict a Fund from investing in China A-shares on a timely basis, which could affect a Fund’s ability to effectively pursue its investment strategy. Investment quotas are also subject to change. Investment in eligible China A-shares through a Stock Connect is subject to trading, clearance and settlement procedures that could pose risks to a Fund. China A-shares purchased through Stock Connects generally may not be sold or otherwise transferred other than through Stock Connects in accordance with applicable rules. For example, the PRC regulations require that in order for an investor to sell any China A-share on a certain trading day, there must be sufficient China A-shares in the investor’s account before the market opens on that day. If there are insufficient China A-shares in the investor’s account, the sell order will be rejected by the SSE or SZSE, as applicable. SEHK carries out pre-trade checking on sell orders of certain stocks listed on the SSE market (“SSE Securities”) or SZSE market (“SZSE Securities”) of its participants (i.e., stock brokers) to ensure that this requirement is satisfied. While shares must be designated as eligible to be traded under a Stock Connect, those shares may also lose such designation, and if this occurs, such shares may be sold but cannot be purchased through a Stock Connect. Moreover, day (turnaround) trading is not permitted on the China A-shares market. If an investor buys China A-shares on day “T,” the investor will only be able to sell the China A-shares on or after day T+1. Further, since all trades of eligible China A-shares must be settled in RMB, investors must have timely access to a reliable supply of offshore RMB, which cannot be guaranteed. RMB could potentially be subject to devaluation. Any devaluation of RMB could adversely affect a Fund’s investments. If a Fund holds a class of shares denominated in a local currency other than RMB, a Fund will be exposed to currency exchange risk if a Fund converts the local currency into RMB for investments in China A-shares. A Fund may also incur conversion costs.
China A-shares held through the nominee structure under a Stock Connect will be held through HKSCC as nominee on behalf of investors. The precise nature and rights of a Fund as the beneficial owner of the SSE Securities or SZSE Securities through HKSCC as nominee is not well defined under the PRC laws. There is a lack of a clear definition of, and distinction between, legal ownership and beneficial ownership under the PRC laws and there have been few cases involving a nominee account structure in the PRC courts. The exact nature and methods of enforcement of the rights and interests of a Fund under the PRC laws is also uncertain. In the unlikely event that HKSCC becomes subject to winding up proceedings in Hong Kong, there is a risk that the SSE Securities or SZSE Securities may not be regarded as held for the beneficial ownership of a Fund or as part of the general assets of HKSCC available for general distribution to its creditors. Notwithstanding the fact that HKSCC does not claim proprietary interests in the SSE Securities or SZSE Securities held in its omnibus stock account in the CSDCC, the CSDCC as the share registrar for SSE- or SZSE-listed companies will still treat HKSCC as one of the shareholders when it handles corporate actions in respect of such SSE Securities or SZSE Securities. HKSCC monitors the corporate actions affecting SSE Securities and SZSE Securities and keeps participants of Central Clearing and Settlement System (“CCASS”) informed of all such corporate actions that require CCASS participants to take steps in order to participate in them. Investors may only exercise their voting rights by providing their voting instructions to HKSCC through participants of CCASS. All voting instructions from CCASS participants will be consolidated by HKSCC, who will then submit a combined single voting instruction to the relevant SSE- or SZSE-listed company.
For defaults occurring on or after January 1, 2020, Hong Kong's Investor Compensation Fund covers investors' losses (capped at HKD 500,000 per investor) in relation to securities traded on a stock market operated by the SSE or the SZSE and in respect of which an order for sale or purchase is permitted to be routed through the northbound link of a Stock Connect arrangement. On the other hand, since a Fund carries out northbound trading through securities brokers in Hong Kong but not Mainland Chinese brokers, they are not protected by the China Securities Investor Protection Fund in Mainland China.
Market participants are able to participate in Stock Connects subject to meeting certain information technology capability, risk management and other requirements as may be specified by the relevant exchange and/or clearing house. Further, the “connectivity” in Stock Connects requires routing of orders across the border of Hong Kong and mainland China. This
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requires the development of new information technology systems on the part of SEHK and
exchange participants. There is no assurance that the systems of SEHK and market participants will function properly or will continue to be adapted to
changes and developments in both markets. In the event that the relevant systems fail to function properly, trading in China A-shares through Stock Connects could be disrupted.
The current regulations are subject to change and there can be no assurance that a Stock Connect will not be discontinued. New regulations may be issued from time to time by the regulators and stock exchanges in mainland China and Hong Kong in connection with operations, legal enforcement and cross-border trades under Stock Connects. A Fund may be adversely affected as a result of such changes. Furthermore, the securities regimes and legal systems of mainland China and Hong Kong differ significantly and issues may arise from the differences on an on-going basis. In the event that the relevant systems fail to function properly, trading in both markets through Stock Connects could be disrupted and a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective may be adversely affected. In addition, a Fund’s investments in China A-shares through Stock Connects are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and listing rules, among other restrictions. Further, different fees, costs and taxes are imposed on foreign investors acquiring China A-shares through Stock Connects, and these fees, costs and taxes may be higher than comparable fees, costs and taxes imposed on owners of other securities providing similar investment exposure.
China A-shares may only be bought from, or sold to, a Fund at times when the relevant China A-shares may be sold or purchased on the relevant Chinese stock exchange. The China A-shares market has a higher propensity for trading suspensions than many other global equity markets. In addition, the SSE and SZSE may close for extended periods for holidays or otherwise, which impacts a Fund’s ability to trade in China A-shares during those periods. Trading suspensions in certain stocks and extended market closures could lead to greater market execution risk, valuation risks, liquidity risks and costs for a Fund. The SSE and SZSE currently apply a daily price limit, generally set at 10%, of the amount of fluctuation permitted in the prices of China A-shares during a single trading day. The daily price limit refers to price movements only and does not restrict trading within the relevant limit. There can be no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange will exist for any particular China A-share or for any particular time.
The risks related to investments in China A-shares through Stock Connect are heightened to the extent that a Fund invests in China A-shares listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board on the Shanghai stock exchange (“STAR market”) and/or the ChiNext market of the Shenzhen stock exchange (“ChiNext market”). Listed companies on the STAR market and ChiNext market are usually of an emerging nature with smaller operating scale. They are subject to higher fluctuation in stock prices and liquidity. It may be more common and take less time for companies listed on the STAR market and ChiNext market to delist as compared to companies listed on other exchanges.
PRC Taxation
– Under current PRC tax laws, regulations and practice, a Fund, the Investment Manager
and/or the sub-adviser may be subject to PRC tax, directly or indirectly, with respect to the assets held through Stock Connect and/or Bond Connect. A Fund will be responsible to reimburse the Investment Manager and/or the sub-adviser for all PRC taxes and duties of any kind incurred by the Investment Manager and/or sub-adviser and attributable to the assets of a Fund held through Stock Connect and/or Bond Connect. The tax law and regulations of the PRC are constantly changing, and they may be changed with retrospective effect. The interpretation and applicability of the tax law and regulations by tax authorities are not as consistent and transparent as those of more developed nations, and may vary from region to region. Moreover, the PRC taxes and duties payable by the Investment Manager and/or the sub-adviser and which are to be reimbursed by a Fund to the extent attributable to the assets held through Stock Connect and/or Bond Connect may change at any time.
The treatment of tax under the Investment Regulations (defined below) is not clear. Accordingly, where the relevant regulations applicable to Stock Connect and/or Bond Connect (“Investment Regulations”) require a custodian, clearing house, any other agent stipulated by such rules to withhold any tax, or where such custodian, clearing house, any other agent has a reasonable basis for believing that such withholding may be required, the custodian, clearing house and any other agent may do so at the rate required by the regulation, or if in the custodian’s opinion the Investment Regulations are not clear on the rate, at such rate as the custodian, clearing house, and any other agent may, reasonably determine to be appropriate. Tax may be withheld on a retroactive basis.
Given the uncertainty surrounding a Fund’s
potential PRC tax liabilities or reimbursement obligations, the net asset value of a Fund on any business day may not accurately reflect such liabilities.
As a result, incoming shareholders of a Fund may pay more for their shares than they otherwise would or should have done. In the event of a redemption of
shares at such net asset value, the remaining shareholders will bear the burden of any liabilities which had not been accrued in the net asset value. In addition, investors should be aware that under-accrual or over-accrual for PRC tax liabilities may impact the performance of a Fund during the period of such under-accrual or over-accrual and following any subsequent adjustments to the net asset value.
Corporate Income Tax – Under current PRC Corporate Income Tax Law and regulations, any company considered to be a tax resident of the PRC would be subject to PRC Corporate Income Tax (“CIT”) at the rate of 25% on its worldwide taxable income. If a company were considered to be a non-resident enterprise with a “permanent establishment” (“PE”) in the PRC,
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it
would be subject to CIT at the rate of 25% on the profits attributable to the PE. A Fund, together with the sub-adviser and the Investment Manager, does
not intend to operate in a way that would cause a Fund to be treated as tax resident of the PRC and to have a PE in the PRC, though this cannot be
guaranteed. It is possible, however, that the PRC could disagree with such an assessment or that changes in PRC tax law could affect the PRC CIT status of a
Fund.
If a Fund is a non-PRC tax
resident enterprise without PE in the PRC, the PRC-sourced income (including cash dividends, distributions, interest and capital gains) derived by it from
any investment in PRC securities would be subject to PRC withholding income tax (“WHT”) at the rate of 10%, unless exempt or reduced under the
PRC CIT Law or a relevant tax treaty as discussed below.
A Fund is also subject to a stamp duty at the rate of 0.1% arising from the sale of China A-shares and the transfer of China A-shares by way of reorganization in accordance with the prevailing PRC taxation regulations.
Specific
considerations for Stock Connect and Bond Connect – Especially, in respect of trading of China A-shares through the Stock Connect and pursuant
to the circular dated October 31, 2014 on the Taxation Policy of the Pilot Programme for the Mutual Stock Market Access between Shanghai and Hong Kong
Stock Markets under Caishui [2014] No. 81, the circular dated November 5, 2016 on the Taxation Policy of the Pilot Programme for the Mutual Stock Access
between Shenzhen and Hong Kong Stock Markets under Caishui [2016] No. 127 and other relevant applicable PRC taxation rules:
- CIT and value-added tax (“VAT”)
shall be exempt on a temporary basis on the gains earned by Hong Kong and overseas investors (“Stock Connect Investors”) (including corporate
and individual investors) from the transfer of China A-shares listed on SSE and/or SZSE; and
- Stock Connect Investors are required to pay
tax on dividends and other income payments from China A-shares at a standard rate of 10%, which will be withheld and paid to the relevant PRC tax authority
by the respective listed companies (before the HKSCC is able to provide details such as investor identities and holding periods to CSDCC, the policy of differentiated rates of taxation based on holding periods will temporarily not be implemented) and are entitled to a tax refund if a lower tax rate is applicable under a relevant tax treaty, subject to the approval by the relevant PRC tax authority; and
- In addition, except for interest income from certain bonds (i.e. government bonds and local government bonds which are entitled to a 100% CIT exemption and railway bonds which are entitled to a 50% CIT exemption in accordance with the Implementation Rules to the Enterprise Income Tax Law and a circular dated March 10, 2016 on the Circular on Income Tax Policies on Interest Income from Railway Bonds under Caishui [2016] No. 30), interest income derived by non-resident institutional investors from other bonds traded through Bond Connect is PRC-sourced income and should be subject to PRC withholding income tax at a rate of 10% and VAT at a rate of 6%. On November 22, 2021, the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation jointly issued Announcement No. 34 of 2021, to clarify that foreign institutional investors (including foreign institutional investors under Bond Connect) will continue to be temporarily exempt from PRC withholding income tax and VAT with respect to bond interest income derived in the PRC bond market for the period from November 7, 2021 to December 31, 2025. It remains to be clarified as to what the PRC withholding income tax and VAT treatment is with respect to non-government bond interest derived prior to November 7, 2018.
Capital gains derived by non-resident
institutional investors (with no place or establishment or PE in the PRC) from the trading of bonds through the Bond Connect are technically non
PRC-sourced income under the current CIT law and regulations, therefore, not subject to PRC CIT. While the PRC tax authorities are currently enforcing such
non-taxable treatment in practice, the non-taxable treatment under the current CIT regulations is not clear.
According to Cai Shui [2016] No. 70 ("Circular 70"), the Supplementary Notice of the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation on VAT Policies for Interbank Dealings of Financial Institutions, gains derived by foreign institutions approved by People’s Bank of China from the investment in the inter-bank RMB markets (including currency market, bond market and derivative market) shall be exempt from VAT.
Investments in Japan. The Japanese economy is heavily
dependent upon international trade and may be subject to considerable degrees of economic, political and social instability, which could negatively impact a Fund. The
Japanese yen has fluctuated widely during recent periods and may be affected by currency volatility elsewhere in Asia, especially Southeast Asia. In addition, the yen has had a history of unpredictable and volatile movements against the U.S. dollar. The performance of the global economy could have a major impact upon equity returns in Japan. Since the mid-2000s, Japan’s economic growth has remained relatively low. A recent economic recession was likely compounded by an unstable financial sector, low domestic consumption, and certain corporate structural weaknesses, which remain some of the major issues facing the Japanese economy. The Japanese economic growth rate could be impacted by Bank of Japan monetary policies, rising interest rates, tax increases, budget deficits, consumer confidence and volatility in the Japanese yen. Japan’s geography also subjects it to an increased risk of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and tsunamis.
GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN FINANCIAL MARKETS RISK.
Governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with a variety of significant
fiscal and monetary policy changes, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary programs and dramatically
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increasing or lowering of
interest rates. There can be no guarantee that any economic stimulus bills (within the United States or other affected countries throughout the world) will be
sufficient or will have their intended effect. In addition, an unexpected or quick reversal of such policies could increase volatility in securities markets, which could
adversely affect the Fund’s investments.
In addition, instability in the financial markets during and after the 2008-2009 financial downturn also led the U.S.
Government and governments across the world to take a number of actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of liquidity. Most significantly, the U.S. Government has enacted a broad-reaching regulatory framework over the financial services industry and consumer credit markets. Federal, state, and other governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which a Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which a Fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of a Fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose a Fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the Fund. Each Fund has established procedures to assess the liquidity of portfolio holdings and to value instruments for which market prices may not be readily available. HFMC and the sub-adviser, as applicable, will monitor developments and seek to manage the Funds in a manner consistent with achieving each Fund’s investment objective, but there can be no assurance that they will be successful in doing so.
The value of a Fund’s holdings is also generally subject to the risk of future local, national, or global economic disturbances based on unknown weaknesses in the markets in which a Fund invests. In the event of such a disturbance, issuers of securities held by a Fund may experience significant declines in the value of their assets and even cease operations, or may receive government assistance accompanied by increased restrictions on their business operations or other government intervention. In addition, it is not certain that the U.S. Government will intervene in response to a future market disturbance and the effect of any such future intervention cannot be predicted. It is difficult for issuers to prepare for the impact of future financial downturns, although companies can seek to identify and manage future uncertainties through risk management programs.
GROWTH
INVESTING STYLE RISK. If the portfolio manager(s) incorrectly assess a company’s prospects for growth or how other investors will value the company's growth, then the price of the company’s stock may decrease, or may not increase to the level anticipated by the portfolio manager(s). Growth companies are often newer or smaller companies, or established companies that may be entering a growth cycle in their business. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investors’ perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. Also, the growth investing style may over time go in and out of favor. At times when the growth investing style is out of favor, the Fund may underperform other equity funds that use different investing styles.
ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS
RISK. An illiquid investment means an investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or
disposed of in current market conditions within seven calendar days without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment, as determined under the Fund's liquidity risk management program. A Fund may not be able to sell illiquid securities or other investments when a sub-adviser considers it desirable to do so or may have to sell such securities or other investments at a price that is lower than the price that could be obtained if the securities or other investments were more liquid. Illiquid investments also may be more difficult to value due to the lack of reliable market quotations for such securities or investments, and investments in them may have an adverse impact on a Fund’s net asset value.
Securities and other investments purchased by a Fund that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the security, market events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. Domestic and foreign markets are becoming more and more complex and interrelated such that events in one sector of the market or the economy, or in one geographical region, can reverberate and have negative consequences for other market, economic or regional sectors in a manner that may not be reasonably foreseen. With respect to OTC securities, the continued viability of any OTC secondary market depends on the continued willingness of dealers and other participants to purchase the securities.
If one or more instruments in a Fund’s portfolio become
illiquid, the Fund may exceed its limit on illiquid instruments. If this occurs, the Fund must take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within
the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. However, this requirement will not force a Fund to liquidate any portfolio instrument where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.
INFLATION PROTECTED DEBT
SECURITIES RISK. A Fund may invest in inflation-protected debt securities, which are fixed income
securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The value of inflation protected securities generally fluctuates in response to changes in real interest rates (stated interest rates adjusted to factor in inflation). In general, the price of an inflation-indexed security decreases when real interest rates increase, and increases when real interest rates decrease. Interest payments on inflation protected debt securities will fluctuate as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable.
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Inflation protected
securities include fixed and floating rate debt securities of varying maturities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, such as Treasury
Inflation Protected Securities (“TIPS”), as well as securities issued by other entities such as corporations, municipalities, foreign governments and foreign
issuers, including foreign issuers from emerging markets. Typically, such securities are structured as fixed income investments whose principal value is periodically
adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The U.S. Treasury, among some other issuers, issues inflation protected securities that accrue inflation into the principal value of the security and other issuers may pay out the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) accruals as part of a semi-annual coupon. Other types of inflation protected securities exist which use an inflation index other than the CPI. Inflation protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, such as TIPS, have maturities of varying length.
Repayment of the original security principal upon
maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is generally guaranteed in the case of TIPS, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the securities is
not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Other inflation related securities may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the security repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.
The value of inflation-linked securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates
in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-linked securities. While these securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to declines in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the security’s inflation measure. The market for inflation-protected securities may be less developed or liquid, and more volatile, than certain other securities markets.
The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-protected debt securities is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is an index of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-protected debt securities issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.
Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-protected debt security will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.
INFLATION RISK. A Fund's investments may be subject to
inflation risk, which is the risk that the real value (i.e., nominal price of the asset adjusted for inflation) of assets or income from investments will be less in the
future as inflation decreases the purchasing power and value of money (i.e., as inflation increases, the real value of a Fund's assets can decline). Inflation rates may
change frequently and significantly as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy and changes in monetary or economic policies (or expectations that these policies may change), and a Fund's investments may not keep pace with inflation, which would generally adversely affect the real value of Fund shareholders’ investment in a Fund. This risk is greater for fixed-income instruments with longer maturities. In addition, this risk may be significantly elevated compared to normal conditions because of recent monetary policy measures and the current interest rate environment.
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS (“IPO”) RISK. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for
very limited periods. Some of the companies involved in new industries may be regarded as developmental stage companies, without revenues or operating income, or the
near-term prospects of them. Many IPOs are by small- or micro-cap companies that are undercapitalized. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly
volatile or may decline shortly after the IPO is complete. The effect of IPOs on a Fund’s performance depends on a variety of factors, including the number of IPOs
the Fund invests in relative to the size of the Fund and whether and to what extent a security purchased in an IPO appreciates and depreciates in value. Although investments in IPOs have the potential to produce substantial gains in a short period of time, there is no assurance that a Fund will have access to profitable IPOs, that any particular IPO will be successful, or that any gains will be sustainable. Investors should not rely on past gains attributable to IPOs as an indication of future performance.
INTEREST RATE RISK. Interest rate risk is the risk that an investment held by a Fund may go down in value when interest rates
rise because when interest rates rise, the prices of bonds and fixed rate loans fall. Generally, the longer the maturity of a bond or fixed rate loan, the more sensitive it is to this risk. For this reason, the longer a Fund’s average weighted portfolio maturity, the greater the impact a change in interest rates will have on its share price. A variety of factors can cause interest rates to rise, including central bank monetary policies and inflation rates. Falling interest rates may also lead to a decline in a Fund’s income. To the extent the Federal Reserve Board (the “Fed”) raises interest rates, there is a risk that interest rates across the U.S. financial system may rise. Actions taken by the Fed or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, such as decreases or increases in short-term interest rates, may adversely affect markets, which could, in turn, negatively impact Fund performance. Moreover, rising interest rates may lead to decreased liquidity in the bond markets, making it more difficult for a Fund to value or sell some or
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all of its bond holdings
at any given time. A rise in interest rates could also cause investors to rapidly move out of fixed-income securities, which may increase redemptions in a
Fund and subject the Fund to increased liquidity risk. A substantial increase in interest rates may also have an adverse impact on the liquidity of one or
more portfolio securities, especially those with longer maturities.
During periods when interest rates are low (or negative), a
Fund’s yield (or total return) may also be low and fall below zero. Very low or negative interest rates may magnify interest rate risk. Changing interest rates,
including rates that fall below zero, may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance to the
extent a Fund is exposed to such interest rates and/or volatility. Certain European countries and Japan have pursued negative interest rate policies. A negative interest rate policy is an unconventional central bank monetary policy tool where nominal target interest rates are set with negative value intended to help create self-sustaining growth in the local economy. To the extent a Fund holds a debt instrument with a negative interest rate, the Fund would generate a negative return on that investment. If negative interest rates become more prevalent in the market, investors may seek to reallocate their investment to other income-producing assets, which could further reduce the value of instruments with a negative yield.
INTERFUND LENDING PROGRAM RISK. The Funds have received exemptive relief from the SEC, which permits the Funds to participate in an interfund
lending program. The interfund lending program allows a participating fund to borrow money from and loan money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes. All
interfund loans would consist only of uninvested cash reserves that the lending Fund otherwise would invest in short-term repurchase agreements or other short-term
instruments. A Fund may participate in the interfund lending program only to the extent that such participation is consistent with the Fund’s investment
objective, restrictions, policies, and limitations.
The program is subject to a number of conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds, including the following: (1) a Fund may not borrow money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than a rate approximating the lowest interest rate at which bank loans would be available to any of the participating funds under a loan agreement; and (2) a Fund may not lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable return than that available from an investment in repurchase agreements. Interfund loans and borrowings have a maximum duration of seven days, and loans may be called on one business day’s notice. If a Fund has outstanding bank borrowings, any interfund loan to the Fund would: (a) be at an interest rate equal to or lower than that of any outstanding bank loan, (b) be secured at least on an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding bank loan that requires collateral, (c) have a maturity no longer than any outstanding bank loan (and in any event not over seven days), and (d) provide that, if an event of default occurs under any agreement evidencing an outstanding bank loan to the Fund, that event of default will automatically (without need for action or notice by the lending Fund) constitute an immediate event of default under the interfund lending agreement, entitling the lending Fund to call the interfund loan (and exercise all rights with respect to any collateral), and cause such call to be made if the lending bank exercises its right to call its loan under its agreement with the borrowing Fund.
A Fund may borrow on an unsecured basis through the interfund lending program only if its outstanding borrowings from all sources immediately after the borrowing total 10% or less of its total assets, provided that if the Fund has a secured loan outstanding from any other lender, including but not limited to another fund, the Fund’s borrowing will be secured on at least an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding loan that requires collateral. If a borrowing fund’s total outstanding borrowings immediately after an interfund loan under the interfund lending program exceed 10% of its total assets, the Fund may borrow through the interfund lending program on a secured basis only. A Fund may not borrow under the interfund lending program or from any other source if its total outstanding borrowings immediately after the borrowing would be more than 33 1/3% of its total assets or any lower threshold provided for by the Fund’s investment restrictions.
A Fund may not lend to another fund through the interfund lending program if the loan would cause the lending Fund’s aggregate outstanding loans through the interfund lending program to exceed 15% of its current net assets at the time of the loan. A Fund’s interfund loans to any one fund shall not exceed 5% of the lending Fund’s net assets.
Participating in the interfund lending program subjects a Fund to certain risks. A Fund borrowing through the program may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a lending Fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional costs. As of [ ], each Fund does not engage in interfund lending.
INVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES RISK. A Fund is permitted to invest in debt securities rated within the four highest rating categories (e.g.,
“Aaa”, “Aa”, “A” or “Baa” by Moody’s, “AAA”, “AA”, “A” or “BBB” by S&P or “AAA”, “AA”, “A” or
“BBB” by Fitch) (or, if unrated, securities of comparable quality as determined by a sub-adviser) (see Appendix B to this SAI for a description of applicable securities ratings). These investments are generally referred to as “investment grade investments.” Each rating category has within it different gradations or sub-categories. If a Fund is authorized to invest in a certain rating category, the Fund is also permitted to invest in any of the sub-categories or gradations within that rating category. If a security is downgraded to a rating category that does not qualify for investment, a sub-adviser will use its discretion on whether to hold or sell based upon its opinion on the best method to maximize value for shareholders over the long term. Debt securities carrying the fourth highest rating (e.g.,
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“Baa” by
Moody’s, “BBB” by S&P and “BBB” by Fitch) and unrated securities of comparable quality (as determined by a sub-adviser) are
considered to have speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments, involve a higher degree of risk
and are more sensitive to economic change than higher rated securities.
INVESTMENTS IN EMERGING MARKET SECURITIES RISK. A Fund may invest in securities of issuers that conduct their principal business activities in, or whose
securities are traded principally on exchanges located in, less developed countries considered to be “emerging markets.” Emerging countries are generally located
in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern and Central Europe and Central and South America. Investing in emerging market securities involves not only the risks described
above with respect to investing in foreign securities, but also other risks that may be more severe and pervasive than those present in foreign countries with more developed markets. Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. The value of a Fund’s investments in emerging markets securities may be adversely affected by changes in the political, economic or social conditions, expropriation, nationalization, limitation on the removal of funds or assets, controls, tax regulations and other restrictions in emerging market countries. In the past, governments of such nations have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and most claims of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that such expropriations will not reoccur. In such circumstances, it is possible that a Fund could lose the entire amount of its investments in the affected market.
Some countries have pervasive corruption and crime that may
hinder investments. Certain emerging markets may also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of actual or threatened war or military conflicts
(such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and Hamas and rising tensions involving the United States, Iran and Israel) and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts, as well as the imposition of sanctions. A Fund’s emerging market investments may introduce exposure to economic structures that are generally less diverse and mature than, and to political systems that can be expected to have less stability than, those of developed countries. Other characteristics of emerging markets that may affect investments include national policies that may restrict investment by foreigners in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests and the absence of developed legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property, and the ability of U.S. authorities (e.g., SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice) and investors (e.g., the Funds) to bring actions against bad actors may be limited. As a result of these legal structures and limitations, a Fund faces the risk of being unable to enforce its rights with respect to its investments in emerging markets, which may cause losses to the Fund. Settlements of trades in emerging markets may be subject to significant delays. The inability to make intended purchases of securities due to settlement problems could cause missed investment opportunities. Losses could also be caused by an inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems. Also, the typically small size of the markets for securities of issuers located in emerging markets and the possibility of a low or nonexistent volume of trading in those securities may result in lack of liquidity and price volatility of those securities. In addition, traditional measures of investment value used in the United States, such as price to earnings ratios, may not apply to certain small markets. Also, there may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. In addition to withholding taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging markets may impose differential capital gains taxes on foreign investors.
The risks outlined above are often more pronounced in “frontier markets” in which a Fund may invest. Frontier markets are those emerging markets that are considered to be among the smallest, least mature and least liquid, and as a result, the risks of investing in emerging markets are magnified in frontier markets. This magnification of risks is the result of a number of factors, including: government ownership or control of parts of the private sector and of certain companies; trade barriers; exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which frontier market countries trade; less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements; unreliable securities valuation; greater risk associated with custody of securities; and the relatively new and unsettled securities laws in many frontier market countries. In addition, the markets of frontier countries typically have low trading volumes, leading to a greater potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity. This volatility may be further increased by the actions of a few major investors. For example, a substantial increase or decrease in cash flows of funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local securities prices and, therefore, the net asset value of a Fund. All of these factors make investing in frontier market countries significantly riskier than investing in other countries, including more developed and traditional emerging market countries, and any one of them could cause the net asset value of a Fund’s shares to decline.
In addition to the risks of foreign investing and the risks of investing in emerging or frontier markets, investments in certain countries with recently developed markets and structures, such as Nigeria, Croatia and Russia, implicate certain specific risks. Because of the recent formation of these securities markets and the underdeveloped state of these countries’ banking systems, settlement, clearing and registration of securities transactions are subject to significant risks. Share ownership is often defined and evidenced by extracts from entries in a company’s share register, but such extracts are neither negotiable instruments nor effective evidence of securities ownership. Further, the registrars in these countries are not necessarily subject to effective state supervision or licensed by any governmental entity, there is no central registration system for shareholders and it is possible for a Fund to lose its entire ownership rights through fraud, negligence or mere oversight. In addition, while applicable regulations may impose liability on registrars for losses resulting from their errors, it may be difficult for a Fund to enforce any rights it may have against the
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registrar or issuer of
the securities in the event of loss of share registration. In Croatia, these risks are limited to investments in securities that are not traded on the
national stock exchange. However, in other countries, including Nigeria and Russia, all securities investments are subject to these risks. In addition, as
much of China’s growth over recent decades has been a result of significant investment in substantial export trade, international trade tensions may
arise from time to time which can result in trade tariffs, embargoes, trade limitations, trade wars and other negative consequences. These consequences may
trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible
failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry with a potentially severe negative impact to the Funds. In addition, it is possible that the continuation or worsening of the current political climate could result in regulatory restrictions being contemplated or imposed in the U.S. or in China that could have a material adverse effect on a Fund’s ability to invest in accordance with its investment policies and/or achieve its investment objective. Please see “Regional/Country Focus Risk” below.
Sukuk Risk. Sukuk are similar to conventional senior,
unsecured bonds but are structured to comply with Sharia, or Islamic, law and its investment principles, which, inter alia, prohibit the charging or paying of interest.
Sukuk represent undivided shares in the income generated by an underlying asset or pool of assets (the “Underlying Assets”) and/or contractual payment
obligations of an obligor. Obligors include international financial institutions, corporations, foreign governments and agencies of foreign governments (each, an “Obligor”). Obligors typically arrange for the issue of sukuk through a special purpose vehicle or similar corporate entity (the “Sukuk Issuer”). For sukuk linked to Underlying Assets, title to the Underlying Assets is transferred to the Sukuk Issuer; for sukuk that are not linked to Underlying Assets, the sukuk represents an interest in the income stream generated by one or more contractual payment obligations of the Obligor to the Sukuk Issuer. In either event, the payments received by the investor do not come from interest on such investor’s money. Since the investors in sukuk purchase an instrument with income or periodic payments linked to a specific income stream, investors are subject to the risk that the relevant Underlying Assets or the contractual payment obligations may not perform as expected, and the flow of income may, accordingly, be slower than expected or may cease altogether. In particular, Sukuk Issuers typically agree to redeem the sukuk at the end of a contractual term at an agreed price, similar to a maturity date. The ability of a Sukuk Issuer to redeem such sukuk is dependent on the income generated by the sukuk during its life and the ability and willingness of the Obligor to make payments to the Sukuk Issuer for payment to the investors. No collateral, including the Underlying Assets, is pledged as security for sukuk. As unsecured investments, sukuk are backed only by the credit of the Obligor. Sukuk are also subject to the risks associated with developing and emerging market economies, which include, among others, inconsistent accounting and legal principles. The process to resolve a default or other non-payment event in respect of sukuk is likely to take longer than resolving a default in respect of a bond. In addition, it is possible that evolving interpretations of Sharia law by courts or Islamic scholars on sukuk structures and sukuk transferability, or a determination subsequent to the issuance of a sukuk by courts or Islamic scholars that such sukuk does not comply with Sharia law and its investment principles, could have an adverse effect on the price and liquidity of a such sukuk, similarly-structured sukuk or the sukuk market in general and give rise to defenses of the Obligor and the Sukuk Issuer that amounts under the sukuk are not payable either in full or in part. In addition, investors’ ability to pursue and enforce actions with respect to these payment obligations or to otherwise enforce the terms of the sukuk, restructure the sukuk, obtain a judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction or attach assets of the Sukuk Issuer or the Obligor may be limited. In addition, as with conventional debt instruments, sukuk prices may change in response to global interest rate changes. While the global sukuk market has grown in recent years, it is significantly smaller than bond market and there may be times when the market is illiquid and it is difficult to make an investment in, or dispose of, sukuk. Unlike bonds, sukuk are generally held to maturity, and trading is limited to the primary market.
ISSUER RISK. The
performance of a Fund depends on the performance of individual securities to which the Fund has exposure. Any issuer of these securities may perform poorly, causing the
value of its securities to decline. Poor performance may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, changes in technology, expiration of patent
protection, disruptions in supply, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures or other factors. Issuers may, in times of distress or at their own discretion, decide to reduce or eliminate dividends, which may also cause their stock prices to decline.
LARGE CAP SECURITIES
RISK. The securities of large market capitalization companies may underperform other segments of
the market because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
LARGE SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION
RISK. Certain shareholders, including funds advised by HFMC, may from time to time own a
substantial amount of a Fund’s shares. In addition, a third-party investor, HFMC or an affiliate of HFMC, an authorized participant, a lead market maker, or another
entity may invest in a Fund and hold its investment for a limited period of time solely to facilitate commencement of a Fund or to facilitate a Fund’s achieving a
specified size or scale. There can be no assurance that any large shareholder would not redeem its investment, that the size of a Fund would be maintained at such levels or
that a Fund would continue to meet applicable listing requirements. In addition, transactions by large shareholders may account for a large percentage of the trading volume on a Fund’s listing exchange and may, therefore, have a material upward or downward effect on the market price of a Fund’s shares.
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LEVERAGE RISK. Certain transactions, including
derivatives, to-be-announced investments and other when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions, involve a form of leverage. Transactions involving
leverage provide investment exposure in an amount exceeding the initial investment. Leverage can increase market exposure, magnify investment risks, and cause losses to be realized more quickly. Certain derivatives have the potential to cause unlimited losses for a Fund, regardless of the size of the initial investment. Leverage may also cause a Fund’s NAV to be more volatile than if the Fund had not been leveraged, as relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of a leveraged investment. The use of leverage may cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations when it may not be advantageous to do
so.
LIQUIDATION OF FUNDS RISK. The Board may determine to
close and liquidate a Fund at any time. In the event of the liquidation of a Fund, shareholders will receive a liquidating distribution in cash or in-kind equal to their
proportionate interest in the Fund. A liquidating distribution may be a taxable event for shareholders who do not hold their shares in a tax deferred account and, depending on a shareholder’s basis in his or her Fund shares, may result in the recognition of a gain or loss for tax purposes.
LIQUIDITY RISK. Liquidity risk exists when the markets for particular investments or types of investments are or become
relatively illiquid so that it is difficult or impossible for a Fund to sell the investment at the price at which a Fund has valued it. Illiquidity may result from political, economic or issuer specific events; changes in a specific market’s size or structure, including the number of participants; or overall market disruptions. Securities with reduced liquidity or that become illiquid involve greater risk than securities with more liquid markets. If a Fund and its affiliates hold a significant portion of a single issuer’s outstanding securities, a Fund may be subject to greater liquidity risk than if the issuer’s securities were more widely held.
Market quotations for illiquid or less liquid securities may be
volatile and/or subject to large spreads between bid and ask prices. Reduced liquidity may have a negative impact on market price and a Fund’s ability to sell
particular securities when necessary to meet a Fund’s liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event. In addition, during periods of reduced market
liquidity or in the absence of readily available market quotations for particular investments in a Fund’s portfolio, it may be difficult for a Fund to value these investments and it may be necessary to fair value the investments. Illiquidity can be caused by a drop in overall market trading volume, an inability to find a willing buyer, or legal restrictions on the securities’ resale. In addition, during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries in which a Fund may invest, or all securities within a particular investment category in which a Fund may invest, may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political events (including periods of rapid interest rate changes), or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. There can be no assurance that a security’s fair value accurately reflects the price at which a Fund could sell that security at that time, which could affect the proceeds of any redemption or the number of Fund shares you receive upon purchase.
Bond markets have consistently grown over the past three decades
while the capacity for traditional dealer counterparties to engage in fixed income trading has not kept pace and in some cases has decreased. As a result, dealer inventories
of corporate bonds are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. The significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be worse during periods of economic uncertainty.
MARKET PRICE RISK. The NAV of a Fund's shares and the value of your investment may fluctuate. The market prices of a Fund's
shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV, changes in the intraday value of the Fund's holdings, as well as the relative supply of and demand for the
shares on the listing exchange. Although it is expected that each Fund’s shares will remain listed on an exchange, disruptions to creations and redemptions, the
existence of market volatility or lack of an active trading market for the shares (including through a trading halt), as well as other factors, may result in the shares
trading significantly above (at a premium to) or below (at a discount to) the Fund’s NAV or the intraday value of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, because
liquidity in certain underlying portfolio securities may fluctuate over time, shares of a Fund may, at times, trade at a larger than normal premium or discount to NAV. In addition, to the extent certain of a Fund’s portfolio securities are trading on days or at times a Fund’s shares are not trading, bid-ask spreads and the resulting premium or discount to the NAV of a Fund’s shares may widen. During such periods, you may be unable to sell your shares or may incur significant losses if you sell your shares. There are various methods by which investors can purchase and sell shares and various orders that may be placed. Investors should consult their financial intermediary before purchasing or selling shares of the Fund. Neither the Investment Manager nor the sub-adviser can predict whether a Fund's shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for a Fund's shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the Fund's holdings trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. Authorized participants may be less willing to create or redeem Fund shares if there is a lack of an active market for such shares or a Fund’s underlying investments, which may contribute to the Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to NAV. In addition, unlike other types of ETFs, the Funds are not index funds. Each Fund is actively managed and does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. There can be no assurance as to whether and/or the extent to which a Fund's shares will trade at premiums or discounts to NAV or to the intraday value of the Fund's holdings.
MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that one or more markets in which a Fund invests will go down in value, including the
possibility that such markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. Securities or other investments may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or individual issuers. The value of a security or other investment may change in value
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due to general market
conditions that are not related to a particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for revenues or
corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The value of a security or other investment may also change
in value due to factors that affect an individual issuer or a particular sector or industry. During a general downturn in the securities or other markets,
multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that securities or other investments held by
a Fund will participate in or otherwise benefit from the advance. Any market disruptions, including those arising out of geopolitical events, including wars, military conflicts, pandemics, epidemics or natural/environmental disasters, could also prevent a Fund from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner.
A widespread health crisis, such as a global pandemic, could
cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions or restrictions and closures of securities exchanges and businesses, impact the ability to complete
redemptions, and adversely impact Fund performance.
Relatively high market volatility and reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect many issuers worldwide. Actions taken by the Fed or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, such as interventions in currency markets, could cause high volatility in the equity and fixed-income markets. Reduced liquidity may result in less money being available to purchase raw materials, goods, and services from emerging markets, which may, in turn, bring down the prices of these economic staples. It may also result in emerging-market issuers having more difficulty obtaining financing, which may, in turn, cause a decline in their securities prices. In addition, any decision by the Fed to adjust the target federal funds rate, among other factors, could cause markets to experience continuing high volatility. A significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the market for equity securities. Also, regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may contribute to price volatility. These events and the possible resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on a Fund. Political turmoil within the U.S. and abroad may also impact a Fund. Similarly, political events within the U.S. at times have resulted, and may in the future result, in a shutdown of government services, which could negatively affect the U.S. economy, decrease the value of Fund investments, and increase uncertainty in or impair the operation of the U.S. or other securities markets.
The interconnectedness of certain markets, particularly
the markets for novel or emerging products or services, and the related impacts on economies, markets and issuers as well as systemic risk may not be known until a future
time, making it difficult to predict the potential impact of adverse events in those markets on a Fund or a Fund's investments.
U.S. and global markets have experienced volatility, including as a result of the failures of certain U.S. and non-U.S. banks, which could be harmful to a Fund and issuers in which it invests. For example, if a bank in which a Fund or issuer has an account fails, any cash or other assets in bank accounts may be temporarily inaccessible or permanently lost by the Fund or issuer. If a bank that provides a subscription line credit facility, asset-based facility, other credit facility and/or other services to an issuer fails, the issuer could be unable to draw funds under its credit facilities or obtain replacement credit facilities or other services from other lending institutions with similar terms. Even if banks used by issuers in which a Fund invests remain solvent, continued volatility in the banking sector could cause or intensify an economic recession, increase the costs of banking services or result in the issuers being unable to obtain or refinance indebtedness at all or on as favorable terms as could otherwise have been obtained. Conditions in the banking sector are evolving, and the scope of any potential impacts to a Fund and issuers, both from market conditions and also potential legislative or regulatory responses, are uncertain. Continued market volatility and uncertainty and/or a downturn in market and economic and financial conditions, as a result of developments in the banking industry or otherwise (including as a result of delayed access to cash or credit facilities), could have an adverse impact on a Fund and issuers in which they invest.
In the past, the Fed has raised interest rates to address rising
inflation. Various economic and political factors could cause the Fed to change its approach in the future and the Fed’s actions may result in an economic slowdown. A
general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed-income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from funds that hold large amounts of fixed-income securities. To the extent that the Federal Reserve reduces its holdings in securities and raises the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates across the financial industry will rise.
MID-CAP SECURITIES
RISK. Mid-capitalization securities involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. These companies often have narrower markets, more limited operating or business history and more limited managerial or financial resources than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of a Fund’s portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company’s size, the greater these risks.
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS AND TEMPORARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES. Each Fund may hold cash and invest in money market instruments at any time. A Fund may invest some or all of
its assets in cash, high quality money market instruments and shares of money market investment companies for temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market,
economic or political conditions when its sub-adviser, subject to the overall supervision of HFMC, deems it appropriate. Under such conditions, a Fund may not invest in accordance with its investment objective or principal investment strategy. As a result, there is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective and it may lose the benefit of market upswings.
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Money market
instruments include, but are not limited to: (1) banker’s acceptances; (2) obligations of governments (whether U.S. or foreign) and their agencies and
instrumentalities; (3) short-term corporate obligations, including commercial paper, notes, and bonds; (4) other short-term debt obligations; (5) obligations of U.S. banks,
foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars), U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) and foreign branches of foreign banks; (6) asset-backed
securities; and (7) repurchase agreements. A Fund may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated money market funds that invest in money market instruments, as permitted by regulations adopted under the 1940 Act. A Fund’s ability to redeem shares of a money market fund may be affected by liquidity fees and redemption gates under certain circumstances.
MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES RISK. The mortgage-related securities in which a Fund may invest include interests in pools of mortgage loans made
by lenders such as savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, various governmental, government-related and private organizations and others. A Fund
may also invest in similar mortgage-related securities that provide funds for multi-family residences or commercial real estate properties. Mortgage-related securities are
subject to certain specific risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, if a Fund holds mortgage-backed securities, it may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as “extension risk.” In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-backed securities are subject to “prepayment risk.” When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of a Fund because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at lower prevailing interest rates. Mortgage-related securities are also subject to the risk that the underlying loans may not be repaid. The value of mortgage-related securities can also be significantly affected by the market’s perception of the issuers and the creditworthiness of the parties involved. These risks are elevated given the current distressed economic, market, health and labor conditions, notably, increased levels of unemployment, delays and delinquencies in payments of mortgage and rent obligations, and uncertainty regarding the effects and extent of government intervention with respect to mortgage payments and other economic matters.
In addition, legislative, regulatory and enforcement actions seeking to prevent or restrict foreclosures or providing
forbearance relief to borrowers of residential mortgage loans may adversely affect the value of mortgage-related securities (e.g., the CARES Act or the Rescue Act). Legislative or regulatory initiatives by federal, state or local legislative bodies or administrative agencies, if enacted or adopted, could delay foreclosure or the exercise of other remedies, provide new defenses to foreclosure, or otherwise impair the ability of the loan servicer to foreclose or realize on a defaulted residential mortgage loan included in a pool of residential mortgage loans backing such residential mortgage-related securities. While the nature or extent of limitations on foreclosure or exercise of other remedies that may be enacted cannot be predicted, any such governmental actions that interfere with the foreclosure process or are designed to protect customers could increase the costs of such foreclosures or exercise of other remedies in respect of residential mortgage loans which collateralize mortgage-related securities held by a Fund, delay the timing or reduce the amount of recoveries on defaulted residential mortgage loans which collateralize mortgage-related securities held by a Fund, and consequently, could adversely impact the yields and distributions a Fund may receive in respect of its ownership of mortgage-related securities collateralized by residential mortgage loans.
The yield characteristics of mortgage securities differ from those of traditional debt securities. Among the major differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently on mortgage securities, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at any time. The risks associated with prepayment and the rate at which prepayment may occur are influenced by a variety of economic, geographic, demographic, social and other factors including interest rate levels, changes in housing needs, net equity built by mortgagors in the mortgaged properties, job transfers and unemployment rates.
Mortgage securities differ from conventional
bonds in that principal is paid back over the life of the mortgage securities rather than at maturity. As a result, the holder of the mortgage securities (e.g., a Fund)
receives monthly scheduled payments of principal and interest, and may receive unscheduled principal payments representing prepayments on the underlying mortgages. When the
holder reinvests the payments and any unscheduled prepayments of principal it receives, it may receive a rate of interest which is lower than the rate on the existing mortgage securities. For this reason, mortgage securities are less effective than other types of U.S. Government securities as a means of “locking in” long-term interest rates.
Mortgage-related securities may be composed of one or more classes and may be structured either as pass-through securities or collateralized debt obligations (which include CBOs and CLOs). A CBO is ordinarily issued by a trust or other SPE and is typically backed by a diversified pool of fixed income securities (which may include high risk, below investment grade securities) held by such issuer. A CLO is ordinarily issued by a trust or other SPE and is typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and non-U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans, held by such issuer. Multiple-class mortgage-related securities are referred to herein as “CMOs.” Some CMOs are directly supported by other CMOs, which in turn are supported by mortgage pools. Investors typically receive payments out of the interest and principal on the underlying mortgages, which payments and the priority thereof are determined by the specific terms of the CMO class. CMOs may be issued by U.S. or non-U.S. issuers. CMOs involve special risks, and evaluating them requires special knowledge.
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CMO classes may be
specially structured in a manner that provides any of a wide variety of investment characteristics, such as yield, effective maturity and interest rate sensitivity. As
market conditions change, however, and particularly during periods of rapid or unanticipated changes in market interest rates, any given CMO structure may react differently
from the way anticipated and thus affect a Fund’s portfolio in different, and possibly negative, ways. Market changes may also result in increased volatility in
market values and reduced liquidity. CMOs may lack a readily available secondary market and be difficult to sell at the price at which a Fund values them.
Certain classes of CMOs and other mortgage-related securities are structured in a manner that makes them extremely sensitive to changes in prepayment rates, such as interest-only (“IO”) and principal-only (“PO”) classes. These securities are frequently referred to as “mortgage derivatives” and may be sensitive to changing interest rates and deteriorating credit environments. IOs are entitled to receive all or a portion of the interest, but none (or only a nominal amount) of the principal payments, from the underlying mortgage assets. If the mortgage assets underlying an IO experience greater than anticipated principal prepayments, then the total amount of interest payments allocable to the IO class, and therefore the yield to investors, generally will be reduced. In some instances, an investor in an IO may fail to recoup all of his or her initial investment, even if the security is government issued or guaranteed or rated AAA or the equivalent. Conversely, PO classes are entitled to receive all or a portion of the principal payments, but none of the interest, from the underlying mortgage assets. PO classes are purchased at substantial discounts from par, and the yield to investors will be reduced if principal payments are slower than expected. Inverse floating rate CMOs, which pay interest at a rate that decreases when a specified index of market rates increases (and vice versa), also may be extremely volatile. If a Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities that are “subordinated” to other interests in the same mortgage pool, the Fund may only receive payments after the pool’s obligations to other investors have been satisfied. For example, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may limit substantially the pool’s ability to make payments of principal or interest to holders of the securities, which would thus reduce the values of the securities or in some cases render them worthless. A Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by the U.S. Government. See “U.S. Government Securities Risk” below. To the extent a Fund invests in mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, the Fund may be subject to additional risks. Mortgage-related securities issued by private issuers are subject to the credit risks of the issuers, as well as to interest rate risks. Timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental issuers are supported by various forms of private insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance purchased by the issuer. There can be no assurance that the private insurers can meet their obligations under the policies. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a Fund. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their mortgages.
Issuers of certain CMOs may have limited ability to enforce the
security interest in the underlying assets, and credit enhancements provided to support the securities, if any, may be inadequate to protect investors in the event of
default. In addition, as a result of its investment in asset-backed securities, a Fund would be subject to the risk that in certain states it may be difficult to perfect the liens securing the collateral backing certain asset-backed securities. Certain asset-backed securities are based on loans that are unsecured, which means that there is no collateral to seize if the underlying borrower defaults.
NEW FUND RISK. A fund with a limited operating history
may be subject to additional risks. There can be no assurance that a new Fund will grow to an economically viable size, in which case the Fund may cease operations. In such
an event, investors may be required to liquidate or transfer their investments at an inopportune time.
NO GUARANTEE OF ACTIVE TRADING
MARKET RISK. While each Fund’s shares are listed on a national exchange, there can be no
assurance that active trading markets for shares will be maintained by market makers or authorized participants. Decisions by market makers or authorized participants to
reduce their role or “step away” from these activities in times of market stress may inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the
relationship between the underlying value of a Fund’s holdings and the Fund’s NAV. Such reduced effectiveness could result in a Fund’s shares trading at a
discount to its NAV and also in greater than normal intraday bid/ask spreads for the Fund’s shares.
NON-DIVERSIFICATION
RISK. A non-diversified fund is permitted to invest a greater portion of its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a “diversified” fund. For this reason, a Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely, which may result in a greater risk of loss. A non-diversified fund may also be subject to greater market fluctuation and price volatility than a more broadly diversified fund.
OPERATIONAL RISKS. An investment in a Fund, like any
fund, can involve operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors, inadequate or failed processes, failure in systems and technology, changes in personnel
and errors caused by third-party service providers. Among other things, these errors or failures as well as other technological issues may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset values in a timely manner, including over a potentially extended period. While a Fund seeks to minimize such events through controls and oversight, there may still be failures that could cause losses to the Fund. In addition, as the use of technology increases, a Fund may be more susceptible to operational risks through breaches in cybersecurity. A breach
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in cybersecurity refers
to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or operational capacity. As a
result, a Fund may incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrected measures and/or financial loss. In
addition, cybersecurity breaches of a Fund’s third-party service providers or issuers in which a Fund invests may also subject a Fund to many of the
same risks associated with direct cybersecurity breaches. In addition, a Fund may rely on various third-party sources to calculate its net asset value. As a
result, each Fund is subject to certain operational risks associated with reliance on service providers and service providers’ data sources. In particular, errors or system failures and other technological issues may adversely impact a Fund’s calculation of its net asset value, and such net asset value calculation issues may result in inaccurately calculated net asset values, delays in net asset value calculation, and/or the inability to calculate net asset value over extended periods. A Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures.
OTHER CAPITAL SECURITIES
RISK. Other capital securities encompass a group of instruments referred to in capital markets as
“Hybrids,” “Tier I and Tier 2” and “TRUPS.” These securities give issuers flexibility in managing their capital structure. The features
associated with these securities are predominately debt like in that they have coupons, pay interest and in most cases have a final stated maturity. There are certain
features that give the companies flexibility not commonly found in fixed income securities, which include, but are not limited to, deferral of interest payments under
certain conditions and subordination to debt securities in the event of default. The deferral of interest payments, even for an extended period of time, is generally not an
event of default, and the ability of the holders of such instruments to accelerate payment is generally more limited than with other debt securities.
OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES RISK. A Fund may invest in
securities of other investment companies, such as open-end or closed-end management investment companies, including ETFs, or in pooled accounts, or other unregistered
accounts or investment vehicles to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder and applicable SEC staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC.
Generally, under the 1940 Act, a Fund will not purchase securities of an investment company if, as a result: (1) more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of other investment companies; (2) such purchase would result in more than 3% of the total outstanding voting securities of any such investment company being held by the Fund; or (3) more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in any one such investment company. In some instances, a Fund may invest in an investment company in excess of these limits.
A Fund may invest in other registered investment companies, such as mutual funds, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds, and in business development companies ("BDCs") in excess of the statutory limits imposed by the 1940 Act in reliance on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. These investments would be subject to the applicable conditions of Rule 12d1-4, which in part would affect or otherwise impose certain limits on the investments and operations of the underlying fund. Accordingly, if a Fund serves as an “underlying fund" to another Hartford Fund or an unaffiliated investment company, a Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies, private funds and other investment vehicles may be limited and, under these circumstances, a Fund’s investments in other investment companies, private funds and other investment vehicles will be consistent with applicable law and/or exemptive relief obtained from the SEC.
Investments in ETFs and listed closed-end funds are subject to
the additional risk that shares of the ETF or closed-end fund may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value per share. There may also not be an active trading
market available for shares of some ETFs or closed-end funds. Additionally, trading of ETF and closed-end fund shares may be halted and ETF and closed-end fund shares may be delisted by the listing exchange. In addition, a Fund pays brokerage
commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETF and closed-end funds. ETFs and closed-end funds are also subject to specific risks depending on the nature of the ETF or closed-end fund, such as liquidity risk, sector risk, and foreign and emerging markets risk, as well as risks associated with fixed income securities, real estate investments and commodities. Closed-end funds may utilize more leverage than other types of investment companies. They can utilize
leverage by issuing preferred stocks or debt securities to raise additional capital which can, in turn, be used to buy more securities and leverage its portfolio. A BDC, which is a type of closed-end fund, typically invests in small and medium-sized companies. A BDC’s portfolio is subject to the risks inherent in investing in smaller companies, including that portfolio companies may be dependent on a small number of products or services and may be more adversely affected by poor economic or market
conditions. Some BDCs invest substantially, or even exclusively, in one sector or industry group and therefore the BDC may be susceptible to adverse conditions and economic or regulatory occurrences affecting the sector or industry group, which
tends to increase volatility and result in higher risk. The Small Business Credit Availability Act permits BDCs to adopt a lower asset coverage ratio, thereby enhancing their ability to use leverage. Investments in BDCs that use greater leverage may be subject to heightened risks.
A Fund will indirectly bear a pro rata share of fees and
expenses incurred by any investment companies in which a Fund is invested. A Fund’s pro rata portion of the cumulative expenses charged by the investment companies is
calculated as a percentage of a Fund’s average net assets. The pro rata portion of the cumulative expenses may be higher or lower depending on the allocation of a Fund’s assets among the investment companies and the actual expenses of the investment companies. BDC expenses are similar to the expenses paid by any operating company held by a Fund. They are not direct
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costs paid by Fund
shareholders and are not used to calculate the Fund’s net asset value. They have no impact on the costs associated with Fund operations.
PREFERRED STOCK RISK. The prices and yields of nonconvertible preferred stocks generally move with changes in interest rates and
the issuer’s credit quality, similar to debt securities. The value of convertible preferred stocks varies in response to many factors, including, for example, the
value of the underlying equity securities, general market and economic conditions and convertible market valuations, as well as changes in interest rates, credit spreads and
the credit quality of the issuer.
PRIVATE PLACEMENT RISK. Investments in private placements
are generally considered to be illiquid. Privately placed securities may be difficult to sell promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby cause a Fund difficulty in
satisfying redemption requests. In addition, less information may be available about companies that make private placements than about publicly offered companies and such companies may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. Privately placed securities are typically fair valued and generally have no secondary trading market; therefore, such investments may be more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. Difficulty in valuing a private placement may make it difficult to accurately determine a Fund’s exposure to private placement investments, which could cause the Fund to invest to a greater extent than permitted in illiquid investments and subject the Fund to increased risks. Private placement investments may subject a Fund to contingent liabilities in the event a private issuer is acquired by another company during the period it is held by the Fund. Private placement investments may involve a high degree of business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses. These factors may have a negative effect on a Fund’s performance.
Some privately placed companies in which a Fund may invest may be
operating at a loss or with substantial variations in operating results from period to period and may need substantial additional capital to support expansion or to achieve
or maintain competitive positions. Such companies may face intense competition, including competition from companies with much greater financial resources, much more extensive development, production, marketing and service capabilities and a much larger number of qualified managerial and technical personnel. There is no assurance that the marketing efforts of any particular company will be successful or that its business will succeed. In addition, timely or accurate information may at times not be readily available about the business, financial condition and results of operations of the privately held companies in which a Fund invests. Private debt investments also are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk and duration risk.
Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs) Risk. PIPEs are equity securities issued in a private placement by companies that have outstanding, publicly traded
equity securities of the same class. Shares in PIPEs generally are not registered with the SEC until after a certain time period from the date the private sale is completed.
PIPE transactions will generally result in a Fund acquiring either restricted stock or an instrument convertible into restricted stock. As with investments in other types of
restricted securities, such an investment may be illiquid. A Fund's ability to dispose of securities acquired in PIPE transactions may depend upon the registration of such securities for resale. Any number of factors may prevent or delay a proposed registration. Alternatively, it may be possible for securities acquired in a PIPE transaction to be resold in transactions exempt from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), or otherwise under the federal securities laws. There is no guarantee, however, that an active trading market for the securities will exist at the time of disposition of the securities, and the lack of such a market could hurt the market value of the Fund's investments. As a result, even if the Fund is able to have securities acquired in a PIPE transaction registered or sell such securities through an exempt transaction, the Fund may not be able to sell all the securities on short notice, and the sale of the securities could lower the market price of the securities.
QUANTITATIVE INVESTING
RISK. A Fund may use quantitative analysis techniques to manage all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio. The value of securities or other investments selected using quantitative analysis may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance for many reasons, including, but not limited to, factors used in building the quantitative analytical framework, the weights placed on each factor, the accuracy of historical data supplied by third-parties, and changing sources of market returns. The models used may be predictive in nature and such models may result in an incorrect assessment of future events. There may also be technical issues with the construction and implementation of quantitative models (for example, software or other technology malfunctions, or programming inaccuracies). The use of quantitative analysis to support investment decisions may cause a Fund to underperform other funds that have similar investment strategies or that select securities or other investments using other types of analysis. In addition, considerations that affect a security’s value can change over time and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. There can be no assurance that quantitative investing will help a Fund to achieve its investment objective.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (“REITs”) RISK.
A Fund may invest in REITs. REITs pool funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate loans or interests. A REIT is not taxed on income
distributed to shareholders if it complies with several requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets, and income and a requirement that it distribute to its shareholders generally at least 90% of its taxable income (other than net capital gains) for each taxable year. REITs can generally be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs or Hybrid REITs. Equity REITs, which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property, derive their income primarily from rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs, which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages, derive their income primarily from interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. A Fund will not invest
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in real estate directly,
but only in securities issued by real estate companies. However, a Fund may be subject to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real
estate (in addition to securities markets risks). These include declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions,
dependency on management skill, heavy cash flow dependency, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds, overbuilding, extended vacancies of properties,
increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, losses due to costs resulting from the clean-up of environmental problems, liability to third parties for damages resulting from environmental problems, casualty or condemnation losses, limitations on rents, changes in neighborhood values, the appeal of properties to tenants and changes in interest rates. Investments in REITs may subject Fund shareholders to duplicate management and administrative
fees.
In addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, if applicable, Equity and Mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for the beneficial tax treatment available to REITs under the Code, or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting investments.
REAL ESTATE RELATED SECURITIES
RISKS. The main risk of real estate related securities, including REITs, is that the value of the
underlying real estate may go down. Many factors may affect real estate values, including the general and local economies, vacancy rates, tenant bankruptcies, the ability to
re-lease space under expiring leases on attractive terms, the amount of new construction in a particular area, the laws and regulations (including zoning and tax laws)
affecting real estate and the costs of owning, maintaining and improving real estate. The availability of mortgages and changes in interest rates, a decline in rents
resulting from unanticipated economic, legal or technological developments or a decline in the price of securities of real estate companies due to a failure of borrowers to pay their loans or poor management may also affect real estate values. Further, the real estate sector is particularly sensitive to economic downturns. When economic growth is slow, demand for property decreases and prices may decline. If a Fund’s real estate related investments are concentrated in one geographic area or in one property type, the Fund will be particularly subject to the risks associated with that area or property type. See “Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) Risk” above.
REGIONAL/COUNTRY FOCUS RISK. To the extent that a Fund
focuses its investments in a particular geographic region or country, the Fund may be subject to increased currency, political, social, environmental, regulatory and other
risks not typically associated with investing in a larger number of regions or countries. In addition, certain foreign economies may themselves be focused in particular industries or more vulnerable to political changes than the U.S. economy, which may have a pronounced impact on the Fund’s investments. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments. Regional and country focus risk is heightened in emerging markets.
REPURCHASE AND REVERSE
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS RISK. A repurchase agreement is an agreement between two parties whereby
one party sells the other a security at a specified price with a commitment to repurchase the security later at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment. A reverse
repurchase agreement is a term used to describe the opposite side of a repurchase transaction. The party that purchases and later resells a security is said to perform a
repurchase; the other party, that sells and later repurchases a security is said to perform a reverse repurchase. The Funds are permitted to enter into fully
collateralized repurchase agreements. The Trust’s Board of Trustees has delegated to the Investment Manager, which has in turn delegated to the sub-adviser – subject
to the Investment Manager’s oversight – the responsibility of evaluating the
creditworthiness of the banks and securities dealers with which the Fund will engage in repurchase agreements. The Investment Manager and sub-adviser will monitor such transactions to ensure that the value of underlying collateral will be at least equal to the total amount of the repurchase obligation as required by the valuation provision of the repurchase agreement, including the accrued interest. Repurchase agreements carry the risk that the market value of the securities declines below the repurchase price. A Fund could also lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held or assets segregated by the Fund, if applicable, to cover the transaction is less than the value of the securities. In the event the borrower commences bankruptcy proceedings, a court may characterize the transaction as a loan. If a Fund has not perfected a security interest in the underlying collateral, the Fund may be required to return the underlying collateral to the borrower’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor. As an unsecured creditor, a Fund could lose some or all of the principal and interest involved in the transaction. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may increase the possibility of fluctuation in a Fund’s net asset value.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES RISK. A Fund may invest in securities that cannot be offered for public resale unless registered under the
applicable securities laws or that have a contractual restriction that prohibits or limits their resale (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities may be
sold in private placement transactions between issuers and their purchasers and may be neither listed on an exchange nor traded in other established markets. Restricted
securities include private placement securities that have not been registered under the applicable securities laws, such as Rule 144A securities, and securities of U.S. and
non-U.S. issuers that are issued pursuant to Regulation S. In many cases, privately placed securities may not be freely transferable under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction or due to contractual restrictions on resale. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, privately
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placed securities may be
less liquid and more difficult to value than publicly traded securities. To the extent that privately placed securities may be resold in privately negotiated
transactions, the prices realized from the sales, due to illiquidity, could be less than those originally paid by a Fund or less than their fair market value.
In addition, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that may be
applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If any privately placed securities held by a Fund are required to be registered under the securities laws
of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration. Certain of a Fund’s investments in private placements may consist of direct investments and may include investments in smaller, less seasoned issuers, which may involve greater risks. These issuers may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group. In making investments in such securities, a Fund may obtain access to material nonpublic information, which may restrict the Fund’s ability to conduct portfolio transactions in such securities.
Some of these securities are new and complex, and trade only among institutions; the markets for these securities are still developing, and may not function as efficiently as established markets. Owning a large percentage of restricted securities could hamper a Fund’s ability to raise cash to meet redemptions to the extent that such redemptions are effected on a cash basis. Also, because there may not be an established market price for these securities, a Fund may have to estimate their value, which means that their valuation (and, to a much smaller extent, the valuation of the Fund) may have a subjective element. Transactions in restricted securities may entail registration expense and other transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in unrestricted securities. Where registration is required for restricted securities a considerable time period may elapse between the time a Fund decides to sell the security and the time it is actually permitted to sell the security under an effective registration statement. If during such period, adverse market conditions were to develop, a Fund might obtain less favorable pricing terms than when it decided to sell the security. A Fund may purchase securities that may have restrictions on transfer or resale (including Rule 144A securities and Regulation S securities). “Rule 144A” securities (and equivalent securities issued pursuant to Regulation S of the 1933 Act) are privately placed, restricted securities that may only be resold under certain circumstances to other qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A investments are subject to certain additional risks compared to publicly traded securities. If there are not enough qualified buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities when a Fund wishes to sell such securities, the Fund may be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. For this reason, although Rule 144A securities are generally considered to be liquid, a Fund’s holdings in Rule 144A securities may adversely affect the Fund’s overall liquidity if qualified buyers become uninterested in buying them at a particular time. Issuers of Rule 144A securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies and is not publicly available. Further, issuers of Rule 144A securities can require recipients of the information (such as a Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect a Fund’s ability to dispose of a security. Offerings of Regulation S securities may be conducted outside of the United States. Regulation S securities are generally less liquid than registered securities, as a result, a Fund may take longer to liquidate these positions than would be the case for publicly traded securities. Although Regulation S securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the price realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by a Fund. Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. Accordingly, Regulation S securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses.
Depending upon the circumstances, a Fund may only be able to sell
these securities in the United States if an exemption from registration under the federal and state securities laws is available or may only be able to sell these securities
outside of the United States (such as on a foreign exchange). These securities may either be determined to be liquid or illiquid pursuant to policies and guidelines established by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
RISKS OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL
CONTRACTS. Regulations adopted by federal banking regulators under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act require that certain qualified financial contracts (“QFCs”) with counterparties that are part of U.S. or foreign global
systemically important banking organizations be amended to include contractual restrictions on close-out and cross default rights. QFCs include, but are not limited to,
securities contracts, commodity contracts, forward contracts, repurchase agreements, securities lending agreements and swap agreements, as well as related master agreements,
security agreements, credit enhancements, and reimbursement obligations. If a covered counterparty of a Fund or certain of the covered counterparty’s affiliates were to become subject to certain insolvency proceedings, the Fund may be temporarily unable to exercise certain default rights, and the QFC may be transferred to another entity. These requirements may impact a Fund’s credit and counterparty risks.
SECONDARY TRADING MARKET ISSUES. Trading in shares on an
exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the exchange, make trading in shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in shares on an
exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the exchange’s “circuit breaker” rules. If a trading halt
or unanticipated early closing of an exchange occurs, a shareholder may be unable to purchase or sell shares of a Fund. There can be no assurance that the exchange’s requirements for maintaining the listing of a Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.
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While the
creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that shares normally will trade close to a Fund’s NAV, market prices are not expected to correlate exactly to
the Fund’s NAV due to timing reasons, supply and demand imbalances and other factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions, adverse developments
impacting market makers, authorized participants or other market participants, high market volatility or lack of an active trading market for the shares (including through
a trading halt) may result in market prices for shares of a Fund that differ significantly from its NAV or to the intra-day value of the Fund’s holdings. If an investor purchases shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV of the shares or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV of the shares, then the investor may sustain losses.
Given the nature of the relevant markets for certain of the
securities held by a Fund, shares may trade at a larger premium or discount to NAV than shares of other kinds of ETFs. In addition, the securities held by a Fund may be
traded in markets that close at a different time than the exchange on which the Fund is listed. Liquidity in those securities may be reduced after the applicable closing times. Accordingly, during the time when such exchange is open but after the applicable market closing, fixing or settlement times, bid/ask spreads and the resulting premium or discount to the shares’ NAV may widen.
When you buy or sell shares of a Fund through a broker, you will likely incur a brokerage commission or other charges imposed by brokers. In addition, the market price of shares, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid-ask spread” charged by the market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. The spread of a Fund’s shares varies over time based on the Fund’s trading volume and market liquidity and may increase if the Fund’s trading volume, the spread of the Fund’s underlying securities, or market liquidity decrease. In times of severe market disruption, including when trading of a Fund’s holdings may be halted, the bid-ask spread may increase significantly. This means that shares may trade at a discount to a Fund’s NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest during significant market volatility.
Shares of a Fund, similar to shares of other issuers listed on a stock exchange, may be sold short and are, therefore, subject
to the risk of increased volatility and price decreases associated with being sold short.
SECTOR RISK. To the extent a Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. To the extent a Fund invests in commodities futures and commodity-related instruments that are linked to different types of commodities from various sectors, including the energy, agriculture and metal sectors, the Fund would be subject to the risks inherent in those economic sectors. Such risks may include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions or cyclical market patterns that could negatively affect supply and demand in a particular industry; competition for resources; adverse labor relations; political or world events; increased regulatory burdens; obsolescence of technologies; and increased competition or new product introductions. To the extent that a Fund focuses its investments in a particular sector of the commodities market, the risks associated with that particular commodity or sector will be greater.
Agricultural Sector Investment Risk. To the extent a Fund
invests in the agricultural sector, its performance may in part be linked to the daily performance of the spot price of certain agricultural commodities, including corn,
soybeans, sugar and wheat. Investments in the agriculture sector may be highly volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably due to a number of factors, including the supply of and demand of each commodity, legislative or regulatory developments relating to food safety, political, legal, financial, accounting and tax matters and other events that the Fund cannot control. In addition, increased competition caused by economic recession, labor difficulties and changing consumer tastes and spending can affect the demand for agricultural products, and consequently the value of investments in that sector. As a result, the price of an agricultural commodity could decline, which would adversely affect an investment in the Fund if it held that commodity.
Communication Services Sector Risk. Companies in the communication services sector may be greatly affected by technological advancements and
market competition, including research and development costs, substantial capital requirements, pricing competition and government regulations. Certain communication
services companies may also be susceptible to network security breaches and may be targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or
disruptions in service. This sector may be impacted by fluctuating market demands, as well as shifting demographics and unpredictable changes in consumer preferences.
Consumer Discretionary Sector
Risk. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector are subject to the risks
associated with adverse changes in consumer sentiment and buying patterns, the effects of inflation and disruptions in the supply chain that negatively impact the availability of products. Companies in this sector may also be adversely affected by supply and demand for certain products and services, price fluctuations, product obsolescence and product liability claims, governmental regulation, exchange rates, world events, general economic conditions and other factors. In addition, certain companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements resulting from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Energy Sector Investment Risk. To the extent a Fund
invests in the energy sector, its performance may in part be linked to the daily performance of the spot price of certain energy-related commodities, including crude oil, NY
Harbor ULSD, gasoline and natural gas. The market values of such commodities are strongly affected by the supply of, and demand for, those commodities, as well as, among other factors, capital expenditures on exploration and production, energy conservation efforts, government regulation and
48
subsidization, world
events, technological advances and general economic conditions. Therefore, energy commodities are subject to swift price fluctuations, and investments in such
commodities can be cyclical and/or highly volatile. Additionally, significant declines in the price of oil may contribute to significant market volatility, which may
materially adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Financial Sector Risk. Companies in the financial
services sector are subject to extensive governmental regulation and their profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital and can fluctuate
significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers and financial losses associated
with investment activities can negatively impact the sector. Insurance companies may be subject to severe price competition. Adverse economic, business or political developments could adversely affect financial institutions engaged in mortgage finance or other lending or investing activities directly or indirectly connected to the value of real estate.
Health Care Sector
Risk. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. These companies may also be subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims.
Industrials Sector Risk. The prices of securities in the
industrials sector can be volatile and can be impacted significantly by supply and demand for certain products and services, product obsolescence and product liability
claims, government regulation, exchange rates, world events, general economic conditions and other factors. In addition, certain companies in the industrials sector may be cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements resulting from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Information Technology Sector Risk. Companies in the
information technology sector face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on their profit margins. Companies in this
sector may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments, frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the information technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies.
Metals Sector Investment
Risk. To the extent a Fund invests in the materials sector, its performance may in part be linked to the daily performance of the spot price of certain industrial and precious metals, including aluminum, copper, gold, silver and zinc. Investments in metals may be highly volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably due to a number of factors, including the supply and demand of each metal, environmental or labor costs, political, legal, financial, accounting and tax matters and other events that the Fund cannot control. In addition, changes in international monetary policies or economic and political conditions can affect the supply of metals, and consequently the value of metal investments. The United States or foreign governments may pass laws or regulations limiting metal investments for strategic or other policy reasons. Further, the principal supplies of metal industries may be concentrated in a small number of countries and regions. Consequently, the price of a metal held by a Fund could decline, which would adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Utilities Sector Risk. The prices of securities in the
utilities sector can be volatile and can be impacted significantly by supply and demand for services or fuel, financing costs, government regulation, conservation programs,
commodity price fluctuations and other factors. Government regulation of utility companies may limit such companies’ profits or the dividends they can pay to
investors. In addition, utility companies may face regulatory restrictions with respect to expansion to new markets, limiting their potential.
SECURITIES LENDING
RISK. A Fund may lend portfolio securities to broker-dealers and other institutions as a means of seeking to earn additional income. A Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain borrowers in U.S. and non-U.S. markets in an amount not to exceed one third (33 1/3%) of the value of its total assets. A Fund may lend portfolio securities, provided that the borrower provides collateral that is maintained in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral is invested for the benefit of a Fund by the Fund’s lending agent pursuant to collateral investment guidelines. The borrower is also required to pay a Fund any dividends or distributions accruing on the loaned securities. Substitute payments for dividends received by a Fund while its securities are loaned out will not be considered qualified dividend income. It is anticipated that the securities lending program generally will not restrict a security from being loaned based on the security’s anticipated dividend distributions, but the program may restrict lending of securities domiciled in certain non-US jurisdictions based on local law considerations.
A Fund does not have the right to vote proxies for securities
that are on loan, but in order to vote the proxies it may restrict securities or recall loaned securities. However, the Board has approved guidelines that define
circumstances under which a Fund’s security should be restricted from lending so that its proxies can be voted. Therefore, a Fund’s right to restrict or recall
loaned securities for purposes of voting proxies may not be exercised if, for example, the Board-approved guidelines did not require the security to be restricted from lending or recalled, or if it is determined to be in the best interests of the Fund not to restrict or recall the security in order instead to earn additional income on the loan. For more information about proxy voting policies and instances in which a Fund’s sub-adviser may choose not to vote proxies, see “Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures” below.
49
A Fund is subject to
certain risks while its securities are on loan, including the following: (i) the risk that the borrower defaults on the loan and the collateral is inadequate to cover the
Fund’s loss; (ii) the risk that the earnings on the collateral invested are not sufficient to pay fees incurred in connection with the loan; (iii) the risk that a Fund
could lose money in the event of a decline in the value of the collateral provided for loaned securities or a decline in the value of any investments made with cash
collateral; (iv) the risk that the borrower may use the loaned securities to cover a short sale, which may in turn place downward pressure on the market prices of the loaned securities; (v) the risk that return of loaned securities could be delayed and interfere with portfolio management decisions; (vi) the risk that any efforts to restrict or recall the securities for purposes of voting may not be effective; and (vii) operational risks (i.e., the risk of losses resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process – especially so in certain
international markets). These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for a Fund.
SECURITIES TRUSTS RISK. A Fund may invest in securities trusts, which are investment trust vehicles that maintain portfolios
comprised of underlying debt securities that are generally unsecured. These instruments are purchased in the cash markets and vary as to the type of underlying security, but include such underlying securities as corporate investment grade and high yield bonds and credit default swaps. Examples include TRAINS, TRACERS, CORE and funded CDX. Holders of interests in these structured notes receive income from the trusts in respect of principal or interest paid on the underlying securities. By investing in such notes, a Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by such notes in addition to the expenses of the Fund.
Investments in these types of structured products are subject to
the same risks that would be associated with direct investments in the underlying securities of the structured notes. These risks include substantial market price volatility
resulting from changes in prevailing interest rates; default or bankruptcy of issuers of the underlying securities; subordination to the prior claims of banks and other senior lenders in the case of default; and early repayment by issuers during periods of declining interest rates because of mandatory call or redemption provisions. In addition, structured note products may have difficulty disposing of the underlying securities because of thin trading markets.
SMALL CAPITALIZATION
SECURITIES RISK. A Fund may invest in equity securities (including securities issued in initial public offerings) of companies with smaller market capitalizations. Because the issuers of small capitalization securities tend to be smaller or less well-established companies, they may have limited product lines, market share or financial resources, may have less historical data with respect to operations and management and may be more dependent on a limited number of key employees. As a result, small capitalization securities are often less marketable than securities of larger or more well-established companies. Historically, small market capitalization securities and securities of recently organized companies are subject to increased price volatility due to: (i) less certain growth prospects; (ii) lower degrees of liquidity in the markets for such securities; (iii) thin trading that could result in the securities being sold at a discount or in small lots over an extended period of time; (iv) limited product lines, markets or financial resources; (v) dependence on a few key management personnel; (vi) increased sensitivity to changes in interest rates, borrowing costs and earnings; (vii) difficulty in obtaining information on smaller capitalization companies as compared with larger capitalization companies; (viii) greater sensitivity to changing economic conditions and increased risk of bankruptcy due to adverse developments or management changes affecting the company; and (ix) greater difficulty borrowing money to continue or expand operations. When a Fund invests in smaller company stocks that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade Fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of a Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of Fund shares held by other shareholders.
SOVEREIGN DEBT RISK.
In addition to the risks associated with investment in debt securities and foreign securities generally, investments in sovereign debt involve special risks. The issuer of
the debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due, or otherwise meet its
obligations, in accordance with the terms of such debt, and a Fund may have limited legal recourse in the event of default. Countries such as those in which a Fund may invest have historically experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate trade difficulties and unemployment. Some of these countries are also characterized by political uncertainty or instability. Additional factors that may influence the ability or willingness to service debt include, but are not limited to, a country’s cash flow situation, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of its debt service burden to the economy as a whole and its government’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international agencies. Furthermore, there is the possibility of contagion that could occur if one country defaults on its debt, and that a default in one country could trigger declines and possible additional defaults in other countries in the region. If a government entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay, and there are no bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Further, if a sovereign debtor defaults (or threatens to default) on its sovereign debt obligations, the indebtedness may be restructured. Unlike most corporate debt restructurings, the fees and expenses of financial and legal advisers to the creditors in connection with a restructuring may be borne by the holders of the sovereign debt securities instead of the sovereign entity itself. Some sovereign debtors have in the past been able to restructure their debt payments without the approval of some or all debt holders or to declare moratoria on payments, and similar occurrences may happen in the future. In addition, the financial markets have at times seen an increase in volatility and adverse trends due to uncertainty surrounding the
50
level and sustainability
of sovereign debt of certain countries (for example in countries that are part of the European Union, including Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Portugal).
These developments adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe. Outside of the European
Union, Iceland has also experienced adverse trends due to high debt levels and excessive lending during the height of the financial crisis that began in 2008.
A Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain sovereign debt
obligations because there may be a limited trading market for such securities. Because there is no liquid secondary market for many of these securities, the Funds anticipate
that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of such securities and a Fund’s ability to dispose of particular issues when necessary to meet its liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities also may make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its net asset value.
Sub-sovereign bonds represent the debt of state, provincial,
territorial, municipal, local or other political sub-divisions, including other governmental entities or agencies. Quasi-sovereign bonds represent the debt of corporations
that have significant government ownership. Sub-sovereign and quasi-sovereign bonds are subject to the risks of investing in sovereign debt generally. In addition, sub-sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt may or may not be issued by or guaranteed as to principal and interest by a governmental authority. Certain foreign government securities may be backed by the issuer’s right to borrow from a central bank or other regional banking entity while others may be backed only by the assets and credit of the issuing foreign entity. If an issuer of sub-sovereign or quasi-sovereign bonds defaults on payments of principal and/or interest, a Fund may have limited recourse against the issuer. A Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, which may include, for example, entities such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank). If one or more shareholders of a supranational entity fails to make necessary additional capital contributions, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Fund may lose money on such investments. Please see also “Foreign Investments Risk” above.
STRUCTURED SECURITIES
RISK. Structured securities and other related instruments purchased by a Fund are generally privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, market or interest rate. Depending on the terms of the particular instrument and the nature of the underlying instrument, structured securities may be subject to equity market risk, commodity market risk, currency market risk or interest rate risk. Structured securities that do not involve any type of credit enhancement are subject to credit risk that generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Credit enhanced securities will be subject to the credit risk associated with the provider of the enhancement. Certain Funds are permitted to invest in classes of structured securities that are either subordinated or unsubordinated with respect to the right to payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Certain issuers of such securities may be deemed to be “investment companies” as defined in the 1940 Act; therefore, a Fund’s investment in structured securities may be limited by certain investment restrictions contained therein. Structured securities may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured security’s value relative to the change in the reference measure. Structured securities may also be more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities.
USE AS AN UNDERLYING FUND RISK. Each Fund may be an investment (an “Underlying Fund”) of a fund that pursues its investment goal
by investing primarily in other funds (“fund of funds structure”). An Underlying Fund may experience relatively large redemptions or creations as the fund that
uses a fund of funds structure periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions, to the extent they are effected on a cash basis, may cause the
Underlying Fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such creations, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result
increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance. In addition, such transactions could increase or decrease gains and could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions you receive from a Fund.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES RISK. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other
characteristics. Securities backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and
principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Obligations of U.S. Government
agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be
given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government. U.S. Government securities are also subject to default risk, which is the risk that the U.S. Treasury will be unable to meet its payment obligations. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by a Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.
51
Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities. TIPS are U.S.
Treasury securities designed to protect against inflation. The interest rate paid on TIPS is fixed. The principal value rises or falls semi-annually based on published
changes to the Consumer Price Index. If inflation occurs, the principal amount will be adjusted upwards, resulting in increased interest payments. If deflation occurs, the
principal amount will be adjusted downwards, resulting in lower interest payments. The principal amount payable at maturity will be the greater of the adjusted principal amount and the original principal amount. While U.S. Treasury securities are generally considered to have relatively little credit risk, they are subject to price fluctuations from changes in interest rates prior to their maturity.
VALUATION RISK. The risk that a Fund may value a security
at a price different from the price at which it can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments that trade in low volume or volatile markets or that are
valued using a fair value methodology. In addition, the value of the securities in a Fund’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell a Fund’s shares. If market conditions make it difficult to value certain investments, a Fund’s valuation designee may value these investments using more subjective methods, such as fair-value methodologies. Authorized Participants who purchase or redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher sale proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund’s valuation designee had not fair-valued the securities or had used a different valuation methodology. The value of foreign securities, certain fixed income securities and currencies, as applicable, may be materially affected by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded, but before a Fund determines its NAV. A Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be affected by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents. In particular, errors or system failures and other technological issues may adversely impact a Fund’s calculation of its NAV, and such NAV calculation issues may result in inaccurately calculated net asset values, delays in NAV calculation, and/or the inability to calculate NAV over extended periods. A Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures.
VOLATILITY RISK. The risk that the value of a
Fund’s investments may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Volatility may cause a Fund’s share price, yield and/or total return to experience
significant changes in value over short periods of time.
WARRANTS AND RIGHTS
RISK. Warrants are instruments giving holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy equity or fixed income securities of a company at a specific price during a specified period. Rights are similar to warrants but normally have a short life span to expiration. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that a Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the right’s or warrant’s expiration. Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security. Buying a warrant does not make the Fund a shareholder of the underlying stock. The warrant holder has no voting or dividend rights with respect to the underlying stock. A warrant does not carry any right to assets of the issuer, and for this reason investment in warrants may be more speculative than other equity-based investments. The market for warrants may be limited and it may be difficult for a Fund to sell a warrant promptly at an advantageous price.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES RISK. Zero-coupon securities pay no interest prior to their maturity date or another specified date in the future
but are issued and traded at a discount to their face value. The discount varies as the securities approach their maturity date (or the date on which interest payments are
scheduled to begin). While interest payments are not made on such securities, holders of such securities are deemed to have received income (“phantom income”)
annually, notwithstanding that cash may not be received currently. As with other fixed income securities, zero coupon bonds are subject to interest rate and credit risk.
Some of these securities may be subject to substantially greater price fluctuations during periods of changing market rates than comparable securities that pay interest currently. Longer term zero coupon bonds have greater interest rate risk than shorter term zero coupon bonds.
Portfolio Turnover
The portfolio turnover rate for each Fund is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for
the year by the monthly average value of the portfolio securities, excluding securities whose maturities at the time of purchase were one year or less. High portfolio turnover rates will generally result in higher brokerage expenses, and may increase the volatility of the Funds.
As of the date of this SAI, the Funds have not yet commenced operations, therefore no portfolio turnover rate information is provided.
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
DAILY DISCLOSURE
The Funds' portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day a Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services including publicly accessible Internet websites. On each business day, before commencement of trading on [Cboe BZX], each Fund will disclose on hartfordfunds.com the identities and quantities of the Fund’s portfolio holdings that will form the basis for the Fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of the business day. In addition, one or more basket composition files, which
52
include the security
names and share quantities to deliver in exchange for Fund Shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated daily prior to
the opening of the Exchange via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). Each basket represents one Creation Unit of a Fund. The
Trust, the Investment Manager, sub-adviser or State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) will not disseminate non-public information
concerning the Trust, except: (i) to a party for a legitimate business purpose related to the day-to-day operations of the Funds or (ii) to any other party
for a legitimate business or regulatory purpose, upon waiver or exception.
Fund Management
BOARD
RESPONSIBILITIES. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Funds described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Board is responsible for oversight of the Funds. The Board elects officers who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Funds. The Board oversees the Investment Manager and the other principal service providers of the Funds. As described in more detail below, the Board has established five standing committees that assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities: the Audit Committee, Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee, Contracts Committee, Investment Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee (collectively, the “Committees”).
The Board is chaired by an Independent Trustee (as defined
below). The Independent Chair (i) presides at Board meetings and participates in the preparation of agendas for the meetings, (ii) acts as a liaison with the Funds'
officers, Investment Manager and other trustees between meetings and (iii) coordinates Board activities and functions with the Chair of the Committees. The Independent Chair may also perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership and committee structure is appropriate because it provides a foundation for the Board to work effectively with management and service providers and facilitates the exercise of the Board’s independent judgment. In addition, the committee structure permits an efficient allocation of responsibility among the Trustees.
The Board oversees risk as part of its
general oversight of the Funds and risk is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including investment,
compliance, financial, operational and valuation risks. The Funds' service providers, which are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Funds, apply risk management
in conducting their activities. The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Funds, and that it is not possible to develop processes and controls to eliminate all risks and their possible effects. The Audit Committee, Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee, and Investment Committee receive reports or other information from management regarding risk assessment and management. In addition, the Investment Manager has established an internal committee focused on risk assessment and risk management related to the operations of the Funds and the Investment Manager, and the chair of that committee reports to the Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee on a semi-annual basis (or more frequently if appropriate). The Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee assists the Board in overseeing the activities of the Funds' Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), and the CCO provides an annual report to the Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee and the Board regarding material compliance matters. The Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee and the Board receive and consider other reports from the CCO throughout the year. The Investment Committee assists the Board in overseeing investment matters. The Investment Committee receives reports from the Investment Manager relating to investment performance, including information regarding investment risk. The Audit Committee assists the Board in reviewing financial matters, including matters relating to financial reporting risks and valuation risks. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts its risk oversight role.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. The Board of Trustees has nine (9) members, eight (8) of whom are not “interested persons” of the
Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees” or “Non-Interested Trustees”). The Trust’s Board of Trustees (i)
provides broad supervision over the affairs of the Trust and the Funds and (ii) elects officers who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Funds and the
execution of policies formulated by the Board.
The first table below provides information about the Independent Trustees and the second table below provides information about the Trust’s “interested” trustee and the Trust’s officers.
53
NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES
| NAME, YEAR OF
BIRTH AND ADDRESS*
|
POSITION
HELD WITH
THE TRUST |
TERM OF
OFFICE** AND
LENGTH OF
TIME
SERVED |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST 5 YEARS |
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX*** OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
FOR PUBLIC COMPANIES AND
OTHER
REGISTERED INVESTMENT
COMPANIES HELD
BY TRUSTEE |
| HILARY E.
ACKERMANN (1956) |
Trustee |
Since 2017 |
Ms. Ackermann served as Chief Risk Officer at
Goldman Sachs Bank USA from October 2008 to
November 2011. |
[ ] |
Ms. Ackermann
served as a
Director of Dynegy,
Inc. from October
2012 until its
acquisition by
Vistra Energy
Corporation
(“Vistra”) in 2018,
and since that time
she has served as
a Director of Vistra.
Ms. Ackermann
served as a
Director of Credit
Suisse Holdings
(USA), Inc. from
January 2017 to
December 2022.
In June 2025, Ms.
Ackermann joined
the Board of
Directors of Eco
Wave Power. |
| ROBIN C. BEERY (1967) |
Trustee |
Since 2016 |
Ms. Beery is a Partner at ArrowMark Partners (a
boutique alternatives investment manager). She
served as a consultant for ArrowMark Partners since
March of 2015 and since November 2018 has been
employed by ArrowMark Partners as a Senior Advisor.
Previously, she was Executive Vice President, Head of
Distribution, for Janus Capital Group, and Chief
Executive Officer and President of the Janus Mutual
Funds (a global asset manager) from September
2009 to August 2014. |
[ ] |
Ms. Beery serves as an independent Director of UMB Financial Corporation (January 2015 to present) and has chaired the Compensation Committee since April 2017, and has been a member of the Compensation Committee and the Risk Committee since January 2015. |
54
| NAME, YEAR OF
BIRTH AND
ADDRESS* |
POSITION
HELD WITH
THE TRUST |
TERM OF
OFFICE**
AND
LENGTH OF
TIME
SERVED |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST 5 YEARS |
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX*** OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
FOR PUBLIC
COMPANIES AND
OTHER
REGISTERED
INVESTMENT
COMPANIES HELD
BY TRUSTEE |
| DERRICK D.
CEPHAS
(1952) |
Trustee |
Since 2020 |
Mr. Cephas currently serves as Of Counsel to Squire
Patton Boggs LLP, an international law firm with 45
offices in 20 countries. Until his retirement in October
2020, Mr. Cephas was a Partner of Weil, Gotshal &
Manges LLP, an international law firm headquartered
in New York, where he served as the Head of the
Financial Institutions Practice (April 2011 to October
2020). |
[ ] |
Mr. Cephas
currently serves as
a Director of Claros
Mortgage Trust,
Inc., a real estate
investment trust
and is a member of
the Compensation
Committee and
Nominating and
Governance
Committee. |
| CHRISTINE R.
DETRICK
(1958) |
Trustee and
Chair of the
Board |
Trustee
since 2017;
Chair of the
Board since
2021 |
From 2002 until 2012, Ms. Detrick was a Senior
Partner, Leader of the Financial Services Practice, and
a Senior Advisor at Bain & Company (“Bain”). Before
joining Bain, she served in various senior
management roles for other financial services firms
and was a consultant at McKinsey and Company. |
[ ] |
Ms. Detrick
currently serves as
a Director and
Chair of the
Nominating and
Governance
Committee of
Charles River
Associates (May
2020 to present);
and currently
serves as a
Director of Capital
One Financial
Corporation (since
November 2021).
Ms. Detrick served
as a Director and
Chair of Altus
Power, Inc.
(December 2021
to April 2025). |
| JOHN J.
GAUTHIER (1961) |
Trustee |
Since 2022 |
Mr. Gauthier currently is the Principal Owner of JJG
Advisory, LLC, an investment consulting firm, and Co-
Founder and Principal Owner of Talcott Capital
Partners (a placement agent for investment managers
serving insurance companies). From 2008 to 2018,
Mr. Gauthier served as a Senior Vice President (2008-
2010), Executive Vice President (2010-2012), and
President (2012-2018) of Allied World Assurance,
LTD, AG (a global provider of property, casualty and
specialty insurance and reinsurance solutions). |
[ ] |
Mr. Gauthier currently serves as a Director and Chair of the Investment Committee of Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. (from 2018 to present); currently serves as a Director and the Chair of the Compensation Committee of Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (October 2023 to present). |
55
| NAME, YEAR OF
BIRTH AND
ADDRESS* |
POSITION
HELD WITH
THE TRUST |
TERM OF
OFFICE**
AND
LENGTH OF
TIME
SERVED |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST 5 YEARS |
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX*** OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
FOR PUBLIC
COMPANIES AND
OTHER
REGISTERED
INVESTMENT
COMPANIES HELD
BY TRUSTEE |
| ANDREW A.
JOHNSON
(1962) |
Trustee |
Since 2020 |
Mr. Johnson currently serves as a Diversity and
Inclusion Advisor at Neuberger Berman, a private,
global investment management firm. Prior to his
current role, Mr. Johnson served as Chief Investment
Officer and Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed
Income at Neuberger Berman (January 2009 to
December 2018). |
[ ] |
Mr. Johnson
currently serves as
a Director of AGNC
Investment Corp.,
a real estate
investment trust. |
| PAUL L.
ROSENBERG
(1953) |
Trustee |
Since 2020 |
Mr. Rosenberg was a Partner of The Bridgespan
Group, a global nonprofit consulting firm that is a
social impact advisor to nonprofits, non-governmental
organizations, philanthropists and institutional
investors (October 2007 to August 2024). |
[ ] |
None |
| DAVID SUNG
(1953) |
Trustee |
Since 2016 |
Mr. Sung was a Partner at Ernst & Young LLP from
October 1995 to July 2014. |
[ ] |
Mr. Sung currently serves as a Trustee of Ironwood Institutional Multi- Strategy Fund, LLC and Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC (October 2015 to present); currently serves as a Director of Coller Secondaries Private Equity Opportunities Fund (April 2024 to present). |
*
The address for each Trustee is c/o Hartford Funds 690 Lee Road, Wayne, Pennsylvania
19087.
**
Term of Office:
Each Trustee holds an indefinite term until his or her retirement, resignation, removal, or death. Trustees generally must retire no later than December 31 of the year in which
the Trustee turns 75 years of age.
***
The portfolios of the “Fund Complex” are Hartford Schroders Private
Opportunities Fund and the operational series of The Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc., The Hartford Mutual Funds II, Inc., Hartford Series Fund, Inc., Lattice Strategies Trust, and
Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust. The portfolios of the Fund Complex are collectively referred to as the “Hartford Funds” throughout this SAI.
56
OFFICERS AND INTERESTED
TRUSTEE
| NAME, YEAR OF
BIRTH AND ADDRESS*
|
POSITION
HELD WITH
THE TRUST |
TERM OF
OFFICE**
AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST 5 YEARS |
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX*** OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD BY
TRUSTEE |
| GREGORY A.
FROST****
(1970) |
Trustee,
President
and Chief
Executive
Officer |
Trustee,
President
and Chief
Executive
Officer since
January
2025 |
Mr. Frost has served in various positions within The
Hartford and its subsidiaries in connection with the
operation of the Hartford funds. Mr. Frost served as
Chief Financial Officer of Hartford Funds Management
Group, Inc. (“HFMG”) from December 3, 2012 until
December 31, 2024. Since January 1, 2025, Mr.
Frost serves as Chairman, Director, President, and
Senior Managing Director for HFMG. Mr. Frost also
serves as Chairman of the Board, President,
Manager, and Senior Managing Director for Hartford
Funds Management Company, LLC (“HFMC”);
Chairman of the Board, Manager, and President of
Lattice Strategies LLC (“Lattice”); Chairman of the
Board, Manager, and Senior Managing Director of
Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC (“HFD”); and
Chairman of the Board, President and Senior
Managing Director of Hartford Administrative Services
Company (“HASCO”), each of which is an affiliate of
HFMG. |
[ ] |
None |
| WALTER F.
GARGER (1965) |
Vice
President
and Chief
Legal Officer |
Since 2016 |
Mr. Garger serves as Secretary, Managing Director
and General Counsel of HFMG, HFMC, HFD, and
HASCO (since 2013). Mr. Garger also serves as
Secretary and General Counsel of Lattice (since July
2016). Mr. Garger has served in various positions
within The Hartford and its subsidiaries in connection
with the operation of the Hartford funds. Mr. Garger
joined The Hartford in 1995. |
N/A |
N/A |
| JOSEPH G.
MELCHER (1973) |
Vice
President,
Chief
Compliance
Officer |
Vice
President
and Chief
Compliance
Officer since
2016; AML
Compliance
Officer from
August
2022 to July
2026 |
Mr. Melcher serves as Executive Vice President of
HFMG and HASCO (since December 2013) and Chief
Compliance Officer of HFMG (since January 2025).
Mr. Melcher also serves as Executive Vice President
(since December 2013) and Chief Compliance Officer
(since December 2012) of HFMC, serves as Executive
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Lattice
(since July 2016), serves as Executive Vice President
(since December 2013), and served as President and
Chief Executive Officer of HFD (from April 2018 to
June 2019). |
N/A |
N/A |
| VERNON J.
MEYER (1964) |
Vice
President
and Chief
Investment
Officer |
Vice
President
since 2016;
Chief
Investment
Officer since
February
2025 |
Mr. Meyer serves as Managing Director and Chief
Investment Officer of HFMC and Managing Director of
HFMG (since 2013) and Chief Investment Officer of
HFMG (since January 2025). Mr. Meyer also serves
as Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of
Lattice (since January 2025). Mr. Meyer has served in
various positions within The Hartford and its
subsidiaries in connection with the operation of the
Hartford funds. Mr. Meyer joined The Hartford in
2004. |
N/A |
N/A |
57
| NAME, YEAR OF
BIRTH AND
ADDRESS* |
POSITION
HELD WITH
THE
TRUST |
TERM OF
OFFICE**
AND
LENGTH OF
TIME
SERVED |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST 5 YEARS |
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX*** OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
TRUSTEE |
| ERNIE OVERHOLT (1969) |
Vice
President
and Chief
Operations
Officer |
Since 2024 |
Mr. Overholt serves as Vice President and Chief
Operations Officer of the Trust (since May 2024). Mr.
Overholt serves as Executive Vice President of HFD,
HFMC, Lattice and HASCO (since April 2026). Mr.
Overholt served as Vice President of HFD, HFMC,
Lattice and HASCO (from June 2024 to March 2026).
Mr. Overholt also serves as Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer of HFMG (since January
2025). Prior to joining HFMC in 2024, Mr. Overholt
was Head of Enterprise Risk Strategy at The Vanguard
Group. Prior to that, Mr. Overholt spent 25 years in
numerous senior leadership positions with Janus
Henderson Investors. |
N/A |
N/A |
| ALICE A.
PELLEGRINO (1960) |
Vice
President
and
Assistant
Secretary |
Since 2016 |
Ms. Pellegrino is Deputy General Counsel for HFMG
(since April 2022) and currently serves as Vice
President of HFMG (since December 2013). Ms.
Pellegrino also serves as Vice President and
Assistant Secretary of Lattice (since June 2017). Ms.
Pellegrino has served in various positions within The
Hartford and its subsidiaries in connection with the
operation of the Hartford funds. Ms. Pellegrino joined
The Hartford in 2007. |
N/A |
N/A |
| ANKIT PURI (1984) |
Treasurer |
Since 2023 |
Mr. Puri serves as a Vice President of HFMG (since
April 2025). Mr. Puri serves as Treasurer of the Trust
(since September 2023). Mr. Puri serves as Assistant
Treasurer and Vice President of HFMC (since
September 2023). Prior to joining HFMC in 2023, Mr.
Puri was a Fund Accounting Director, Investment
Management Services, at SEI Investments (July 2021
through August 2023), an Associate Director, Fund
Accounting Policy at The Vanguard Group (September
2020 to June 2021), and served in various positions
at Ernst & Young LLP (October 2014 through
September 2020). |
N/A |
N/A |
| THOMAS R.
PHILLIPS (1960) |
Vice
President
and
Secretary |
Since 2017 |
Mr. Phillips is Deputy General Counsel for HFMG and
currently serves as a Senior Vice President (since
June 2021) and Assistant Secretary (since June
2017) for HFMG. Mr. Phillips also serves as Vice
President of HFMC (since June 2021) and Assistant
Secretary and Vice President of Lattice (since April
2026). Prior to joining HFMG in 2017, Mr. Phillips was
a Director and Chief Legal Officer of Saturna Capital
Corporation from 2014–2016. Prior to that, Mr.
Phillips was a Partner and Deputy General Counsel of
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC. |
N/A |
N/A |
| NANCY DAVIS
SCHOLZ
(1972) |
AML
Compliance
Officer |
AML
Compliance
Officer since
July 2026 |
Ms. Scholz serves as VP of HMFG (since 2018);
serves as Chief Compliance Officer of HASCO (since
January 2025) and Anti-Money Laundering Officer
(since April 2026) of HFD and HASCO. |
N/A |
N/A |
*
The address for each officer and Trustee is c/o Hartford Funds 690 Lee Road, Wayne,
Pennsylvania 19087.
**
Term of Office: Each Trustee holds an indefinite term until the Trustee’s retirement, which must be no later than December 31 of the year in which the Trustee turns 75 years of age, or the Trustee’s resignation, removal, or death prior to the Trustee’s retirement. Each Fund officer generally serves until his or her resignation, removal or death.
***
The portfolios of the “Fund Complex” are the Hartford Schroders Private
Opportunities Fund and the operational series of The Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc., The Hartford Mutual Funds II, Inc., Hartford Series Fund, Inc., Lattice Strategies Trust, and
Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust.
58
****
“Interested person,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust because of the person’s affiliation with, or equity ownership of HFMC or affiliated companies.
All trustees and officers of the Trust also hold corresponding positions with The Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc., The Hartford Mutual Funds II, Inc., Hartford Series Fund, Inc., Lattice Strategies Trust and Hartford Schroders Private Opportunities Fund.
STANDING COMMITTEES. As described in more detail below, the Board has established five standing committees that assist the
Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities: the Audit Committee; Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee; Contracts Committee; Investment Committee; and Nominating
and Governance Committee (collectively, the “Committees”). The Trust does not have a standing compensation committee; however, the Nominating and Governance
Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board regarding the compensation of the non-interested members of the Board. The Board has adopted written charters for the Audit Committee, the Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee, the Investment Committee, and the Nominating and Governance Committee.
The Audit Committee currently consists of the following non-interested trustees: Hilary E. Ackermann, Derrick D. Cephas, Paul L. Rosenberg, and David Sung. The Audit Committee (i) oversees the Funds' accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, their internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (ii) assists the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the qualifications, independence and performance of the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm; the quality, objectivity and integrity of the Funds' financial statements and the independent audit thereof; and the performance of the Funds' internal audit function; and (iii) acts as a liaison between the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. The Funds' independent registered public accounting firm reports directly to the Audit Committee, and the Audit Committee regularly reports to the Board of Trustees.
Management is responsible for maintaining appropriate systems for accounting. The Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for conducting a proper audit of each Fund’s financial statements and is ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has the ultimate authority and responsibility to select (subject to approval by the non-interested trustees and ratification by the Trust shareholders, as required) and evaluate the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, to determine the compensation of the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm and, when appropriate, to replace the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm.
The Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee currently consists of Hilary E. Ackermann, Derrick D. Cephas, Paul L. Rosenberg, and David Sung. The Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee assists the Board in its oversight of the adoption and implementation of compliance and enterprise risk management policies and procedures.
The Contracts Committee currently consists of all non-interested
trustees of the Trust: Hilary E. Ackermann; Robin C. Beery; Derrick D. Cephas; Christine R. Detrick; John J. Gauthier; Andrew A. Johnson; Paul L. Rosenberg; and David Sung.
The Contracts Committee assists the Board in its consideration and review of fund contracts and the consideration of strategy-related matters.
The Investment Committee currently consists of Robin C. Beery,
John J. Gauthier; and Andrew A. Johnson. The Investment Committee assists the Board in its oversight of the Funds' investment performance and related matters.
The Nominating and Governance Committee currently consists
of all non-interested trustees of the Trust: Hilary E. Ackermann; Robin C. Beery; Derrick D. Cephas; Christine R. Detrick; John J. Gauthier; Andrew A. Johnson; Paul L.
Rosenberg; and David Sung. The Nominating and Governance Committee: (i) screens and selects candidates to the applicable Board of Trustees and (ii) periodically reviews and evaluates the compensation of the non-interested trustees and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding the compensation of, and expense reimbursement policies with respect to, non-interested trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee is also authorized to consider and make recommendations to the Board regarding governance policies, including, but not limited to, any retirement policy for non-interested trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders for non-interested trustee positions if a vacancy among the non-interested trustees occurs and if the nominee meets the Committee’s criteria.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2025, the above referenced committees (or sub-committee thereof) met the following number of times: Audit Committee — 4 times, Investment Committee — 4 times, Nominating and Governance Committee — 3 times, Contracts Committee — 1 time and Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee — 4 times.
INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEE QUALIFICATIONS. The
Board has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of his or her ability to review and understand information about the Funds provided to him or
her by management, to identify and request other information he or she may deem relevant to the performance of his or her duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Funds, and to exercise his or her business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of each Fund’s shareholders. The Board has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on his or her own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.
Hilary E. Ackermann. Ms. Ackermann has served as an independent Board member since September 2014. She has served as
Chair of the Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee since 2016. Ms. Ackermann has over 25 years of credit, financial and risk management experience, including serving as the chief risk officer at a New York-chartered bank.
59
Robin
C. Beery. Ms. Beery has served as an independent Board member since 2017. She has served as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee since January 1, 2021. Ms. Beery is an experienced business executive with over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including extensive experience as a senior executive overseeing the global distribution of mutual funds and institutional strategies for a large investment adviser and investor relations for a private credit investment management firm.
Derrick D. Cephas. Mr. Cephas has more than forty years of experience as an
attorney practicing in the banking, corporate, and financial services industries. He currently is Of Counsel of an international law firm and was a Partner in
several New York based law firms. He also serves as a director of a real estate investment trust. Mr. Cephas previously served in senior executive roles in
state banking and other government agencies and served as the chief executive officer of one of the largest privately owned banks in the U.S.
Christine R. Detrick. Ms. Detrick has served as an independent Board member
since 2016. She has served as Chair of the Board and the Contracts Committee since November 2021. She previously served as Chair of the Investment Committee
from August 2019 until November 2021. Ms. Detrick has over 30 years of experience leading and advising financial services companies and investors. She previously served as a director, head of the Americas financial services practice and senior advisor at a management consulting firm, and as the chief executive officer of a private savings bank.
Gregory A. Frost. Mr. Frost has served as
a board member, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust since 2025. Mr. Frost joined The Hartford in 2012 and has served in various positions
within The Hartford and its subsidiaries. As HFMG’s chief financial officer (2012-2024), Mr. Frost was responsible for all aspects of finance and
corporate accounting for the firm, including planning and budgeting activities, all financial analysis, and corporate development. Prior to joining The
Hartford, Mr. Frost served in various roles with Janus Capital Corporation over a period of almost 15 years, including serving as that firm’s chief
financial officer. Mr. Frost serves on the Board of Governors for the Investment Company Institute (ICI).
John J. Gauthier. Mr. Gauthier has served as an Independent Board member since January 2022 and is a member of the Board’s Investment Committee. Mr. Gauthier is an investment senior executive with 30 years of experience overseeing investment portfolios for insurance companies and has served as a chief investment officer and in chief executive officer positions. Mr. Gauthier also is the principal owner of an investment consulting firm and a principal owner of an investment manager placement agency, each of which serves clients in the insurance industry.
Andrew A. Johnson. Mr. Johnson has served as Chair of the Investment
Committee since November 2021. Mr. Johnson has over 30 years of experience as an investment professional responsible for a range of fixed-income and
multi-asset class products. He currently serves as a diversity and inclusion advisor at a global investment management firm. In his previous roles, Mr.
Johnson served as a chief investment officer, senior executive and portfolio manager.
Paul L. Rosenberg. Mr. Rosenberg has over
40 years of experience as a senior executive, strategy consultant, and senior official serving in the U.S. government. He currently is a partner of a
non-profit strategy consulting firm. Mr. Rosenberg was previously a partner of a premier for-profit strategy consulting firm.
David Sung. Mr. Sung has served as an independent Board member since 2014. He has served as Chair of the Audit Committee since November 2019. Mr. Sung is an experienced financial services and auditing professional with over 37 years of experience serving clients in the investment management business.
References to the experience, attributes and skills of Trustees above are pursuant to requirements of the SEC and do not constitute holding out of the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.
In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the
Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall
composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Funds.
COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS AND
TRUSTEES. The Funds pay a portion of the chief compliance officer’s compensation, but
otherwise do not pay salaries or compensation to any of their officers or trustees who are employed by Hartford Funds or its affiliates.
The chart below sets forth the compensation paid to the following Trustees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2025 and certain other information.
| NAME OF PERSON, POSITION |
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION FROM THE TRUST |
PENSION OR
RETIREMENT
BENEFITS ACCRUED AS
PART OF FUND
EXPENSES |
ESTIMATED ANNUAL BENEFITS UPON RETIREMENT |
TOTAL COMPENSATION
FROM THE FUND COMPLEX PAID
TO TRUSTEES |
| Hilary E. Ackermann, Trustee |
$9,429 |
None |
None |
$373,500 |
| Robin C. Beery, Trustee |
$9,429 |
None |
None |
$373,500 |
| Derrick D. Cephas, Trustee |
$8,262 |
None |
None |
$328,500 |
60
| NAME OF PERSON, POSITION |
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
FROM THE TRUST |
PENSION OR
RETIREMENT
BENEFITS ACCRUED AS
PART OF FUND
EXPENSES |
ESTIMATED ANNUAL
BENEFITS UPON
RETIREMENT |
TOTAL COMPENSATION
FROM THE FUND
COMPLEX PAID
TO TRUSTEES |
| Christine R. Detrick, Trustee |
$13,449 |
None |
None |
$528,500 |
| John J. Gauthier, Trustee |
$8,211 |
None |
None |
$326,500 |
| Andrew A. Johnson, Trustee |
$9,429 |
None |
None |
$373,500 |
| Paul L. Rosenberg, Trustee |
$8,262 |
None |
None |
$328,500 |
| David Sung, Trustee |
$9,429 |
None |
None |
$373,500 |
OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES. The following tables disclose the dollar range of
equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee as of December 31, 2025 (i) in the Fund and (ii) on an aggregate basis in any registered investment companies overseen
by the trustee within the same family of investment companies:
NON-INTERESTED
TRUSTEES
| NAME OF TRUSTEE |
DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN THE
FUND* |
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
IN ALL REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES
OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE IN FAMILY OF INVESTMENT
COMPANIES |
| Hilary E. Ackermann |
N/A |
Over $100,000 |
| Robin C. Beery |
N/A |
Over $100,000 |
| Derrick D. Cephas |
N/A |
None |
| Christine R. Detrick |
N/A |
Over $100,000 |
| John J. Gauthier |
N/A |
Over $100,000 |
| Andrew A. Johnson |
N/A |
None |
| Paul L. Rosenberg |
N/A |
$10,001-$50,000 |
| David Sung |
N/A |
None |
* The Fund was not in operation as of December 31, 2025.
INTERESTED TRUSTEE
| NAME OF TRUSTEE |
DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN THE
FUND* |
AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
IN ALL REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES
OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE IN FAMILY OF INVESTMENT
COMPANIES |
| Gregory A. Frost |
N/A |
Over $100,000 |
* The Fund was not in operation as of December 31, 2025.
Control Persons and Principal Security
Holders
Each Fund has not commenced
operations as of the date of this SAI and, therefore, the Trust does not know of any persons who own of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the
Fund as of that date.
Investment Management Arrangements
The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has entered into an investment management agreement with HFMC. HFMC, whose principal business address is 690 Lee Road, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087, was organized in 2012. The investment management agreement provides that HFMC, subject to the supervision and approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, is responsible for the management of the Funds. In addition, HFMC or its affiliate(s) provides administrative services to the Trust and the Funds. HFMC or its affiliate(s) have also agreed to arrange for the provision of additional services necessary for the proper operation of the Trust and the Funds. Although HFMC, or its affiliates, have agreed to arrange for the provision of additional services necessary for the proper operation of the Trust, the Funds pay for these services directly.
HFMC administers the business and affairs of each Fund. With respect to each Fund, HFMC may retain and compensate the sub-adviser that invests and reinvests the assets of the Fund pursuant to the sub-advisory agreement with HFMC. In this regard, HFMC will, whether directly or through engagement of sub-advisers, regularly provide each Fund with research, advice and supervision, and will furnish continuously an investment program for each Fund consistent with the investment objective and policies of that Fund. HFMC shall also monitor, supervise and oversee any sub-adviser. Among other services, HFMC: (i) provides and, as necessary, reevaluates and updates the investment objective and parameters, asset classes, and risk profiles of the Funds; (ii) determines, as permitted through the engagement of sub-advisers as the case may be, what securities and other financial instruments should be purchased for the Funds and the portion of the Fund's portfolio to be held in cash; (iii) monitors the Fund's performance and examines and recommends ways to improve performance; (iv) meets with and monitors sub-advisers to confirm
61
their compliance with the
Fund's investment strategies and policies and for their adherence to legal and compliance procedures; (v) researches and recommends sub-advisers or portfolio
managers for the Funds; and (vi) reports to the Board on the performance of each Fund and recommends action as appropriate.
Among other services, HFMC: (i) assists in all aspects of the
Fund's operations, including the supervision and coordination of service providers (e.g., the custodian, transfer agent or other shareholder servicing agents, accountants,
and attorneys), and serves as the liaison between such service providers and the Board; (ii) drafts and negotiates agreements between service providers and the Trust; (iii) prepares meeting materials for the Trust's Board and produces such other materials as the Board may request; (iv) coordinates and oversees filings with the SEC; (v) develops and implements compliance programs for the Funds; (vi) provides day-to-day legal and regulatory support for the Funds; (vii) assists the Funds in the handling of regulatory examinations; and (viii) makes reports to the Board regarding the performance of the Fund's investment manager.
With respect to the Funds, HFMC has entered into an investment sub-advisory agreement with Wellington Management. Under the sub-advisory agreement, the sub-adviser, subject to the general supervision of the Trust’s Board and HFMC, is responsible for (among other things) the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund and furnishing the Fund with advice and recommendations with respect to investments and the purchase and sale of appropriate securities for the Fund.
As provided by the investment management
agreement, each Fund pays HFMC an investment management fee that is accrued daily and paid monthly, equal on an annual basis to a stated percentage of the Fund’s
average daily net assets. With respect to each Fund, HFMC (not any Fund) pays the sub-advisory fees to Wellington Management.
The investment management agreement between the Trust and HFMC, on behalf of the Funds, will terminate upon the closing of the Transaction (as defined below) due to a proposed change of control of HFMC, which is expected to close on or about [ ]. The Hartford and Wellington Management have reached a definitive agreement under which Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings, LLP (“WIAH”), Wellington Management’s corporate parent, will acquire Hartford Funds Management Group, Inc. (“HFMG”) and certain affiliates (including HFMC) (the “Transaction”). The change in control resulting from the Transaction will constitute an “assignment” of the existing investment management agreement between the Trust and HFMC within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Because an investment management agreement automatically terminates upon its “assignment” under the terms of the agreement and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the change in control will terminate the existing investment management agreement entered into by the Trust on behalf of the Funds and require that the Board and Fund shareholders approve a new investment management agreement for the Funds. To address this requirement, prior to each Fund’s public offering to shareholders, the Board and the sole initial shareholder of each Fund are expected to approve both the current investment management agreement and a new investment management agreement, with the latter to take effect upon the closing of the Transaction to replace the current investment management agreement. Following the closing of the Transaction, HFMC is expected to continue to serve as investment manager to the Funds pursuant to the new investment management agreement. The investment management services to be provided by HFMC under the new investment management agreement are identical to the services provided under the existing investment management agreement, and no changes in management fees will result from the new agreement.
MANAGEMENT FEES
Each Fund pays a monthly management fee to HFMC based on a
stated percentage of the Fund’s average daily net asset value as follows:
Alpha Capture International Growth
ETF
| AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS |
ANNUAL RATE |
| First $[xxx] billion |
[x.xxxx]% |
| Amount Over $[xxx] billion |
[x.xxxx]% |
Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF
| AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS |
ANNUAL RATE |
| First $[xxx] billion |
[x.xxxx]% |
| Amount Over $[xxx] billion |
[x.xxxx]% |
ADVISORY FEE PAYMENT HISTORY
Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of the date of
this SAI, there is no advisory fee or sub-advisory fee payment information for the Funds.
62
HFMC has contractually
agreed to limit the expenses of each Fund by reimbursing expenses (exclusive of taxes, interest expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund
fees and expenses) to the extent necessary to limit total annual fund operating expenses through February 29, 2028 as noted in the table below unless the Board of Trustees
of the Trust approves its earlier termination:
| Fund |
Expense Limitation Arrangement |
| Alpha Capture International Growth ETF |
[xxx]% |
| Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF |
[xxx]% |
Pursuant to the investment management agreement, HFMC is not liable to the Funds or its shareholders for an error of judgment or mistake of law or for a loss suffered by the Funds in connection with the matters to which its agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of HFMC in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of the obligations and duties under the agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of the sub-advisory agreement, the
sub-adviser must discharge its duties under the sub-advisory agreement with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent
investment professional acting in a similar capacity and familiar with such matters would use. Unless the sub-adviser breaches this standard of care or under applicable law, the sub-adviser is not liable to the Trust, the Funds, HFMC or its affiliates for any of its acts or omissions, or any acts or omissions of any other person or entity, in the course of or connected with the sub-adviser performing its obligations under the sub-advisory agreement. If the sub-adviser breaches this standard of care or under applicable law, the sub-adviser is responsible for indemnifying and holding harmless HFMC and its affiliates from all claims, losses, expenses, obligations and liabilities (including reasonable attorney’s fees) resulting from: (1) the sub-adviser causing a Fund to be in material violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule or regulation or in violation of any investment policy set forth in a Fund’s current registration statement; (2) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement or certain other materials or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the sub-adviser that was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon information provided by the sub-adviser in writing for use in such materials; (3) a material breach of the investment sub-advisory agreement; or (4) any willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard on the part of the sub-adviser in the performance of its duties and obligations under the investment sub-advisory agreement (except to the extent that the loss results from HFMC’s or the Trust’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence, or reckless disregard in the performance of their respective duties and obligations under the sub-advisory agreement or the applicable investment management agreement).
Wellington Management is a Delaware limited liability partnership with principal offices at 280 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. Wellington Management is a professional investment counseling firm that provides investment services to
investment companies, employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years. Wellington Management is owned by the partners of Wellington Management Group LLP, a Massachusetts limited liability partnership.
HFMC also provides the Funds with accounting services pursuant to a fund accounting agreement by and between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and HFMC. HFMC has delegated certain accounting and administrative service functions to State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”). In consideration of services rendered and expenses assumed pursuant to the fund accounting agreement, each Fund pays HFMC a fee. HFMC is entitled to receive the following fee with respect to each Fund: the fund accounting fee for the Fund shall equal the greater of: (A) the sum of (i) the sub-accounting fee payable by HFMC with respect to the Fund; (ii) the fee payable for tax preparation services for the Fund; and (iii) the amount of expenses that HFMC allocates for providing the fund accounting services to the Fund; plus a target profit margin; or (B) $40,000 per year; provided, however, that to the extent the annual amount of the fund accounting fee exceeds 0.02% of the Fund’s average net assets (calculated during its current fiscal year), HFMC shall waive such portion of the fund accounting fee.
Portfolio Manager
OTHER ACCOUNTS SUB-ADVISED OR MANAGED BY WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO MANAGER
The following table lists the number and types of other accounts
sub-advised or managed by the Fund’s portfolio manager and assets under management in those accounts as of [
]:
| FUND AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER |
NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS |
ASSETS MANAGED
(in millions) |
NUMBER OF
ACCOUNTS
WHERE ADVISORY FEE IS BASED ON ACCOUNT PERFORMANCE |
TOTAL ASSETS IN
ACCOUNTS WHERE ADVISORY FEE IS BASED ON ACCOUNT PERFORMANCE (in millions) |
| Alpha Capture International Growth ETF | ||||
| Thomas S. Simon | ||||
| Other Registered Investment Companies |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
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| FUND AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER |
NUMBER OF
ACCOUNTS |
ASSETS MANAGED
(in millions) |
NUMBER OF
ACCOUNTS
WHERE ADVISORY
FEE IS BASED ON
ACCOUNT
PERFORMANCE |
TOTAL ASSETS IN
ACCOUNTS WHERE
ADVISORY FEE IS
BASED ON ACCOUNT
PERFORMANCE
(in millions) |
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
| Other Accounts |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
| Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF | ||||
| Thomas S. Simon |
|
|
|
|
| Other Registered Investment Companies |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
| Other Accounts |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE FUNDS SUB-ADVISED BY WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO MANAGER AND OTHER
ACCOUNTS
Individual investment professionals
at Wellington Management manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions,
such as pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, or separately managed account programs sponsored by financial intermediaries), bank common trust accounts, and
hedge funds. The portfolio manager listed in the prospectus who is primarily responsible for the daily investment of the assets of the Funds (“Investment Professionals”) generally manage accounts in several different investment styles. These accounts may have investment objectives, strategies, time horizons, tax considerations and risk profiles that differ from those of the Funds. The Investment Professionals make investment decisions for each account, including the Funds, based on the investment objectives, policies, practices, benchmarks, cash flows, tax and other investment considerations applicable to that account. Consequently, the Investment Professionals may purchase or sell securities, including IPOs, for one account and not another account, and the performance of securities purchased for one account may vary from the performance of securities purchased for other accounts. Alternatively, these accounts may be managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus the accounts may have similar, and in some cases nearly identical, objectives, strategies and/or holdings to that of the Fund.
An Investment Professional or other investment professionals at
Wellington Management may engage in transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of the Fund, or
make investment decisions that are similar to those made for the Fund, both of which have the potential to adversely impact the Fund depending on market conditions. For example, an investment professional may purchase a security in one account while appropriately selling that same security in another account. Similarly, an Investment Professional may purchase the same security for the Fund and one or more other accounts at or about the same time. In those instances the investors in the other accounts may have access to their respective holdings prior to the public disclosure of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, some of these accounts have fee structures, including performance fees, that are or have the potential to be higher, in some cases significantly higher, than the fees Wellington Management receives for managing the Fund. The Investment Professionals may also manage accounts that pay performance allocations to Wellington Management or its affiliates (as indicated in the notes to the chart above entitled “Other Accounts Sub-Advised or Managed by Wellington Management Portfolio Manager”). Because incentive payments paid by Wellington Management to the Investment Professionals are tied to revenues earned by Wellington Management, and, where noted, to the performance achieved by the manager in each account, the incentives associated with any given account may be significantly higher or lower than those associated with other accounts managed by a given Investment Professional. Finally, the Investment Professionals may hold shares or investments in the other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts identified above.
Wellington Management’s goal is to meet its fiduciary
obligation to treat all clients fairly and provide high quality investment services to all of its clients. For this reason, Wellington Management has adopted and implemented
policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Wellington Management monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with primary account guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics, and places additional investment restrictions on investment professionals who manage hedge funds and certain other accounts. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Wellington Management periodically review the performance of Wellington Management’s investment professionals. Although Wellington Management does not track the time an investment professional spends on a single account, Wellington Management does periodically assess whether an investment professional has adequate time and resources to effectively manage the investment professional’s various client mandates.
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COMPENSATION OF WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
MANAGER
Wellington Management receives a fee based on the assets under management of each Fund it sub-advises as set forth in the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Wellington Management and HFMC. Wellington Management pays its investment professionals out of its total revenues, including the advisory fees earned with respect to each Fund. The following information is as of [ ].
Wellington Management’s compensation
structure is designed to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals necessary to deliver high quality investment management services to its clients. Wellington
Management’s compensation of each Fund’s portfolio manager listed in the prospectus who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds (the
“Investment Professional”) includes a base salary and incentive components. The base salary for the Investment Professional who is a partner (“Partner”) of Wellington Management Group LLP, the ultimate holding company of Wellington Management, is generally a fixed amount that is determined by the managing partners of Wellington Management Group LLP. Each Investment Professional managing a Hartford Fund is eligible to receive an incentive payment based on the revenues earned by Wellington Management from the relevant Fund managed by the Investment Professional and generally each other account managed by such Investment Professional. The Investment Professional incentive payment relating to the relevant Fund is linked to the gross pre-tax performance of the portion of the Fund managed by the Investment Professional compared to the benchmark index and/or peer group identified below over one-, three- and five-year periods, with an emphasis on five-year results. Wellington Management applies similar incentive compensation structures (although the benchmarks or peer groups, time periods and rates may differ) to other accounts managed by the Investment Professional, including accounts with performance fees.
Portfolio-based incentives across all accounts managed by an
investment professional can, and typically do, represent a significant portion of an investment professional’s overall compensation; incentive compensation varies
significantly by individual and can vary significantly from year to year. The Investment Professionals may also be eligible for bonus payments based on their overall contribution to Wellington Management’s business operations. Senior management at Wellington Management may reward individuals as it deems appropriate based on other factors. Each Partner is eligible to participate in a Partner-funded tax qualified retirement plan, the contributions to which are made pursuant to an actuarial formula. Thomas S. Simon is a Partner of the firm.
Wellington Management’s incentive payments to the Investment Professionals are based on comparisons of each Investment Professional’s performance relative to the following benchmark and/or relevant peer group as of [
], which are used to measure one-, three- and five-year performance:
| FUND |
BENCHMARK(S) / PEER GROUPS FOR INCENTIVE PERIOD
|
| Alpha Capture International Growth ETF |
MSCI EAFE Growth Index (Net)
Lipper International Large-Cap Growth |
| Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF |
Russell 2500 Index Lipper Small Cap Core |
EQUITY SECURITIES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Because each Fund had not commenced operations as of [
], each Fund’s portfolio manager did not own any equity securities in the Fund as of that
date.
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
The Trust has no obligation to deal with any dealer or group of dealers in the execution of transactions in portfolio securities.
Subject to any policy established by the Trust’s Board of
Trustees and HFMC, the sub-adviser is primarily responsible for the investment decisions of each Fund and the placing of its portfolio transactions. In placing brokerage
orders, it is the policy of the Funds to obtain the most favorable net results, taking into account various factors, including price, dealer spread or commission, if any, size of the transaction and difficulty of execution. While the sub-adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive spreads or commissions, the Funds do not necessarily pay the lowest possible spread or commission. HFMC may instruct the sub-adviser to direct certain brokerage transactions, using best efforts, subject to obtaining best execution, to broker/dealers in connection with a commission recapture program used to defray fund expenses for a Fund.
The sub-adviser generally deals directly with the dealers who make a market in the securities involved (unless better prices and execution are available elsewhere) if the securities are traded primarily in the over-the-counter market. Such dealers usually act as principals for their own account. On occasion, securities may be purchased directly from the issuer. In addition, the sub-adviser may effect certain “riskless principal” transactions through certain dealers in the over-the-counter market under which “commissions” are paid on such transactions. Bonds and money market securities are generally traded on a net basis and do not normally involve either brokerage commissions or transfer taxes.
65
While the sub-adviser
seeks to obtain the most favorable net results in effecting transactions in a Fund’s portfolio securities, broker-dealers who provide investment research to the
sub-adviser may receive orders for transactions from the sub-adviser. Such research services ordinarily consist of assessments and analyses of or affecting the business or
prospects of a company, industry, economic sector or financial market. To the extent consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the sub-adviser may cause a Fund to pay a broker-dealer that provides “brokerage and research services” (as defined in the 1934 Act) to the sub-adviser an amount in respect of securities transactions for the Fund in excess of the amount that another broker-dealer would have charged in respect of that transaction. See “Soft Dollar Practices” below.
To the extent that accounts managed by the sub-adviser are
simultaneously engaged in the purchase of the same security as a Fund, then, as authorized by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, available securities may be allocated to
the Fund and another client account and may be averaged as to price in a manner determined by the sub-adviser to be fair and equitable. Such allocation and pricing may affect the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund. In some cases, this system might adversely affect the price paid by a Fund (for example, during periods of rapidly rising or falling interest rates) or limit the size of the position obtainable for the Fund (for example, in the case of a small issue).
Accounts managed by the sub-adviser (or its affiliates) may hold
securities also held by the Fund. Because of different investment objectives or other factors, a particular security may be purchased by the sub-adviser for one client when
one or more other clients are selling the same security.
SOFT DOLLAR PRACTICES. The sub-adviser
is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management activities of each Fund, including effecting securities transactions. As noted above, to the extent consistent with
Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the sub-adviser may obtain “soft dollar” benefits in connection with the execution of transactions for a Fund. The sub-adviser may
cause a Fund to pay a broker-dealer an amount in excess of the amount that another broker-dealer would have charged for the same transaction, in exchange for “brokerage and research services” (as defined in the 1934 Act). Information so received is in addition to and not in lieu of the services that the sub-adviser is required to perform under the investment sub-advisory agreement. In circumstances where two or more broker-dealers are equally capable of providing best execution, the sub-adviser may, but is under no obligation to, choose the broker-dealer that provides superior research or analysis as determined by the sub-adviser in its sole discretion. Neither the management fees nor the sub-advisory fees paid by a Fund are reduced because the sub-adviser or its affiliates receive these services even though the sub-adviser or its affiliates might otherwise be required to purchase some of these services for cash. Some of these services are of value to the sub-adviser or its affiliates in advising various of their clients (including the Funds), although not all of these services are necessarily useful and of value in managing a Fund. These products and services may include research reports, access to management personnel, financial newsletters and trade journals, seminar and conference fees, quantitative analytical software, data services, communication services relating to (or incidental to) the execution, clearing and settlement of securities transactions, post-trade services relating to functions incidental to trade execution, and other products and services that are permitted under Section 28(e), as interpreted by the SEC from time to time. In certain instances, these products and services may have additional uses that are not related to brokerage or research. For such “mixed use” items, in accordance with SEC guidance, the sub-adviser will make a reasonable allocation of the cost of the item according to its expected use, and will pay for that portion of the item that does not have a brokerage or research-related component out of its own pocket.
Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of the date of
this SAI, no information regarding brokerage commissions paid to firms selected in recognition of research services is available.
Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of the date of
this SAI, no information regarding the Funds' investments in securities issued by a Fund’s regular brokers or dealers (as defined under Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act) is
available.
Fund
Expenses
Each Fund pays its own expenses
including, without limitation: (1) expenses of maintaining the Fund and continuing its existence; (2) brokerage commissions; (3) auditing, accounting and legal expenses; (4)
taxes and interest; (5) governmental fees; (6) expenses related to the issue, sale, and redemption of Fund shares and/or Creation Units; (7) expenses of registering and
qualifying the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws; (8) expenses of preparing and printing prospectuses and for distributing the same to shareholders and investors; (9) fees and expenses of registering and maintaining the registration of the Fund and maintaining the Fund’s exchange listing; (10) expenses of reports and notices to shareholders and of any meetings of shareholders and proxy solicitations; (11) expenses of reports to governmental officers and commissions; (12) insurance expenses, including premiums for fidelity and other insurance coverage requisite to the Fund’s operation; (13) fees, expenses and disbursements of custodians for all services to the Fund; (14) fees, expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, shareholder servicing agents and registrars for all services to the Fund; (15) expenses for servicing shareholder accounts; (16) any direct charges to shareholders approved by the Trustees of the Trust; (17) compensation and expenses of trustees of the Trust, other than those who are also officers of HFMC or its affiliates; and (18) such nonrecurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the obligation of the Fund to indemnify the Trust’s trustees and officers with respect thereto.
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Distribution Arrangements
GENERAL
ALPS serves as the principal underwriter and distributor for the Funds pursuant to a Distribution Agreement initially approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. ALPS’ principal business address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203. ALPS is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The Distribution Agreement continues in effect for two years from initial approval and for successive one-year periods thereafter, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved (1) by the vote of a majority of the trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Distribution Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or (2) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. ALPS will not distribute Shares in less than Creation Units, and it does not maintain a secondary market in the Shares. ALPS may enter into participant agreements (“Participant Agreements”) with other broker-dealers or other qualified financial institutions with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units.
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL
INTERMEDIARIES. As stated in the prospectus under Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Other
Entities, HFMC and/or its affiliates may make additional compensation payments out of their own assets, and not as an expense to or out of the assets of the Funds, to
Financial Intermediaries for access to brokerage platforms or distribution channels and/or for support and/or services related to activities that are designed to make
registered representatives, other professionals and individual investors more knowledgeable about the Funds or for other activities, such as participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, and the support of technology platforms and/or reporting systems, all of which are intended to encourage the sale of Fund shares. HFMC and/or its affiliates may also make payments to Financial Intermediaries for the provision of analytical or other data to HFMC or its affiliates relating to sales of Fund Shares. For these reasons, (1) if your Financial Intermediary receives greater payments with respect to a Fund than it receives with respect to other products, it may be more inclined to sell you shares of the Fund rather than another product and/or (2) if your Financial Intermediary receives greater payments with respect to a Fund, such payments may create an incentive for the Financial Intermediary to favor the Fund rather than other fund companies or investment products for which it may receive a lower payment. You may contact your Financial Intermediary if you want additional information regarding any additional payments it receives (“Additional Payments”). These Additional Payments, which would be in addition to commissions, account fees or other charges that your Financial Intermediary may assess, may create an incentive for your Financial Intermediary to sell and recommend the Funds over other products for which it may receive less compensation.
COMMISSIONS TO DEALERS
Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, there is no information regarding the aggregate dollar amount of commissions received by ALPS for the sale of Fund shares.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Board has approved the adoption of a distribution plan
(a “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for shares of each Fund. Pursuant to the Plan, each Fund may pay ALPS a fee of up to 0.25% of the average
daily net assets attributable to shares for distribution financing activities and shareholder account servicing activities. The entire amount of the fee may be used for shareholder servicing expenses and/or distribution expenses. However, no 12b-1 Plan fee is currently charged to the Funds, and there are no plans in place to impose a 12b-1 Plan fee.
The 12b-1 Plan fee may only be imposed or increased when the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of shareholders to do so. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, to the extent that a fee is authorized, over time it will increase the cost of an investment in the Fund. The 12b-1 Plan fee may cost an investor more than other types of sales charges.
GENERAL. Distribution fees paid to ALPS, if authorized by the Board in the
future, may be spent on any activities or expenses primarily intended to result in the sale of a Fund’s shares including, but not limited to: (a) payment of initial
and ongoing commissions and other compensation payments to brokers, dealers, financial institutions or others who sell the Fund’s shares; (b) compensation to employees of ALPS; (c) compensation to and expenses, including overhead such as communications and telephone, training, supplies, photocopying and similar types of expenses, of ALPS incurred in the printing and mailing or other dissemination of all prospectuses and statements of additional information; and (d) the costs of preparation, printing and mailing reports used for sales literature and related expenses, advertisements and other distribution related expenses (including personnel of ALPS). If authorized by the Board in the future, service fees paid under the Plan are payments for the provision of personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The Plan is considered a compensation type plan, which means that a Fund pays ALPS the entire fee, if authorized by the Board in the future, regardless of ALPS’ expenditures. Even if ALPS’ actual expenditures exceed the fee payable to ALPS, if authorized by the Board in the future, at any given time, the Fund will not be obligated to pay more than that fee. If ALPS’ actual expenditures are less than the fee payable to ALPS, if authorized by the Board in the future, at any given time, ALPS may realize a profit from the arrangement.
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The Plan was adopted
by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including at least a majority of trustees who are not, and were not at the time they voted, interested persons of a
Fund as defined in the 1940 Act and do not and did not have any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on the Plan. In approving the Plan, the trustees identified and considered a number of potential benefits that the Plan may provide to a Fund and its shareholders. Under its terms, the Plan remains in effect from year to year provided such continuance is approved annually by vote of the trustees of the Trust in the manner described above. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for distribution without approval of the shareholders of a Fund affected by the increase, and material amendments to the Plan must also be approved by the Board of Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of the majority of the trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of a Fund and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Plan, or by a vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund. The Plan will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
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Creation and Redemption of Shares
The Trust will issue and sell shares of the Funds only in
Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at the NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form as described in the
Participant Agreement, on any Business Day (as defined below).
In its discretion, HFMC reserves the right to increase or
decrease the number of a Fund’s shares that constitute a Creation Unit. The Board reserves the right to declare a split or a consolidation in the number of shares
outstanding of a Fund, and to make a corresponding change in the number of shares constituting a Creation Unit, in the event that the per share price in the secondary market rises (or declines) to an amount that falls outside the range deemed desirable by the Board.
A “Business Day” with respect to the Funds is each
day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE” or the “Exchange”) is open. Orders from Authorized Participants to create or redeem Creation Units will only
be accepted on a Business Day.
The time at
which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at
a time other than its regularly scheduled closing time. The Trust reserves the right to reprocess creation and redemption transactions that were initially processed at a NAV
other than a Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) Authorized Participants based on the official closing NAV. The Trust reserves the right to advance the time by which creation and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.
FUND DEPOSIT
The consideration for purchase of Creation Units will generally
consist of Deposit Securities and the Cash Component (together, the “Fund Deposit”), or, as permitted or required by the Fund, other in-kind securities and/or
cash. The portfolio of securities required in a Fund Deposit may be different than the portfolio of securities a Fund will deliver upon redemption of Fund shares. Due
to various legal and operational constraints in certain asset classes or countries in which a Fund invests, Creation Units of the Fund may be issued wholly or partially for cash. The Deposit Securities and Cash Component are subject to any adjustments, as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of a Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities and Cash Component is made available.
The function of the Cash Component is to compensate for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount (as defined below). The Cash Component would be an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares (per Creation Unit) and the “Deposit Amount,” which is an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component. Computation of the Cash Component excludes any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant. The Cash Component may also include a “Dividend Equivalent Payment,” which enables each Fund to make a complete distribution of dividends on the next dividend payment date, and is an amount equal, on a per Creation Unit basis, to the dividends on all the securities held by the Fund with ex-dividend dates within the accumulation period for such distribution (the “Accumulation Period”), net of expenses and liabilities for such period, as if all of the securities had been held by the Trust for the entire Accumulation Period. The Accumulation Period begins on the ex-dividend date for a Fund and ends on the next ex-dividend date.
The State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Transfer Agent”), through the NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the identity and the required number or amount of each Deposit Security and the amount of the Cash Component to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day). Such Fund Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments, as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next announced composition of the Fund Deposit is made available.
The Trust reserves the right to accept a basket of securities or cash that differs from a published or transacted Fund Deposit or to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (a “cash-in-lieu” amount), or the substitution of a security, to replace any Deposit Security for any reason at the Trust’s sole discretion but is not required to do so. With respect to each Fund, the adjustments to the proportions of Deposit Securities described above will reflect changes known to HFMC on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit or from stock splits and other corporate actions.
PROCEDURES FOR CREATING CREATION UNITS
To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor and to
create a Creation Unit of a Fund, an entity must be: (i) a “Participating Party,” i.e. a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the
Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC; or (ii) a participant of DTC
(“DTC Participant”) and must have executed a Participant Agreement with the Distributor (and accepted by the Transfer Agent), with respect to creations
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and redemptions of
Creation Units (discussed below). A Participating Party or DTC Participant who has executed a Participant Agreement is referred to as an “Authorized
Participant.” All shares of a Fund, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of its nominee for the account of a DTC
Participant.
Except as described below, and in all
cases subject to the terms of the applicable Participant Agreement, all orders to create Creation Units of a Fund must be received by the Transfer Agent no later than 4:00
p.m., Eastern time ("Order Cutoff Time") in each case on the date such order is placed for creation of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of shares of a Fund as
next determined after receipt of an order in proper form. A “Custom Order” may be placed by an Authorized Participant in the event that a Fund accepts (or delivers, in the case of a redemption) a basket of securities or cash that differs from the published Deposit Securities or Fund Securities (discussed below). Custom Orders must be received by the Transfer Agent at such earlier time as provided in the Participant Agreement. On days when the Exchange closes earlier than normal (such as the day before a holiday), a Fund will require standard orders to create Creation Units to be placed by the earlier closing time and Custom Orders to create Creation Units must be received no later than one hour prior to the earlier closing time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may, but is not required to, permit orders, including Custom Orders, until 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, or until the market close (in the event the Exchange closes early). The date on which an order to create Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as discussed below) is placed is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant through the Transfer Agent’s electronic order system or by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Transfer Agent pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Transfer Agent, Distributor or an Authorized Participant.
All investor orders to create Creation Units shall be placed with an Authorized Participant in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, an Authorized Participant may request that an investor make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to an order (to provide for payments of cash). Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and, therefore, orders to create Creation Units of a Fund will have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant. In such cases, there may be additional charges to such investor. A limited number of broker-dealers are expected to execute a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants are expected to have international capabilities.
Creation Units may be created in advance of the receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the Fund Deposit. In such cases, the Authorized Participant will remain liable for the full deposit of the missing portion(s) of the Fund Deposit and will be required to post collateral with the Trust consisting of cash at least equal to a percentage of the marked-to-market value of such missing portion(s) that is specified in the Participant Agreement. The Trust may use such collateral to buy the missing portion(s) of the Fund Deposit at any time and will subject such Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such securities and the value of such collateral. The Trust will have no liability for any such shortfall. The Trust will return any unused portion of the collateral to the Authorized Participant once the entire Fund Deposit has been properly received by the Transfer Agent and deposited into the Trust.
Orders for Creation Units that are effected outside the Clearing Process are likely to require transmittal by the DTC Participant earlier on the Transmittal Date than orders effected using the Clearing Process. Those persons placing orders outside the Clearing Process should ascertain the deadlines applicable to DTC and the Federal Reserve Bank wire system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depository institution effectuating such transfer of Deposit Securities and Cash Component.
Orders to create Creation Units of a Fund may be placed through
the Clearing Process using procedures applicable to domestic funds for domestic securities (“Domestic Funds”) (see “Placement of Creation Orders Using
Clearing Process”) or outside the Clearing Process using the procedures applicable to either Domestic Funds or foreign funds for foreign securities (“Foreign
Funds”) (see “—Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process—Domestic Funds” and “—Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process—Foreign Funds”). In the event that the Fund includes both domestic and foreign securities, the
time for submitting orders is as stated in the “Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process—Foreign Funds” and “Placement of Redemption Orders Outside Clearing Process—Foreign Funds” sections below shall operate.
PROCEDURES FOR CREATING CUSTOM BASKETS
Creation and redemption baskets may differ, and a Fund may accept “custom baskets.” A custom basket may include any of the following: (i) a basket that is composed of a non-representative selection of a Fund’s portfolio holdings; (ii) a representative basket that is different from the initial basket used in transactions on the same business day; or (iii) a basket that is negotiated with and/or contains bespoke cash substitutions for a single Authorized Participant on the same business day. Each Fund has adopted policies and procedures that govern the construction and acceptance of custom baskets. Such policies and procedures provide the parameters for the construction and acceptance of custom baskets that are designed in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders, establish processes for revisions to, or deviations from, such parameters, and specify the titles and roles of the employees of the Investment Manager or the sub-adviser who are required to review each custom basket for compliance. In addition, when constructing custom baskets for redemptions, the tax efficiency of a Fund may be taken into account. The policies and procedures distinguish among different types of custom baskets that may be used and impose different requirements for different types of custom baskets in order to seek to mitigate against potential risks of conflicts and/or overreaching by an Authorized Participant.
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PLACEMENT
OF CREATION ORDERS USING CLEARING PROCESS
Fund
Deposits created through the Clearing Process, if available, must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed a Participant Agreement.
The Participant Agreement authorizes the Transfer Agent to transmit to NSCC on behalf of the Participating Party such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the Participating Party’s creation order. Pursuant to such trade instructions from the Transfer Agent to NSCC, the Participating Party agrees to transfer the requisite Deposit Securities (or contracts to purchase such Deposit Securities that are expected to be delivered in a “regular way” manner by the second (2nd) Business Day) and the Cash Component to the Trust, together with such additional information as may be required by the Transfer Agent and the Distributor as set forth in the Participant Agreement. An order to create Creation Units of a Fund through the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Transfer Agent on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than the Order Cutoff Time on such Transmittal Date and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. All orders are subject to acceptance by the Distributor.
PLACEMENT OF CREATION ORDERS OUTSIDE CLEARING PROCESS—DOMESTIC FUNDS
Fund Deposits created outside the Clearing Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order creating Creation Units of the Fund to be effected outside the Clearing Process need not be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that the creation of Creation Units will instead be effected through a transfer of securities and cash. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities through DTC to the account of the Trust no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, of the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The cash equal to the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Transfer Agent through the Federal Reserve wire system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Transfer Agent no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. An order to create Creation Units of a Fund outside the Clearing Process will be deemed received by the Transfer Agent on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than the Order Cutoff Time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. However, if the Transfer Agent does not receive both the requisite Deposit Securities and the Cash Component in a timely fashion on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date, such order will be cancelled. Upon written notice to the Transfer Agent, such cancelled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using the Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the current NAV of a Fund. The delivery of Creation Units so created will occur no later than the second (2nd) Business Day following the day on which the creation order is deemed received by the Transfer Agent.
Additional transaction fees may be imposed with respect to transactions effected outside the Clearing Process (through a DTC participant) and in circumstances in which any cash can be used in lieu of Deposit Securities to create Creation Units. (See “Creation Transaction Fee” section below.)
PLACEMENT OF CREATION ORDERS OUTSIDE CLEARING PROCESS—FOREIGN FUNDS
The Transfer Agent will inform the Distributor, HFMC and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“the Custodian”) upon receipt of a Creation Order. The Custodian will then provide such information to the appropriate subcustodian. For the Funds, the Custodian will cause the subcustodian of the Funds to maintain an account into which the Deposit Securities (or the cash value of all or part of such securities, in the case of a permitted or required cash purchase or “cash-in-lieu” amount) will be delivered. Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local custodian. The Fund must also receive, on or before the contractual settlement date, immediately available or same day funds estimated by the Custodian to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component next determined after receipt in proper form of the purchase order, together with the creation transaction fee described below.
Once the Distributor has accepted a creation order, the Transfer Agent will confirm the issuance of a Creation Unit of a Fund against receipt of payment, at such NAV as will have been calculated after receipt in proper form of such order. The Transfer Agent will then transmit a confirmation of acceptance of such order.
Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Trust of the Deposit Securities and the payment of the Cash Component and applicable transaction fee have been completed. When the subcustodian has confirmed to the Custodian that the required Deposit Securities (or the cash value thereof) have been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian, the Distributor and HFMC will be notified of such delivery and the Transfer Agent will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Units.
ACCEPTANCE OF CREATION ORDERS
The Trust and the Distributor reserve the absolute right to
reject or revoke acceptance of a creation order transmitted to it in respect to a Fund, for example if: (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s), upon
obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of the Fund; (iii) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (iv) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (v) acceptance of
71
the Fund Deposit would
otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or HFMC, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners of the Fund; or (vi) in the event
that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or HFMC make it for all practical purposes impossible to process
creation orders. The Distributor shall notify the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit of its rejection of the order of
such person. Neither the Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor nor HFMC are under any duty, however, to give notification of any defects or
irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.
All questions as to the number of shares of Deposit Securities
and the validity, form, eligibility, and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered and the amount and form of the Cash Component, as applicable, shall be
determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.
CREATION TRANSACTION FEE
A creation transaction fee payable to the Custodian is imposed on
each creation transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased in the transaction, as described in the table below. Where the Trust permits or specifies cash
creations, an Authorized Participant submitting a cash creation order may also be assessed a variable transaction fee on the cash portion of its order up to a maximum amount as indicated in the table below.
| FUND |
STANDARD CASH TRANSACTION FEE* |
STANDARD IN-KIND TRANSACTION FEE* |
MAXIMUM VARIABLE TRANSACTION FEE** |
| Alpha Capture International Growth
ETF |
$[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
| Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF |
$[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
*
From time to time, each Fund may waive all or a portion of its applicable transaction
fee(s). An additional charge of up to four (4) times the standard in-kind transaction fee may be charged to the extent a transaction is outside of the clearing
process.
**
Each Fund may charge an additional variable transaction fee for creations in cash to
offset brokerage and impact expenses associated with the cash transaction. The variable transaction fee will be calculated based on historical transaction cost data and
HFMC’s view of current market conditions; however, the actual variable fee charged for a given transaction may be lower or higher than the trading expenses incurred by the
Fund with respect to that transaction.
In the case of cash creations or where the Trust permits or
requires a creator to substitute cash, or another security, in lieu of depositing a portion of the Deposit Securities, the creator may be assessed an additional variable
transaction fee to compensate a Fund for the costs associated with purchasing the applicable securities as disclosed in the table above. (See “Fund Deposit”
section above.) As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind creation order process, the Trust expects to purchase, in the secondary market or otherwise gain exposure to, the portfolio securities that could have been delivered as a result of an in-kind creation order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Market Purchases”). In such cases where the Trust makes Market Purchases, the Authorized Participant may be required to reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were purchased by the Trust and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at HFMC’s discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes. HFMC may adjust the transaction fee to the extent the composition of the creation securities changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Component to protect existing shareholders. Creators of Creation Units are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust. See “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage” for additional information regarding certain cash creation transactions. From time to time, all or a portion of a Fund’s creation transaction fees may be waived at the sole discretion of the Fund, including where an Authorized Participant is engaged in certain customized creation and redemption basket activity that is designed to benefit the Fund. To the extent a Fund does not recoup the amount of costs incurred in connection with a creation transaction, those costs will be borne by the Fund and may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.
REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS
Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form on a Business Day and only through a Participating Party or DTC Participant who has executed a Participant Agreement. The Funds will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Units (except each Fund may redeem shares in amounts less than a Creation Unit in the event the Fund is being liquidated). Beneficial owners must accumulate enough shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Authorized Participants should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit. All redemptions are subject to the procedures contained in the applicable Participant Agreement.
With respect to each Fund, the Transfer Agent, through the NSCC,
makes available prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time) on each Business Day, the identity and number or amount of the
Fund’s securities (“Fund Securities”) and/or an amount of cash that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as described below) on that day. All orders are subject to acceptance by the Distributor. Each Fund’s securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units.
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Unless cash only
redemptions are available or specified for a Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will generally consist of Fund Securities – as published on the Business Day of the request for a redemption order received in proper form – plus cash
in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund
Securities, less the redemption transaction fee and variable fees described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust reserves the right to deliver a basket of
securities and/or cash that differs from a basket of Fund Securities and cash published or transacted for redemption on a Business Day, or to permit or require the
substitution of an amount of cash (a “cash-in-lieu” amount) or another security to replace any Fund Security. Where “cash-in-lieu” is required
or permitted, the amount of cash, or the value of the substituted security, paid out in such cases will be equivalent to the value of the instrument listed as a Fund Security. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the difference is required to be made by an Authorized Participant.
Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws, and each Fund reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash, or to substitute securities, to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant, or a beneficial owner of shares for which it is acting, subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash or securities. This would specifically prohibit delivery of Fund Securities that are not registered in reliance upon Rule 144A under the 1933 Act to a redeeming beneficial owner of shares that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming beneficial owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash or securities payment.
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment
postponed with respect to each Fund: (i) for any period during which the Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during
which trading on the Exchange is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities it owns or determination of the Fund’s NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstances as permitted by the SEC.
An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is
deemed to represent to the Trust that it (or its client) (i) has full legal authority and legal right to tender for redemption the requisite number of shares of each Fund
and to receive the entire proceeds of the redemption and (ii) if such shares submitted for redemption have been loaned or pledged to another party or are the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or any other arrangement affecting legal or beneficial ownership of such shares being tendered there are no restrictions precluding the tender and delivery of such shares (including borrowed shares, if any) for redemption, free and clear of liens, on the redemption settlement date. The Trust reserves the right to verify these representations at its discretion, but will typically require verification with respect to a redemption request from a Fund in connection with higher levels of redemption activity and/or short interest in the Fund. If the Authorized Participant, upon receipt of a verification request, does not provide sufficient verification of its representations as determined by the Trust, the redemption request will not be considered to have been received in proper form and may be rejected by the Trust. In addition, if the Distributor and/or the Trust have reason to believe that an Authorized Participant, does not own or otherwise have available for delivery the requisite number of Fund shares that comprise a Creation Unit, the Distributor and/or the Trust may require the Authorized Participant to deliver or execute supporting documentation evidencing ownership or its right to deliver sufficient Fund shares in order for the request for redemption to be in proper form. If such documentation is not satisfactory to the Distributor and/or the Trust, in their reasonable discretion, the Distributor may reject the request for redemption.
If the Trust determines, based on information available to the Trust when a redemption request is submitted by an Authorized Participant, that (i) the short interest of a Fund in the marketplace is greater than or equal to 100% and (ii) the orders in the aggregate from all Authorized Participants redeeming Fund shares on a Business Day represent 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund, such Authorized Participant will be required to verify to the Trust the accuracy of its representations that are deemed to have been made by submitting a request for redemption. If, after receiving notice of the verification requirement, the Authorized Participant does not verify the accuracy of its representations that are deemed to have been made by submitting a request for redemption in accordance with this requirement, its redemption request will be considered not to have been received in proper form.
REDEMPTION TRANSACTION FEE
A redemption transaction fee payable to the Custodian is imposed on each redemption transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction, as described in the table below. Where the Trust permits or specifies cash redemptions, an Authorized Participant submitting a cash redemption order may also be assessed a variable transaction fee on the cash portion of its order up to a maximum amount as indicated in the table below.
| FUND |
STANDARD CASH TRANSACTION FEE* |
STANDARD IN-KIND TRANSACTION FEE* |
MAXIMUM VARIABLE TRANSACTION FEE** |
| Alpha Capture International Growth
ETF |
$[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
2% |
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| FUND |
STANDARD CASH
TRANSACTION FEE* |
STANDARD IN-KIND
TRANSACTION FEE* |
MAXIMUM VARIABLE
TRANSACTION FEE** |
| Alpha Capture SMID Cap ETF |
$[xxx] |
$[xxx] |
2% |
*
From time to time, each Fund may waive all or a portion of its applicable transaction
fee(s). An additional charge of up to four (4) times the standard transaction fee (but in no event greater than 2.00% of the value of each Creation Unit) may be charged to the
extent a transaction is outside of the clearing process.
**
Each Fund may charge an additional variable transaction fee for redemptions in cash to
offset brokerage and impact expenses associated with the cash transaction. The variable transaction fee will be calculated based on historical transaction cost data and
HFMC’s view of current market conditions; however, the actual variable fee charged for a given transaction may be lower or higher than the trading expenses incurred by the
Fund with respect to that transaction.
An additional variable transaction fee for cash redemptions or
partial cash redemptions (when cash redemptions are permitted or required for a Fund) may be imposed to compensate the Fund for the costs associated with selling the
applicable securities as disclosed in the table above. As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind redemption order process, the Trust expects to sell, in the secondary market, the portfolio securities or settle any financial instruments that may not be permitted to be re-registered in the name of the Participating Party as a result of an in-kind redemption order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Market Sales”). In such cases where the Trust makes Market Sales, the Authorized Participant may be required to reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were sold or settled by the Trust and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at HFMC’s discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes (“Transaction Costs”). HFMC may adjust the transaction fee to the extent the composition of the redemption securities changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Component to protect existing shareholders. In no event will fees charged by a Fund in connection with a redemption exceed 2% of the value of each Creation Unit. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services. See “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage” for additional information regarding certain cash redemption transactions. From time to time, all or a portion of a Fund’s redemption transaction fee may be waived at the sole discretion of the Fund, including where an Authorized Participant is engaged in certain customized creation and redemption basket activity that is designed to benefit the Fund. To the extent a Fund does not recoup the amount of Transaction Costs incurred in connection with a redemption from the redeeming shareholder because of the 2% cap or otherwise, those Transaction Costs will be borne by the Fund and may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.
PLACEMENT OF REDEMPTION ORDERS USING CLEARING PROCESS
Orders to redeem Creation Units of a Fund through the Clearing Process, if available, must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed the Participant Agreement. An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund using the Clearing Process is deemed received on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed; such order will be effected based on the NAV of the Fund as next determined. An order to redeem Creation Units of a Fund using the Clearing Process made in proper form but received by the Fund after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, will be deemed received on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. The requisite Fund Securities (or contracts to purchase such Fund Securities which are expected to be delivered in a “regular way” manner) and the applicable cash payment will be transferred by the second (2nd) Business Day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received.
PLACEMENT OF REDEMPTION ORDERS OUTSIDE CLEARING
PROCESS—DOMESTIC FUNDS
Orders to redeem Creation Units of a Fund outside the Clearing
Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed the Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order for redemption of Creation
Units of a Fund to be effected outside the Clearing Process need not be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that redemption of Creation Units of the Fund will instead be effected through transfer of Creation Units of the Fund directly through DTC. An order to redeem Creation Units of a Fund outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Transfer Agent on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Transfer Agent not later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on such Transmittal Date; (ii) such order is preceded or accompanied by the requisite number of shares of Creation Units specified in such order, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Transfer Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on such Transmittal Date; and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.
After the Transfer Agent has deemed an order for redemption
outside the Clearing Process received, the Transfer Agent will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities (or contracts to purchase such Fund Securities)
which are expected to be delivered within two Business Days and the cash redemption payment to the redeeming Beneficial Owner by the second Business Day following the Transmittal Date on which such redemption order is deemed received by the Transfer Agent. Additional transaction fees may be imposed with respect to transactions effected outside the Clearing Process. (See “Redemption Transaction Fee” section above.)
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PLACEMENT OF REDEMPTION ORDERS
OUTSIDE CLEARING PROCESS—FOREIGN FUNDS
Arrangements satisfactory to the Trust must be in place for the
Participating Party to transfer the Creation Units through DTC on or before the settlement date. Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with
applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and a Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits or requires cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash.
In connection with taking delivery of shares for Fund Securities upon redemption of Creation Units, a redeeming shareholder or entity acting on behalf of a redeeming shareholder must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. If neither the redeeming shareholder nor the entity acting on behalf of a redeeming shareholder has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such jurisdictions, the Trust may, in its discretion, exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming shareholder will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash.
Regular Foreign Holidays. Each Fund generally intends to effect deliveries
of Creation Units and portfolio securities on a basis of “T” plus one Business Day (i.e., days on which the national securities exchange is open)
(“T+1”), unless a Fund and Authorized Participant agree to a different settlement date. The Funds may effect deliveries of Creation Units and portfolio
securities on a basis other than T+1 in order to accommodate local holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates or under certain other circumstances. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind creations and redemptions within one Business Day of receipt of an order in good form is subject, among other things, to the condition that, within the time period from the date of the order to the date of delivery of the securities, there are no days that are holidays in the applicable foreign market. For every occurrence of one or more intervening holidays in the applicable foreign market that are not holidays observed in the U.S. equity market, the redemption settlement cycle may be extended by the number of such intervening holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within normal settlement periods. The securities delivery cycles currently practicable for transferring portfolio securities to redeeming Authorized Participants, coupled with foreign market holiday schedules, will require a delivery process longer than seven calendar days for the Funds, in certain circumstances. Because the portfolio securities of each Fund may trade on days that the Fund’s exchange is closed or on days that are not Business Days for the Fund, Authorized Participants may not be able to redeem their shares of the Fund, or to purchase and sell shares of the Fund on the Exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant non-U.S. markets.
Redemptions. The longest redemption
cycle for a Fund is a function of the longest redemption cycle among the countries whose securities comprise the Fund’s portfolio.
Securities Lending
Because the Funds had not commenced operations as of the date of
this SAI, the Funds did not engage in securities lending activities and, as a result, did not earn income or incur costs and expenses typically associated with such
activities.
Determination
of Net Asset Value
The NAV per share is
determined for each Fund’s shares as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, the “Valuation Time”) on each day that
the NYSE is open (the “Valuation Date”). The Funds are closed for business and do not price their shares on the following business holidays: New Year’s
Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas
Day and other holidays observed by the NYSE. If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extraordinary circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, a Fund may treat such day as a typical business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate the Fund’s NAV in accordance with applicable law. The net asset value for the shares is determined by dividing the value of a Fund’s net assets by the number of shares outstanding. Information that becomes known to a Fund after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the NAV determined earlier that day.
The Board has designated the Investment Manager to serve as the
Valuation Designee under Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, subject to continuing Board oversight. With respect to portfolio securities for which market prices are not readily
available or (in the opinion of the Investment Manager with the assistance of the sub-adviser) do not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of the security, the Investment Manager's Valuation Committee will value such securities at fair value based upon procedures approved by the Board. Certain fixed income securities may be valued based upon appraisals received from a pricing service using a computerized matrix system or based upon appraisals derived from information concerning the security or similar securities received from a recognized dealer or dealers in those securities. It should be recognized that judgment often plays a greater role in valuing thinly traded securities, including many lower rated bonds, than is the case with respect to securities for which a broader range of dealer quotations and last-sale information is available. The amortized cost method of valuation may be used to value debt obligations with 60 days or less remaining until maturity, so long as such amortized cost method approximates fair value.
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Capitalization and Voting Rights
The capitalization of the Trust consists solely of an unlimited
number of shares of beneficial interest. The Board of Trustees may establish additional series (with different investment objectives and fundamental policies) at any time in
the future. Establishment and offering of additional series will not alter the rights of the Trust’s shareholders. When issued, shares are fully paid,
non-assessable, redeemable and freely transferable. Shares do not have preemptive rights or subscription rights.
Under Delaware law, shareholders are not personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. In addition, the Trust Instrument disclaims liability of the shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust for acts or obligations of the Trust, which are binding only on the assets and property of the Trust, and requires that notice of the disclaimer be given in each contract or obligation entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees. The Trust Instrument also provides for indemnification out of Trust property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. However, there is no certainty that the limited liability of shareholders of a Delaware statutory trust will be recognized in every state. Even in such a circumstance, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability would be limited to circumstances in which the contractual disclaimer against shareholder liability is inoperative or the Trust itself is unable to meet its obligations, and thus should be considered remote.
As an investment company formed in Delaware, the Trust is not required to hold routine annual shareholder meetings. Meetings of shareholders will be called whenever one or more of the following, among other matters, is required to be acted upon by shareholders pursuant to the 1940 Act: (1) election of trustees or (2) approval of an investment management agreement or sub-advisory agreement.
Shares of common stock have equal voting rights (regardless of the net asset value per share). Shares do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the shares of the Trust voting for the election of trustees can elect all of the trustees if they choose to do so, and in such an event, the holders of the remaining shares would not be able to elect any trustees. Although trustees are not elected annually, shareholders have the right to remove one or more trustees. When required by law, if the holders of one third or more of the Trust’s outstanding shares request it in writing, a meeting of the Trust’s shareholders will be held to approve or disapprove the removal of trustee or trustees.
Matters in which the interests of all the Funds of the Trust are substantially identical (such as the election of trustees or the
ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm) are voted on by all shareholders of the Trust without regard to the separate Funds. Matters that affect all or several Funds, but where the interests of the Funds are not substantially identical (such as approval of an investment management agreement) are voted on separately by the shareholders of the Fund for their Fund. Matters that affect only one Fund (such as a change in its fundamental policies) are voted on separately for the Fund by the shareholders of that Fund. Likewise, matters that affect only one class of shares of a Fund (such as approval of a plan of distribution) are voted on separately for that class by the holders of shares of that class.
Pursuant to the terms of the Participant Agreement, an Authorized Participant, to the extent that it is a beneficial or legal owner of Fund shares, will irrevocably appoint the Distributor as its agent and proxy with full authorization and power to vote (or abstain from voting) its beneficially or legally owned Fund shares. The Distributor intends to vote (or abstain from voting) the Authorized Participant’s beneficially or legally owned Fund shares in accordance with the Distributor’s proxy voting policies and procedures.
Shares entitle their holders to one vote per share (with proportionate voting for fractional shares). As used in the prospectus or this SAI, the phrase “vote of a majority of the outstanding shares” of a Fund (or the Trust) means the vote of the lesser of: (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund (or the Trust) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund (or the Trust).
The Trust or a Fund may be terminated by a majority vote of the
Board of Trustees or the affirmative vote of a supermajority of the holders of the Trust or the Fund entitled to vote on termination. Although the shares are not
automatically redeemable upon the occurrence of any specific event, the Trust’s organizational documents provide that the Board will have the unrestricted power
to alter the number of shares in a Creation Unit. In the event of a termination of the Trust or a Fund, the Board, in its sole discretion, could determine to permit the shares to be redeemable in aggregations smaller than Creation Units or to be individually redeemable. In such circumstance, the Trust may make redemptions in-kind, for cash or for a combination of cash or securities.
Taxes
FEDERAL TAX STATUS OF THE FUNDS
The following discussion of the federal tax status of the Funds is a general and abbreviated summary based on tax laws and regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Tax law is subject to change by legislative, administrative or judicial action.
Each Fund is treated as a separate taxpayer for federal income
tax purposes. Each Fund has elected or intends to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of the Code, and intends to qualify
as a regulated investment company each taxable year. If a Fund: (1) continues to qualify as a regulated investment company, and (2) distributes to its shareholders an amount at least equal to the sum of: (i) 90% of its investment company taxable income (including for this
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purpose its net ordinary
investment income and net realized short-term capital gains) and (ii) 90% of its tax-exempt interest income (reduced by certain expenses) (the “90%
distribution requirement”), which the Trust intends the Fund to do, then under the provisions of Subchapter M, the Fund would not be subject to federal
income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain (i.e., net long-term capital gain in excess of short-term capital
loss) it distributes to shareholders (or is treated as having distributed to shareholders).
Each Fund must meet several requirements to maintain its status as a regulated investment company. These requirements include the following: (1) at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income for each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to loaned securities, gains from the sale or disposition of securities (including gains from related investments in foreign currencies), or other income (including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such securities or currencies, as well as net income from interests in certain publicly traded partnerships; and (2) at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must consist of cash, cash items, securities of other regulated investment companies, U.S. Government securities and other securities which, with respect to any one issuer, do not represent more than 5% of all of the Fund’s assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) the Fund must not invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies), or of any two or more issuers that are controlled by the Fund and that are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
If a Fund fails to satisfy either the income requirement or asset diversification requirement described above, the Fund, in certain cases, may be able to avoid losing its status as a regulated investment company by timely providing notice of such failure to the IRS, curing such failure and possibly paying an additional tax or penalty.
Each Fund generally will endeavor to distribute (or treat as deemed distributed) to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income and its net capital gain, if any, for each taxable year so that it will not incur federal income or excise taxes on its earnings.
In addition, in order to avoid a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on certain of its undistributed income, each Fund generally must distribute in a timely manner an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its ordinary income (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) for each calendar year, (2) 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year, and (3) any income not distributed in prior years (the “excise tax avoidance requirements”). For purposes of determining whether a Fund has met this distribution requirement, the Fund will be deemed to have distributed any income or gains on which it has been subject to U.S. federal income tax.
If for any taxable year a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company or fails to satisfy the 90% distribution
requirement, all of its taxable income becomes subject to federal, and possibly state and local, income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders) and distributions to its shareholders constitute taxable dividend income (with such dividend income including dividends derived from interest on tax-exempt obligations) to the extent of the Fund’s available earnings and profits.
Investment income received from sources within foreign countries, or capital gains earned by a Fund from investing in securities of foreign issuers, may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. In this regard, withholding tax rates in countries with which the United States does not have a tax treaty are often as high as 35% or more. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries that may entitle a Fund to a reduced rate of tax or exemption from tax on this related income and gains. The effective rate of foreign tax cannot be determined at this time since the amount of a Fund’s assets to be invested within various countries is not now known. The Trust intends that the Funds will seek to operate so as to qualify for treaty-reduced rates of tax when applicable.
In addition, if a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under the Code, and if more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets at the close of the taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may elect, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to treat foreign income taxes paid by the Fund (including certain withholding taxes) that can be treated as income taxes under U.S. income tax principles as paid by its shareholders. If a Fund makes such an election, an amount equal to the foreign income taxes paid by the Fund would be included in the income of its shareholders and the shareholders often are entitled to credit their portions of this amount against their U.S. tax liabilities, if any, or to deduct those portions from their U.S. taxable income, if any. Shortly after any year for which it makes such an election, each Fund will report to its shareholders, in writing, the amount per share of foreign tax that must be included in each shareholder’s gross income and the amount that will be available as a deduction or credit. Shareholders must itemize their deductions in order to deduct foreign taxes. Certain limitations may apply that could limit the extent to which the credit or the deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder.
Each Fund’s transactions in options contracts and futures contracts are subject to special provisions of the Code that, among
other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (that is, may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses of the Fund. These rules (1) could affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders of each Fund, (2) could require the Fund to “mark to market” certain types of the positions in its portfolio (that is, treat them as if they were closed out) and (3) may cause the Fund to recognize income
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without receiving cash
with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and the excise tax avoidance requirements described above.
The Trust seeks to monitor transactions of each Fund, seeks to make the appropriate tax elections on behalf of the Fund and seeks to make the appropriate
entries in the Fund’s books and records when the Fund acquires any option, futures contract or hedged investment, to mitigate the effect of these rules.
Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), the Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an unlimited period. Additionally, capital loss carryforwards retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as permitted under prior regulation. Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, no information regarding capital loss carryforwards is available.
In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a capital gain dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, a Fund generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to any such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss, if any, from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss, if any, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.
If a Fund acquires stock in certain foreign corporations that
receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, rents, royalties or capital gain) or hold at least 50% of their total
assets in investments producing such passive income (“passive foreign investment companies”), the Fund could be subject to federal income tax and additional
interest charges on “excess distributions” received from such companies or gain from the sale of stock in such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. Certain elections may, if available, ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but any such election may require the Fund to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash. Each Fund may limit and/or manage its holdings in passive foreign investment companies to minimize its tax liability.
Foreign exchange gains and losses realized by a Fund in
connection with certain transactions involving non-dollar debt securities, certain foreign currency futures contracts, foreign currency option contracts, foreign currency
forward contracts, foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a foreign currency are subject to Code provisions which generally treat such gains and losses as ordinary income and losses and may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. Any such transactions that are not directly related to the Fund’s investment in securities (possibly including speculative currency positions or currency derivatives not used for hedging purposes) could, under future Treasury regulations, produce income not among the types of “qualifying income” from which the Fund must derive at least 90% of its annual gross income.
Investments in below investment grade instruments may present
special tax issues for the Funds. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount
or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless instruments, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Funds to the extent necessary in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income that it does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.
Pay-in-kind instruments (“PIKs”) are securities that
pay interest in either cash or additional securities, at the issuer’s option, for a specified period. PIKs, like zero-coupon bonds, are designed to give an issuer
flexibility in managing cash flow. PIK bonds can be either senior or subordinated debt and trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest). The price of PIK bonds is expected to
reflect the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last payment. PIKs are usually less volatile than zero-coupon bonds, but more volatile than cash pay securities.
Each Fund must accrue income on investments in certain PIKs, zero coupon securities or certain deferred interest securities (and, in general, any other securities with original issue discount or with market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in current income) prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash. However, because a Fund must meet the 90% distribution requirement to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund may have to dispose of its portfolio investments under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy the applicable distribution requirements.
The tax treatment of income, gains and losses attributable to foreign currencies (and derivatives on such currencies), and various other special tax rules applicable to certain financial transactions and instruments could affect the amount, timing and character of a Fund’s distributions. In some cases, these tax rules could also result in a retroactive change in the tax character of prior distributions and may also possibly cause all, or a portion, of prior distributions to be reclassified as returns of capital for tax purposes.
The federal income tax rules applicable to interest rate swaps, caps and floors are unclear in certain respects, and a Fund may be required to account for these transactions in a manner that, in certain circumstances, may limit the degree to which it may utilize these transactions.
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SHAREHOLDER TAXATION
The following discussion of certain federal income tax issues of shareholders of a Fund is a general and abbreviated summary based on tax laws and regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Tax law is subject to change by legislative, administrative or judicial action. The following discussion relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law as applicable to U.S. taxpayers (e.g., U.S. citizens or residents and U.S. domestic corporations, trusts or estates). The discussion does not address special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as qualified retirement accounts or trusts, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, banks and other financial institutions or to non-U.S. taxpayers. Dividends, capital gain distributions, and ownership of or gains realized on the sale of the shares of a Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes. This summary does not address any federal estate tax issues that may arise from ownership of Fund shares. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers as to the federal, state and local tax consequences of ownership of shares of, and receipt of distributions from, the Fund in their particular circumstances.
In general, as described in the prospectus, distributions from a Fund are generally taxable to shareholders as ordinary income,
qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains. Distributions of a Fund’s investment company taxable income (other than qualified dividend income) are taxable as ordinary income to shareholders to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Distributions from net short-term capital gains are taxable to a shareholder as ordinary income. Distributions of a Fund’s net capital gain properly designated by the Fund as “capital gain dividends” are taxable to a shareholder as long-term capital gain regardless of the shareholder’s holding period for his or her shares and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. To the extent that a Fund derives dividends from domestic corporations, a portion of the income distributions of the Fund may be eligible for the deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares held by a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of the Fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholders, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend. Properly reported distributions of qualified dividend income generally are taxable to individual shareholders at the same rates that apply to long-term capital gains, if certain holding period and other requirements are met. Dividend distributions will not be eligible for the reduced rates applicable to qualified dividend income unless, among other things, the shares held by a Fund with respect to which dividends are paid and the shares of the Fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund and the shareholders, respectively, for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the shares become ex-dividend. Distributions, if any, in excess of earnings and profits usually constitute a return of capital, which first reduces an investor’s tax basis in a Fund’s shares and thereafter (after such basis is reduced to zero) generally gives rise to capital gains. For a summary of the tax rates applicable to capital gains, including capital gain dividends, see the discussion below.
At the Trust’s option, the Trust may cause a Fund to retain
some or all of its net capital gain for a tax year, but may designate the retained amount as a “deemed distribution.” In that case, among other consequences, the
Fund pays tax on the retained amount for the benefit of its shareholders, the shareholders are required to report their share of the deemed distribution on their tax returns
as if it had been distributed to them, and the shareholders may report a credit for the tax paid thereon by the Fund. The amount of the deemed distribution net of such tax is added to the shareholder’s cost basis for his or her shares. A shareholder that is not subject to U.S. federal income tax or tax on long-term capital gain should be able to file a return on the appropriate form or a claim for refund that allows such shareholder to recover the taxes paid by a Fund on his or her behalf. In the event that the Trust chooses this option on behalf of a Fund, the Trust must provide written notice to the shareholders prior to the expiration of 60 days after the close of the relevant tax year.
Any dividend declared by a Fund in October, November, or December of any calendar year, payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following year, is treated as if it had been received by the shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.
An investor should consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a distribution. Even if the price of the shares
includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution, the shareholder generally will be taxed upon receipt of the distribution and is not entitled to offset the distribution against the tax basis in his or her shares. In addition, an investor should be aware that, at the time he or she purchases shares of a Fund, a portion of the purchase price is often attributable to realized or unrealized appreciation in the Fund’s portfolio or undistributed taxable income of the Fund. Subsequent distributions from such appreciation or income may be taxable to such investor even if the net asset value of the investor’s shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced below the investor’s cost for such shares, and the distributions in reality represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.
A shareholder generally recognizes taxable gain or loss on a sale
of his or her shares. The amount of the gain or loss is measured by the difference between the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in his or her shares and the amount of
the proceeds received in exchange for such shares. Any gain or loss arising from (or, in the case of distributions in excess of earnings and profits, treated as arising from) the sale of shares generally is a capital gain or loss if such shares are held as capital assets. This capital gain or loss normally is treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder has held his or her shares for more than one year at the time of such sale; otherwise, it is classified as short-term capital gain or loss. If, however, a shareholder receives a
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capital gain dividend
with respect to any share of a Fund, and the share is sold before it has been held by the shareholder for at least six months, then any loss on the sale or
exchange of the share, to the extent of the capital gain dividend, is treated as a long-term capital loss. In addition, all or a portion of any loss realized
upon a taxable disposition of shares may be disallowed if other shares of the same Fund are purchased (including any purchase through a reinvestment of
distributions from the Fund) within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed
loss.
Individuals (and certain other non-corporate
entities) are generally eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to taxable ordinary dividends from REITs (“Qualifying REIT Dividends”) and certain taxable
income from publicly traded partnerships (“MLP Income”). Treasury regulations allow a regulated investment company to pass through to its shareholders Qualifying
REIT Dividends eligible for the 20% deduction. However, the regulations do not provide a mechanism for a regulated investment company to pass through to its shareholders MLP Income that would be eligible for such deduction. It is uncertain whether future legislation or other guidance will enable a regulated investment company to pass through the special character of MLP Income to the regulated investment company’s shareholders.
IRS Regulations require reporting to the IRS and furnishing to shareholders the cost basis information and holding period for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and sold on or after that date. Shareholders may elect from among several cost basis methods accepted by the IRS, including average cost. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting rules apply to them. Shareholders should contact their financial intermediaries with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for their accounts.
In general, non-corporate shareholders currently are subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of either 15% or 20% (depending on whether the shareholder’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts) on their net long-term capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) for a taxable year (including a long-term capital gain derived from an investment in the shares) and certain qualified dividend income, while other income may be taxed at rates as high as 37%. Shareholders must satisfy a holding period of more than 60 days with respect to a distribution that is otherwise eligible to be treated as a qualified dividend during the 121-day period that begins 60 days before the ex-dividend date. Corporate taxpayers currently are subject to federal income tax on net capital gain at the maximum rate also applied to ordinary income (21%). Tax rates imposed by states and local jurisdictions on capital gain and ordinary income may differ. Non-corporate shareholders with net capital losses for a year (i.e., capital losses in excess of capital gains) generally may deduct up to $3,000 of such losses against their ordinary income each year; any net capital losses of a non-corporate shareholder in excess of $3,000 generally may be carried forward and used in subsequent years as provided in the Code. Corporate shareholders generally may not deduct any net capital losses for a year, but may carry back such losses for three years or carry forward such losses for five years.
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a Fund and net gains from sales or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of US individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts. Each Fund sends to each of its shareholders, as promptly as possible after the end of each calendar year, a notice detailing, on a per share and per distribution basis, the amounts includible in such shareholder’s taxable income for such year as ordinary income and as long-term capital gain. In addition, the federal tax status of each year’s distributions generally is reported to the IRS. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local, and foreign taxes depending on a shareholder’s particular situation.
The Trust on behalf of each Fund, has the right to reject an order for a creation of shares if the creator (or group of creators)
would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, the Fund would have a basis in the Deposit Securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. See “Creation and Redemption of Shares” above.
Dividends paid by a Fund to a non-U.S. shareholder generally are subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (unless the tax is reduced or eliminated by an applicable treaty). Certain properly reported dividends paid by the Fund, however, generally are not subject to this tax, to the extent paid from net capital gains. In addition, a portion of each Fund’s distributions received by a non-U.S. investor may be exempt from U.S. withholding tax to the extent attributable to U.S. source interest income and short-term capital gains if such amounts are properly reported by the Fund. In the case of Fund shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold U.S. federal income tax even if a Fund reports the payment as an exempt dividend. However, depending on the circumstances, a Fund may report all, some or none of the Fund’s potentially eligible dividends as eligible for the exemption, and a portion of the Fund's distributions (e.g. interest from non-U.S. sources or any foreign currency gains) would be ineligible for this potential exemption from withholding.
Withholding of U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) is required on payments
of dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S.
Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to enable the applicable withholding agent to determine whether withholding is required.
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Non-U.S. shareholders may
also be subject to U.S. estate tax with respect to their shares of the Funds.
Each Fund may be subject to non-U.S. income taxes withheld at the source. Each Fund, if permitted to do so, may elect to “pass through” to its investors the amount of non-U.S. income taxes paid by the Fund provided that the Fund held the security on the dividend settlement date and for at least 15 additional days immediately before and/or thereafter, with the result that each investor with respect to shares of the Fund held for a minimum 16-day holding period at the time of deemed distribution will (i) include in gross income, even though not actually received, the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes (with such included amount potentially subject to U.S. withholding tax), and (ii) either deduct (in calculating U.S. taxable income, but only for investors who itemize their deductions on their personal tax returns) or credit (in calculating U.S. federal income tax) the investor’s pro rata share of the Fund’s non-U.S. income taxes. Withholding taxes on dividends on non-U.S. securities while such securities are lent out by a Fund are not eligible for non-U.S. tax credit pass through. Taxes not “passed through” for tax purposes will not be available to shareholders for foreign tax credit purposes. A non-U.S. person invested in a Fund in a year that the Fund elects to “pass through” its non-U.S. taxes may be treated as receiving additional dividend income subject to U.S. withholding tax. A non-U.S. tax credit may not exceed the investor’s U.S. federal income tax otherwise payable with respect to the investor’s non-U.S. source income. For this purpose, shareholders must treat as non-U.S. source gross income (i) their proportionate shares of non-U.S. taxes paid by the Fund and (ii) the portion of any dividend paid by the Fund that represents income derived from non-U.S. sources; the Fund’s gain from the sale of securities will generally be treated as U.S.-source income. Certain limitations will be imposed to the extent to which the non-U.S. tax credit may be claimed. If your Fund shares are loaned pursuant to securities lending arrangements, you may lose the ability to use any non-U.S. tax credits passed through by a Fund or to treat Fund dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividends. Regarding a short sale with respect to shares of a Fund, substitute payments made to the lender of such shares may not be deductible under certain circumstances. Consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor.
Shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax
withholding (currently, at a rate of 24%) (“backup withholding”) from all taxable distributions payable to (1) any shareholder who fails to furnish the Trust
with its correct taxpayer identification number or a certificate that the shareholder is exempt from backup withholding, and (2) any shareholder with respect to whom the IRS
notifies the Trust that the shareholder has failed to properly report certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect. An individual’s taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. The 24% backup withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against a taxpayer’s regular federal income tax liability.
Principal Underwriter
ALPS Distributors, Inc. serves as the principal underwriter to
the Funds. ALPS is located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203.
Securities Depository
for Shares of the Funds
Shares of each Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.
DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold
securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic
book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities’ certificates. DTC Participants include
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE and the FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”).
Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC Participants,
Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of such
beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by
DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares.
Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the shares of each Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
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Share distributions
shall be made to DTC or its nominee as the registered holder of all shares of the Trust. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately
DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares of a Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its
nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.
The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants. DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares of the Trust at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost.
Custodian and Transfer Agent
Portfolio securities of the Funds are held pursuant to a
Custodian Agreement between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114. State Street Bank and Trust Company
also serves as Transfer Agent for the Funds pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement.
Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
[xxx] will serve as the Trust’s
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2026. [xxx] is located at [xxx].
Other Information
The Hartford has granted the Trust the right to use the name “The Hartford” or “Hartford,” and has reserved the right to withdraw its consent to the use of such name by the Trust and the Funds at any time, or to grant the use of such name to any other company.
Code of Ethics
The Funds, HFMC and the sub-adviser have each adopted a code of ethics designed to protect the interests of each Fund’s shareholders. Under each code of ethics, investment personnel are permitted to trade securities for their own account, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, subject to certain restrictions. Each code of ethics has been filed with the SEC and may be viewed by the public.
Financial Statements
Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, there are no financial statements for the Funds.
Each Fund’s audited financial statements, together with the notes thereto, and the report of the Trust’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm will be available in the Fund's Annual Financial Statements and Other Information on Form N-CSR once the Funds have completed their first annual fiscal period.
Each Fund's Annual Financial Statements and Other Information will be available without charge by calling the Funds at 1-800-456-7526 or by visiting the Fund's website at hartfordfunds.com or on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
The Board of Trustees believes that the voting of proxies with respect to securities held by a Fund is an important element of the overall investment process. Pursuant to the Fund's Policy Related to Proxy Voting, as approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees, HFMC has delegated to the sub-adviser the authority to vote all proxies relating to each Fund’s portfolio securities, subject to oversight by HFMC. Each Fund’s exercise of this delegated proxy voting authority is subject to oversight by HFMC. The sub-adviser has a duty to vote or not vote such proxies in the best interests of the sub-advised Fund and its shareholders, and to avoid the influence of conflicts of interest. If a security has not been restricted from securities lending and the security is on loan over a record date, the Fund's sub-adviser may not be able to vote any proxies for that security. In addition, if the sub-adviser requests that HFMC vote a proxy in the Fund because the sub-adviser believes it has a conflict of interest with respect to said proxy that cannot be sufficiently mitigated, HFMC may vote such securities. HFMC will vote in accordance with its determination as to what is in the Fund's best interest and may consider the sub-adviser's proxy voting policies and any recommendation provided by a proxy advisory firm, or HFMC may also elect to abstain from voting the proxy. The policies and procedures used by the sub-adviser to determine how to vote certain proxies relating to portfolio securities are set forth in Appendix A. However, more complete information should be
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obtained by reviewing the
Fund's voting records. Information on how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is
available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-456-7526; (2) on the Fund's website at hartfordfunds.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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APPENDIX A: PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Wellington Management Company LLP
Global Proxy Policy and Procedures
INTRODUCTION
Wellington Management has adopted and implemented policies and
procedures it believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of clients for which it exercises proxy-voting discretion.
The purpose of this document is to outline Wellington
Management’s approach to executing proxy voting.
Wellington Management’s Proxy Voting Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), which are contained in a separate document, set forth broad guidelines and positions on common issues that Wellington Management uses for voting proxies. The Guidelines set out Wellington Management’s general expectations on how they vote rather than rigid rules that they apply without consideration of the particular facts and circumstances.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
Wellington Management:
1)
Votes client proxies for clients that have affirmatively delegated proxy voting
authority, in writing, unless we have arranged in advance with a particular client to limit the circumstances in which the client would exercise voting authority, or we determine that it is in the best interest of one or more clients to refrain from voting a given proxy.
2)
Seeks to vote proxies in the best financial interests of the clients for which we are
voting.
3)
Identifies and resolves all material proxy-related conflicts of interest between the
firm and our clients in the best interests of the client.
RESPONSIBILITY AND OVERSIGHT
The Proxy Voting Team monitors regulatory requirements with
respect to proxy voting and works with the firm’s Legal and Compliance Group and the Investment Stewardship Committee to develop practices that implement those
requirements. The Proxy Voting Team also acts as a resource for portfolio managers and investment research analysts on proxy matters as needed. Day-to-day administration of the proxy voting process is the responsibility of the Proxy Voting Team. The Investment Stewardship Committee a senior, cross-functional group of experienced professionals, is responsible for oversight of the implementation of the Global Proxy Policy and Procedures, review and approval of the Guidelines, and identification and resolution of conflicts of interest. The Investment Stewardship Committee reviews the Guidelines as well as the Global Proxy Policy and Procedures annually.
PROCEDURES
Use of Third-Party Voting Agent
Wellington Management uses the services of a third-party voting agent for research and to manage the administrative aspects of proxy voting. We view third-party research as an input to our process. Wellington Management complements the research provided by its primary voting agent with research from other firms.
Our primary voting agent processes proxies for client accounts and maintains records of proxies voted. For certain routine issues, as detailed below, votes may be instructed according to standing instructions given to our primary voting agent, which are based on the Guidelines.
We manually review instances where our primary voting agent discloses a material conflict of interest of its own, potentially impacting its research outputs. We perform oversight of our primary voting agent, which involves regular service calls and an annual due diligence exercise, as well as regular touchpoints in the normal course of business.
Receipt of Proxy
If a client requests that Wellington Management vote proxies on its behalf, the client must instruct its custodian bank to deliver all relevant voting materials to Wellington Management or its designated voting agent in a timely manner.
84
Reconciliation
Proxies for public equity securities received by electronic means
are matched to the securities eligible to be voted, and a reminder is sent to custodians/trustees that have not forwarded the proxies due. This reconciliation is performed
at the ballot level. Although proxies received for private equity securities, as well as those received in non-electronic format for any securities, are voted as received, Wellington Management is not able to reconcile these ballots and does not notify custodians of non-receipt; Wellington Management is only able to reconcile ballots where clients have consented to providing holdings information with its provider for this purpose.
Proxy Voting Process
Our approach to voting is investment-led and serves as an influential component of our engagement and escalation strategy. The Investment Stewardship Committee, a cross-functional group of experienced professionals, oversees Wellington Management’s activities with regards to proxy voting practices.
Routine issues that can be addressed by the proxy voting guidance below are voted by means of standing instructions communicated to our primary voting agent. Some votes warrant analysis of specific facts and circumstances and therefore are reviewed individually. We examine such vote sources including internal research notes, third-party voting research and company engagement. While manual votes are often resolved by investment research teams, each portfolio manager is empowered to make a final decision for their relevant client portfolio(s), absent a material conflict of interest. Proactive portfolio manager input is sought under certain circumstances, which may include consideration of position size and proposal subject matter and nature. Where portfolio manager input is proactively sought, deliberation across the firm may occur. This collaboration does not prioritize consensus across the firm above all other interests but rather seeks to inform portfolio managers’ decisions by allowing them to consider multiple perspectives. Portfolio managers may occasionally arrive at different voting conclusions for their clients, resulting in different decisions for the same vote. Voting procedures and the deliberation that occurs before a vote decision are aligned with our role as active owners and fiduciaries for our clients.
Material Conflict of Interest Identification and Resolution
Processes
Further detail on our management of
conflicts of interest can be found in our Stewardship Conflicts of Interest Policy, available on our website.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
In certain instances, Wellington Management may be unable to vote
or may determine not to vote a proxy on behalf of one or more clients. While not exhaustive, the following are potential instances in which a proxy vote might not be
entered.
Securities Lending
Clients may elect to participate in securities lending Such
lending may impact their ability to have their shares voted. Under certain circumstances, and where practical considerations allow, Wellington Management may determine that
the anticipated value of voting could outweigh the benefit to the client resulting from use of securities for lending and recommend that a client attempt to have its custodian recall the security to permit voting of related proxies. We do not borrow shares for the sole purpose of exercising voting rights.
Share Blocking and Re-Registration
Certain countries impose trading restrictions or requirements
regarding re-registration of securities held in omnibus accounts in order for shareholders to vote a proxy. The potential impact of such requirements is evaluated when
determining whether to vote such proxies.
Lack of Adequate Information, Untimely Receipt of Proxy Materials, or
Excessive Costs
Wellington Management may
abstain from voting a proxy when the proxy statement or other available information is inadequate to allow for an informed vote; the proxy materials are not delivered in a
timely fashion; or, in Wellington Management’s judgment, the costs of voting exceed the expected benefits to clients (included but not limited to instances such as
when powers of attorney or consularization or the disclosure of client confidential information are required).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Wellington Management maintains records related to proxies
pursuant to Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”), and other applicable laws. In addition, Wellington Management discloses voting decisions through its website, including the rationale for votes
against management.
85
Wellington Management
provides clients with a copy of its Global Proxy Policy and Procedures, as well as the Voting Guidelines, upon written request. In addition, Wellington Management will
provide specific client information relating to proxy voting to a client upon written request.
Dated: 15 September 2023
86
APPENDIX B: CREDIT RATINGS
The credit rating information which follows describes how the
credit rating services mentioned presently rate the described securities or loans. No reliance is made upon the credit rating firms as “experts” as that term is
defined for securities purposes. Rather, reliance on this information is on the basis that such ratings have become generally accepted in the investment business. Ratings and overall portfolio credit quality may change over time and unrated securities are not necessarily low quality securities.
In the case of “split-rated” securities or loans (i.e., securities or loans assigned non-equivalent credit quality ratings, such as Baa by Moody’s Ratings ("Moody's") but BB by S&P Global Ratings or Ba by Moody’s and BB by S&P Global Ratings but B by Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”)), Wellington Management will determine whether a particular security or loan is considered investment grade or below-investment grade for the Fund as follows: (a) if all three credit rating agencies have rated a security or loan the median credit rating is used for this determination; (b) if only two credit rating agencies have rated a security, the lower (e.g., most conservative) credit rating is used; and (c) if only one credit rating agency has rated the security, then that rating is used.
LONG-TERM CREDIT RATINGS:
MOODY’S
Aaa –– Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa –– Obligations rated
Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A –– Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa –– Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such
may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba –– Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit
risk.
B –– Obligations rated B
are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa –– Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca –– Obligations rated
Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C –– Obligations rated C
are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS
AAA
–– An
obligation rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely
strong.
AA –– An obligation rated
'AA' differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very
strong.
A –– An obligation rated
'A' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the
obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.
BBB –– An obligation rated
‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s
capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
BB, B, CCC, CC, and C –– Obligations rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC', and 'C' are regarded as having significant speculative
characteristics. 'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation and 'C' the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.
BB –– An obligation rated
'BB' is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic
conditions that could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
87
B –– An obligation rated
'B' is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated 'BB', but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
CCC –– An obligation rated
‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial
commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial
commitments on the obligation.
CC –– An obligation rated
'CC' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The 'CC' rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual
certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
C
–– An
obligation rated 'C' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to
obligations that are rated higher.
D –– An obligation rated
'D' is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the
date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the
earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative
standing within the rating categories.
SHORT-TERM CREDIT RATINGS:
MOODY’S
P-1 – Ratings of Prime-1
reflect a superior ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-2 – Ratings of Prime-2
reflect a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-3 – Ratings of Prime-3
reflect an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP – Issuers (or supporting
institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS
A-1
–– A
short-term obligation rated ‘A–1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P
Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a
plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2 –– A short-term
obligation rated ‘A–2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3
–– A
short-term obligation rated ‘A–3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters.
However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the
obligation.
B –– A short-term
obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial
commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
C –– A short-term
obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet
its financial commitments on the obligation.
D –– A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For
non-hybrid capital instruments, the 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that
such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
RATING OF MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS:
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS
MUNICIPAL NOTES
88
An S&P Global
Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings' opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years
or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which
type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings' analysis will review the following considerations:
1. Amortization schedule - - the larger the final maturity
relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
2. Source of payment -- the more dependent
the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings are as follows:
SP-1 – Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity
to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 –
Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3 – Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
D – 'D' is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring,
or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.
MOODY’S
SHORT-TERM OBLIGATION RATINGS
Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) scale for
US municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less.
MIG 1. This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2. This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the
preceding group.
MIG 3. This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG. This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
DEMAND OBLIGATION RATINGS
For variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”. Industrial development bonds in the US where the obligor is a corporate may carry a VMIG rating that reflects Moody’s view of the relative likelihood of default and loss. In these cases, liquidity assessment is based on the liquidity of the corporate obligor.
VMIG 1. This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.
VMIG 2. This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good
protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.
VMIG 3. This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.
Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.
SG. This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.
Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or
legal protections.
89
DUAL RATINGS:
S&P Global
Ratings
Dual ratings may be assigned to debt
issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second
component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use
either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, 'AAA/A-1+' or 'A-1+/A-1'). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, 'SP-1+/A-1+').
INTERNATIONAL LONG-TERM CREDIT RATINGS:
FITCH
International credit ratings relate to either foreign currency or
local currency commitments and, in both cases, assess the capacity to meet these commitments using a globally applicable scale. As such, both foreign currency and local
currency international ratings are internationally comparable assessments.
Rated entities in several sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns, insurance companies and some sectors within public finance, are generally assigned Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs). IDRs are also assigned to certain entities or enterprises in global infrastructure, project finance and public finance. IDRs opine on an entity’s relative vulnerability to default - including by way of a distressed debt exchange (DDE) - on financial obligations. The threshold default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts.
In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agency's view of their relative vulnerability to default,
rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default.
AAA: Highest Credit Quality. 'AAA' ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA: Very High Credit Quality. ’AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A: High Credit Quality. ‘A’ ratings denote
expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse
business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB: Good Credit Quality. 'BBB' ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment
of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB: Speculative. 'BB' ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability
to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports
the servicing of financial commitments.
B: Highly Speculative. 'B' ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC: Substantial Credit Risk. Very low margin for safety. Default is a real possibility.
CC: Very High Levels of Credit Risk. Default of some kind appears
probable.
C: Near Default. A default or
default-like process has begun, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired. Conditions that are indicative of a 'C' category rating for an
issuer include:
a. the issuer has entered into a
grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;
b. the formal announcement by the issuer or their agent of a DDE;
c. a closed financing vehicle where payment capacity is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default is imminent.
RD: Restricted Default. ‘RD' ratings indicate an issuer that in
Fitch’s opinion has experienced:
a. an
uncured payment default or DDE on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but
b. has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration,
receivership, liquidation, or other formal winding-up procedure, and
c. has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include:
90
i. the selective payment
default on a specific class or currency of debt;
ii. the uncured expiry of any applicable original grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation.
D: Default. ‘D' ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration,
receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure or that has otherwise ceased business and debt is still outstanding.
Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or
their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after
the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a DDE.
In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the
agency's opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings and may differ from the definition of default under the terms
of an issuer's financial obligations or local commercial practice.
Within rating categories, Fitch may use modifiers. The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to
denote relative status within major rating categories.
INTERNATIONAL SHORT-TERM CREDIT RATINGS:
FITCH
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as "short term" based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means a timeframe of up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
F1: Highest Short-Term Credit Quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added "+" to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2: Good Short-Term Credit Quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3: Fair Short-Term Credit Quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely
payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B: Speculative Short-Term Credit Quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C: High Short-Term Default Risk. Default is a real possibility.
RD: Restricted Default. Indicates an entity
that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings
only.
D: Default. Indicates a broad-based default
event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
Within rating categories, Fitch may use modifiers. The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to
denote relative status within major rating categories.
[ ]SAI-09[xx]2026
91
d.(ii).c
Amendment Number 3 to the Investment Management Agreement with Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (to be filed by subsequent amendment)
d.(ii).d
Amendment Number 4 to the Investment Management Agreement with Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (to be filed by subsequent amendment)
[d.(iii)
Form of Investment Management Agreement with Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC
with respect to Hartford Alpha Capture International Equity ETF, Hartford Alpha Capture International Value
ETF and Hartford High Yield ETF (to be filed by subsequent amendment)]
d.(iv).h
Amendment Number 14 to the Sub-Advisory Agreement with Wellington Management Company
LLP (to be filed by subsequent amendment)
d.(iv).h
Amendment Number 15 to the Sub-Advisory Agreement with Wellington Management Company
LLP (to be filed by subsequent amendment)
e.(viii)
Letter Agreement to Update Schedule A to the Distribution Agreement (to be filed by
subsequent amendment)
f.
Not Applicable
g.(iii)
Letter Agreement to Update Appendix A to the Custodian Agreement (to be filed by
subsequent amendment)
h.(v).b
Second Amendment to the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with State Street
Bank and Trust Company (to be filed by subsequent amendment)
h.(vi).c
Amendment Three to the Amended and Restated Fund Accounting Agreement (to be filed by
subsequent amendment)
h.(vi).d
Amendment Four to the Amended and Restated Fund Accounting Agreement (to be filed by
subsequent amendment)
h.(vii).c
Third Amendment to the Expense Limitation Agreement (to be filed by subsequent
amendment)
h.(vii).d
Fourth Amendment to the Expense Limitation Agreement (to be filed by subsequent
amendment)
i.
Opinion
and Consent of Counsel (to be filed by subsequent amendment)
j.
Not Applicable
k.
Not Applicable
l.
Not Applicable
n.
Not Applicable
o.
Not Applicable
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with
Registrant
The Fund does not control and is
not under common control with any other persons except that, to the extent The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (“The Hartford”) and/or one of its subsidiaries
owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund, the Fund may be deemed to be under common control with other funds controlled by The Hartford. The Hartford is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Item 30.
Indemnification
Reference is made to the subsections of Article IX of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Declaration”) for the Registrant (also, the “Trust”). All section references below are to those contained in the Declaration.
Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 9.5, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, or employee of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”), shall be indemnified by the Trust or the applicable Series to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a
Trustee, director,
officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof. No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered
Person to the extent such indemnification is prohibited by applicable federal law. The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by
policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Subject to applicable federal law, expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 9.5 shall be advanced by the Trust or the applicable Series prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.5. To the extent that any determination is required to be made as to whether a Covered Person engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Person or Persons making the determination shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in such conduct and that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification. As used in this Section 9.5, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, demands, actions, suits, investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings or any other occurrence of a similar nature, whether actual or threatened and whether civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals, and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
Further Indemnification. Nothing contained herein shall affect
any rights to indemnification to which any Covered Person or other Person may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law or prevent the Trust from entering into any contract to provide indemnification to any Covered Person or other Person. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust may, in connection with the acquisition of assets subject to liabilities pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof or a merger or consolidation pursuant to Section 10.2 hereof, assume the obligation to indemnify any Person
including a Covered Person or otherwise contract to provide such indemnification, and such indemnification shall not be subject to the terms of this Article IX.
Amendments and Modifications. Without limiting the provisions of Section 11.1(b) hereof, in no event will any amendment, modification or change to the provisions of this Declaration or the By-Laws adversely affect in any manner the rights of any Covered Person to (a) indemnification under Section 9.5 hereof in connection with any
proceeding in which such Covered Person becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of being or having been a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust or (b) any insurance payments under policies maintained by the
Trust, in either case with respect to any act or omission of such Covered Person that occurred or is alleged to have occurred prior to the time such amendment, modification or change to this Declaration or the By-Laws.
The Registrant’s various agreements with its service providers
provide for indemnification.
In addition, the
Registrant maintains a joint Directors and Officers and Errors and Omissions insurance policy.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (“HFMC”) serves as the investment manager to each series of the Registrant. The executive officers of HFMC are listed in the investment adviser registration on Form ADV for
HFMC (File No. 801-77209) and are hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto. The business and other connections of a substantial nature of each executive officer are given below.
| Name |
Position with HFMC(1) |
Other Business |
| Gregory A. Frost |
Chairman of the Board, Manager,
President and Senior Managing
Director |
Chairman of the Board, Manager and Senior Managing Director of Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC (“HFD”)(1); Chairman of the Board, Director, President, and Senior Managing Director of Hartford Administrative Services Company
(“HASCO”)(1);
Director/Chairman, President and Senior Managing
Director of the Hartford Funds Management Group,
Inc. (“HFMG”)(1); and Chairman of the Board, Manager
and President of Lattice Strategies LLC
(“Lattice”)(1) |
| Name |
Position with HFMC(1) |
Other Business |
| Amy N. Furlong |
Manager, Chief Financial Officer,
Assistant Treasurer and Executive Vice
President |
Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice
President of HFD; Chief Financial Officer and
Executive Vice President of HFMG; Director, Chief
Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of
HASCO; and Manager, Assistant Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer of Lattice |
| Walter F. Garger |
General Counsel, Managing Director
and Secretary |
General Counsel, Managing Director, and Secretary of
HFD, HASCO and HFMG; and Secretary and General
Counsel of Lattice |
| Joseph G. Melcher |
Chief Compliance Officer and
Executive Vice President |
Executive Vice President of HFD and HASCO;
Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance
Officer of HFMG and Lattice |
| Vernon J. Meyer |
Chief Investment Officer and Managing
Director |
Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of
HFMG and Lattice |
| Jon Callahan |
Vice President |
None |
| Jeffrey T. Coghan |
Vice President |
Senior Vice President of HFD and HFMG |
| Daniel Daigle |
Chief Cybersecurity and Business
Continuity Officer and Chief Risk
Officer |
Chief Cybersecurity and Business Continuity Officer
and Chief Risk Officer of Lattice |
| Andrew DiValerio |
Vice President and Controller |
Controller, Vice President and Financial and
Operations Principal (FINOP) of HFD; Vice President
and Controller HASCO; and Vice President of HFMG |
| Brian Kraus |
Executive Vice President |
Executive Vice President of HFD, HFMG and Lattice |
| Allison Z. Mortensen |
Vice President |
Vice President of HFMG |
| Christopher Morvant |
Vice President |
None |
| Ernie C. Overholt |
Executive Vice President |
Executive Vice President of HFD, HASCO and Lattice;
and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of HFMG |
| Lianna Peto |
Vice President |
Vice President of HFMG |
| Thomas R. Phillips |
Vice President |
Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary of
HFMG |
| Ankit Puri |
Assistant Treasurer and Vice President |
Vice President of HFMG |
| Ian Seaver |
Vice President |
Vice President of HFMG |
| Kevin F. Barnett |
Assistant Secretary |
Assistant Secretary of HFD, HASCO, HFMG and
Lattice; and Assistant Corporate Secretary of The
Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (formerly, The Hartford
Financial Services Group, Inc.) (“The Hartford”)(2) |
| Christopher Doyle |
Assistant Secretary |
Assistant Secretary of HFD, HASCO, HFMG, Lattice
and Hartford Investment Management Company
(“HIMCO”)(2) |
| Timothy A. Gallagher |
Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Vice
President |
Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
HFD, HASCO, HFMG, Lattice, and The Hartford |
| Charlene Harnish |
Assistant Secretary |
Assistant Secretary of HFD, HASCO, HFMG, Lattice,
and HIMCO |
| Kathleen E. Jorens |
Treasurer and Senior Vice President |
Treasurer and Senior Vice President of HFD, HASCO,
HFMG, Lattice, HIMCO and The Hartford |
| Elizabeth L. Kemp |
Assistant Secretary |
Assistant Secretary of HFD, HASCO, HFMG, Lattice
and HIMCO |
| Keith R. Percy |
Vice President |
Vice President of HFD, HASCO, HFMG, Lattice and HIMCO; Head of Corporate Tax and Senior Vice President of The Hartford |
(1)
The principal business address for HFMC, HFD, HASCO, HFMG and Lattice is 690 Lee Road, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087.
(2)
The principal business address for The Hartford and HIMCO is One Hartford Plaza, Hartford,
Connecticut 06155.
Wellington Management
Company LLP (“Wellington Management”) serves as sub-adviser to certain series of the Registrant. The executive officers of Wellington Management are listed in
the investment adviser registration on Form ADV for Wellington Management (File No. 801-15908) and are hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto. The officers of Wellington Management have been engaged during the past two fiscal years in no
business, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature other than as directors, officers, or employees of Wellington Management or certain of its corporate affiliates.
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. (“SIMNA”) and Schroder Investment Management North America Limited (“SIMNA Ltd.”) each serve as sub-adviser and sub-sub-adviser, respectively, to certain series of the Registrant. The executive officers of SIMNA and SIMNA Ltd. are listed in the respective investment advisers’ registration on Forms ADV (File No. 801-15834 and File No. 801-37163, respectively) and are hereby incorporated
herein by reference thereto. The directors and officers of SIMNA and SIMNA Ltd. have been engaged during the past two fiscal years in no business, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature other than as directors,
officers, or employees of SIMNA, SIMNA Ltd., or certain of their corporate affiliates.
Item 32. Principal
Underwriters
(a)
ALPS Distributors, Inc. acts as the distributor for the Registrant and the following
investment companies: 1290 Funds, 1WS Credit Income Fund, Aberdeen Income Credit Strategies Fund, abrdn
ETFs, abrdn Funds, abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund, abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund, Accordant ODCE Index Fund, Alpha Alternative
Assets Fund, ALPS Series Trust, Alternative Credit Income Fund, Apollo Diversified Credit Fund, Apollo
Diversified Real Estate Fund, AQR Funds, Arrowmark Financial Corp., Axonic Alternative Income Fund, Axonic Funds, BBH Trust, Bluerock High Income Institutional Credit Fund,
Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund, Bridge Builder Trust, Cambria ETF Trust, CION Ares Diversified
Credit Fund, CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund, Columbia ETF Trust, Columbia ETF Trust I, Columbia ETF
Trust II, Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund, Inc., CRM Mutual Fund Trust, DBX ETF Trust, Diameter Dynamic Credit Fund, Eagle Point Defensive Income Trust, Eagle Point Enhanced Income Trust, EA Series Trust (Cambria Series), ETF Series Solutions (Vident Series), Financial
Investors Trust, Firsthand Funds, FS Credit Income Fund, FS Credit Opportunities Corp., FS MVP Private Markets Fund, Gemcorp Commodities Alternative Products Fund, Goehring & Rozencwajg Investment Funds, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II, Graniteshares ETF
Trust, Hartford Funds Exchange-Traded Trust, Heartland Group, Inc., Investment Managers Series Trust II (AXS-Advised Funds), Investment Managers Series Trust II (Alternative Access-Advised Fund), Janus Detroit Street Trust, Lattice Strategies Trust, Litman Gregory Funds Trust,
Longleaf Partners Funds Trust, Manager Directed Portfolios (Spyglass Growth Fund), Meridian Fund, Inc., Natixis ETF Trust, Natixis ETF Trust II, New York Life Investments Active ETF Trust, New York Life Investments ETF Trust, Opportunistic Credit Interval Fund, PRIMECAP Odyssey
Funds, Principal Exchange-Traded Funds, RiverNorth Funds, RiverNorth Opportunities Fund, Inc., RiverNorth/DoubleLine Strategic Opportunity Fund, Inc., RiverNorth Opportunistic Municipal Income Fund, Inc., RiverNorth Managed Duration Municipal Income Fund, Inc.,
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc., RiverNorth Capital and Income Fund, Inc., RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund II, Inc., RiverNorth Managed Duration Municipal Income Fund II, Inc., SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, SPDR
S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust, Sphinx Opportunity Fund II, Sprott Funds Trust, The Arbitrage Funds, Themes ETF Trust, Tidal Trust II (Cambria Series), Thornburg ETF Trust, Thrivent ETF Trust, Trust for Professional Managers (PT Asset Management Series), USCF ETF Trust, USVC Venture
Capital Access Fund, Valkyrie ETF Trust II, Wasatch Funds, Wilmington Funds, X-Square Balanced Fund, X-Square Series Trust.
(b)
To the
best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of ALPS Distributors, Inc. and their position with the Registrant are as follows:
| Name and Principal Business
Address* |
Positions and Offices with
Underwriter |
Position and Offices with Registrant |
| Stephen J. Kyllo |
President, Chief Operating Officer,
Director, Chief Compliance Officer |
None |
| Brian Schell** |
Vice President & Treasurer |
None |
| Name and Principal Business
Address* |
Positions and Offices with
Underwriter |
Position and Offices with Registrant |
| Eric Parsons |
Vice President, Controller and
Assistant Treasurer |
None |
| Jason White*** |
Secretary |
None |
| Richard C. Noyes |
Senior Vice President, General
Counsel, Assistant Secretary |
None |
| Eric Theroff^ |
Assistant Secretary |
None |
| Adam Girard^^ |
Tax Officer |
None |
| Liza Price |
Vice President, Managing Counsel |
None |
| Jed Stahl |
Vice President, Managing Counsel |
None |
| James Stegall |
Vice President |
None |
| Hilary Quinn |
Vice President |
None |
*
Except as otherwise noted, the principal business address for each of the above directors
and executive officers is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203.
**
The principal business address for Mr. Schell is 100 South Wacker Drive, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606.
***
The principal business address for Mr. White is 4 Times Square, New York, NY
10036.
^
The principal
business address for Mr. Theroff is 1055 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64105.
^^
The principal business address for Mr. Girard is 80 Lamberton Road, Windsor, CT 06095.
(c)
Not Applicable.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
Information on the physical possession of accounts, books, and other documents is included in the Registrant’s filing on Form N-CEN filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9,
2025.
Item 34. Management Services
Not Applicable
Item 35. Undertakings
Not Applicable
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the city of Wayne, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 10th day of
July 2026.
| HARTFORD FUNDS EXCHANGE-TRADED TRUST | |
| By: |
/s/ Gregory A. Frost* |
| |
Gregory A. Frost
President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
| Signature |
Title |
Date |
| /s/ Gregory A. Frost* Gregory A. Frost |
Trustee, Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer) |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ Ankit Puri* Ankit Puri |
Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ Christine R. Detrick* Christine R. Detrick |
Chair of the Board and Trustee |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ Hilary E. Ackermann* Hilary E. Ackermann |
Trustee |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ Robin C. Beery* Robin C. Beery |
Trustee |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ Derrick D. Cephas* Derrick D. Cephas |
Trustee |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ John J. Gauthier* John J. Gauthier |
Trustee |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ Andrew A. Johnson, Jr.* Andrew A. Johnson, Jr. |
Trustee |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ Paul L. Rosenberg* Paul L. Rosenberg |
Trustee |
July 10, 2026 |
| /s/ David Sung* David Sung |
Trustee |
July 10, 2026 |
| *By:/s/ Thomas R. Phillips
Thomas R. Phillips, Attorney-in-fact * Pursuant to Power of Attorney (previously filed) |
|
July 10, 2026 |
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