Form 485APOS SSGA Active Trust
As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 26, 2025
Securities Act File No. 333-173276
Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-22542
Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-22542
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
| UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
☒ |
| Pre-Effective Amendment No. Post-Effective Amendment No. 240 |
☒ |
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
| UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
☒ |
| Amendment No. 246 |
☒ |
SSGA Active Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
One Iron Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(617) 664-3920
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
Andrew J. DeLorme, Esq.
Chief Legal Officer
Chief Legal Officer
c/o SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
One Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
W. John McGuire, Esq.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
| ☐ |
immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 485, paragraph (b) |
| ☐ |
On _______________ pursuant to Rule 485, paragraph (b) |
| ☐ |
60 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485, paragraph (a)(1) |
| ☐ |
on _________________ pursuant to Rule 485, paragraph (a)(1) |
| ☒ |
75 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485, paragraph (a)(2) |
| ☐ |
on _________________ pursuant to Rule 485, paragraph (a)(2) |
If appropriate, check the following box:
| ☐ |
This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. 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 IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
Prospectus
[ ], 2025
SSGA Active Trust
State Street®
My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF ([ ])
State Street® My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF ([ ])
State Street® My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF ([ ])
State Street® My2030 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF ([ ])
State Street® My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF ([ ])
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or
disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Shares in the Funds are not
guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other agency of the U.S. Government, nor are shares deposits or obligations of any bank. It is possible
to lose money by investing in the Funds.
Fund
Summaries
State Street® My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
| Investment Objective |
| The State Street My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to maximize current income while seeking preservation of capital. |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund
(“Fund Shares”). You may pay other fees, such
as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
| Management fees |
[ ]% |
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
None |
| Other expenses1 |
[ ]% |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses |
[ ]% |
1
“Other
expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Example:
This Example
is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time
periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based
on these assumptions your costs would be:
| Year 1 |
Year 3 |
| $[
] |
$[
] |
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. The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio
turnover rate.
The Fund's Principal
Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser” or “SSGA FM”) invests at least 80% of the Fund's net assets
(plus borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds). The Fund will provide shareholders with at least sixty (60) days' notice prior to any change in its 80% investment policy. The Fund primarily invests in high yield corporate bonds maturing
in the year 2027, which may include bonds with embedded issuer call options falling within that year. The Fund may also invest in high yield corporate bonds with maturity dates
within six months prior to or after the Fund's target maturity year. An embedded issuer call option means that the bond's issuer has the right to redeem a bond prior to its designated maturity date. The Fund is part of the MyIncome suite of target maturity bond ETFs and is designed to
terminate on or about December 15, 2027, at which point the Fund will distribute its remaining net assets to shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation. The Fund does not seek
to distribute any predetermined amount at maturity.
The Fund primarily invests in U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds rated below investment
grade at the time of purchase. Below investment grade is defined as bonds rated BB+ or lower by S&P Global Ratings and/or Fitch Ratings Inc., Ba1 or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or equivalent ratings by another registered nationally recognized
1
statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or, if unrated by an NRSRO, of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net
assets in corporate bonds rated investment grade at the time of purchase. As of the date of this Prospectus, it is expected that a significant portion of the Fund will comprise
securities of companies in the financial, industrial and utilities sectors, although this may change from time to time.
The Fund may use derivative instruments (primarily futures contracts, interest rate and
credit default swaps, and options on treasury futures) to manage yield, interest rate exposure (also known as duration), weighted average maturity, and exposure to credit quality.
In the Fund's target maturity year, proceeds from corporate bonds maturing prior to the Fund's liquidation date may be
reinvested in cash and cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, shares of money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in corporate bonds to the extent possible;
however, leading up to the Fund's target maturity date, the Fund's cash and cash equivalents holdings may increase and the Fund's investment in high yield corporate bonds may be
less than 80% of the Fund's net assets.
The Adviser actively manages
the Fund using a risk-aware approach focusing on bottom-up security selection to construct a portfolio that seeks to overweight the most attractive sectors and issuers. The Adviser
chooses individual securities identified for investment through analyzing relative value, issuer fundamentals, liquidity, price trends and other factors which are supported by the performance of similar instruments through economic and market cycles.
The Adviser may consider selling a security when one of the selection characteristics no
longer applies, when the Adviser believes that the valuation has become excessive, or when more attractive alternatives are identified. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities.
The Fund should not be confused with a target date fund, which has assets that are managed according to a particular investment strategy that converts fund assets to conservative investments over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will
change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks
inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not
limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and
adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, trade policy changes or disputes, the threat or
actual imposition of tariffs, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following:
market fluctuations, changes in interest rates, actual or perceived inability or unwillingness of issuers, guarantors or liquidity providers to make scheduled principal or interest payments, or illiquidity in debt securities markets. To the
extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. A rising interest rate environment may cause the value of
the Fund's fixed income securities to decrease, an adverse impact on the liquidity of the Fund's fixed income securities, and increased volatility of the fixed income markets.
During periods when interest rates are at low levels, the Fund's yield can be low, and the Fund may have a negative yield (i.e., it may lose money on an operating basis). To the extent that interest rates fall, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially
faster than originally anticipated. If the principal on a debt obligation is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. During periods of falling interest
rates, the income received by the Fund may decline. Changes in interest rates will likely have a greater effect on the values of debt securities of longer durations. Returns on investments in debt securities could trail the returns on
other investment options, including investments in equity securities.
Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk: Lower-quality debt securities (“high
yield” or “junk” bonds) are considered predominantly speculative, and can involve a substantially greater risk of default than higher quality debt
securities. Issuers of lower-quality debt securities may have substantially greater risk of
2
insolvency or bankruptcy than
issuers of higher-quality debt securities. They can be illiquid, and their values can have significant volatility and may decline significantly over short periods of time.
Lower-quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general.
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and
Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market
at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value (NAV) per share and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the NAV per share (premium) or less than the NAV per share
(discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines.
Declining Yield Risk: Leading up to the Fund's target maturity date as bonds mature, the Fund may
transition its portfolio to cash and cash equivalents. If so, the Fund's yield will generally tend to move toward the yield of cash and cash equivalents and thus may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by the Fund and/or prevailing yields
for bonds in the market.
Financial
Sector Risk: Financial services companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which may limit
both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can
charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets
generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of
financial institutions and markets. Certain events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies to incur large losses. Securities of financial services
companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as
the issuance of debt or equity securities), or cease operations. 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.
Futures Contract Risk: A futures contract is a standardized agreement
that calls for the purchase or sale of a specific asset at a specific price at a specific future time, or cash settlement of the terms of the contract. Transactions in futures contracts can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a
futures contract transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out the futures contract at a favorable
time or price. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular futures contract. In the event no such market exists, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions, and the Fund will be unable to terminate its exposure to
the futures contract. There is also a risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the futures contract and movements in the price of the underlying assets. The
counterparty to a futures contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations.
Income Risk: The Fund's income may decline due to falling interest rates or other factors. Issuers of
securities held by the Fund may call or redeem the securities during periods of falling interest rates, and the Fund would likely be required to reinvest in securities paying lower interest rates. If an obligation held by the Fund is prepaid, the
Fund may have to reinvest the prepayment in other obligations paying income at lower rates.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector
products and services in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage
and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved
in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in,
aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, another component of the industrial sector,
are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
3
Liquidity
Risk: Lack of a ready market, stressed market conditions, or restrictions on resale may limit the ability of
the Fund to sell a security at an advantageous time or price or at all. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. If the liquidity of the
Fund's holdings deteriorates, it may lead to differences between the market price of Fund Shares and the net asset value of Fund Shares, and could result in the Fund Shares being
less liquid. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may also limit the ability of the Fund to obtain cash to meet redemptions on a timely basis. In addition, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in any illiquid investments and/or the difficulty in purchasing and selling such
investments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain market or sector.
Management Risk: The Fund is actively managed. The Adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, relative
value, or potential appreciation of a particular sector, security, commodity or investment strategy may prove to be incorrect, and may cause the Fund to incur losses. There can be no assurance that the Adviser's investment techniques and
decisions will produce the desired results.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk: An investment in a money market fund is not a deposit of any bank and is
not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds seek to
preserve the value of their shares at $1.00 per share, although there can be no assurance that they will do so, and it is possible to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. A major or unexpected change in interest rates or a
decline in the credit quality of an issuer or entity providing credit support, an inactive trading market for money market instruments, or adverse market, economic, industry,
political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions could cause the share price of such a money market fund to fall below $1.00. Other money market funds price and transact at a “floating” NAV that will fluctuate along with changes in the market-based value of fund assets. Shares sold utilizing a floating NAV may be worth more or less than their original purchase price. Recent
changes in the regulation of money market funds may affect the operations and structures of money market funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a money market fund managed by the
Adviser, the Adviser may have an incentive to take into account the effect on such money market fund in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that money market fund. Although the Adviser takes steps to address the
conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund.
New Fund Risk: The Fund is new and there is no assurance that the Fund will grow quickly. When the Fund's
size is small, the Fund may experience low trading volume, which could lead to wider bid/ask spreads. In addition, the Fund may face the risk of being delisted if the Fund does not meet certain conditions of the listing exchange. Any resulting
liquidation of the Fund could cause elevated transaction costs for the Fund and negative tax consequences for its shareholders.
Non-Diversification Risk: As a “non-diversified” fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value
of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values
of shares of more diversified funds.
Options Risk: The Fund's successful use of options depends on the ability of the Adviser to forecast market movements correctly. When the
Fund purchases an option, it runs the risk that it will lose its entire investment in the option in a relatively short period of time, unless the Fund exercises the option or
enters into a closing sale transaction before the option's expiration. If the price of the underlying security does not rise (in the case of a call) or fall (in the case of a put) to an extent sufficient to cover the option premium and transaction costs, the Fund will lose
part or all of its investment in the option. The effective use of options also depends on the Fund's ability to terminate option positions at times when the Adviser deems it
desirable to do so. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect closing transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The sale of options by the Fund may create investment leverage.
Portfolio Turnover Risk: Frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities may result in higher Fund
expenses and may result in more significant distributions of short-term capital gains to investors, which are taxed to individuals as ordinary income.
Swaps Risk: A swap is a two-party contract that generally obligates the parties to exchange payments based on a specified reference
security, basket of securities, security index or index component. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and are
subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty's defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps may be difficult to value). It may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or
price, which may result in significant losses.
4
Utilities Sector
Risk: Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation,
environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the
changes in financing costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company's earnings and
dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and dividends when
costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These
utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of
their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less
profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively
impact profitability.
Among the risks that may affect utility
companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods;
restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at
reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes.
Valuation Risk: Certain portfolio holdings may be valued on the basis of
factors other than market quotations. This may occur more often in times of market turmoil or reduced liquidity. There are multiple methods that can be used to value a portfolio holding when market quotations are not readily available. The value established for any portfolio
holding at a point in time might differ from what would be produced using a different methodology or if it had been priced using market quotations. Portfolio holdings that are
valued using techniques other than market quotations, including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to
greater fluctuation in their valuations from one day to the next than if market quotations were used. In addition, there is no assurance that the Fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time, and it is possible that the Fund would incur a loss
because a portfolio position is sold or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by the Fund at that
time.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund's returns based on net assets and comparing the Fund's performance to the Index. When available, updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: www.statestreet.com/im.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are John Mele and Kyle Kelly.
John Mele is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager on the
Fundamental Active Investment Grade Credit Team. He joined the Adviser in 2016 through the acquisition of GE Asset Management Incorporated (“GEAM”) by the ultimate parent company of State Street Investment Management.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed
Income Beta Solutions Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as
“Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind
securities and/or cash. Creation Unit transactions may be conducted in exchange for cash only, which may cause the Fund to recognize capital gains and to pay out higher annual capital gain distributions to shareholders than if such transactions had been conducted in-kind.
5
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and
sold on the [Nasdaq Stock Market LLC] (the “Exchange”), other national securities exchanges,
electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset
value (“NAV”), Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund
Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable 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”). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at
www.statestreet.com/im.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through
a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser or
its affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale
or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over
another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
6
State Street® My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
| Investment Objective |
| The State Street My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to maximize current income while seeking preservation of capital. |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund
(“Fund Shares”). You may pay other fees, such
as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
| Management fees |
[ ]% |
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
None |
| Other expenses1 |
[ ]% |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses |
[ ]% |
1
“Other
expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| Year 1 |
Year 3 |
| $[
] |
$[
] |
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. The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser” or “SSGA FM”) invests at least 80% of the Fund's net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds rated below
investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds). The Fund will provide shareholders with at least sixty (60) days' notice prior to any change in its 80% investment
policy. The Fund primarily invests in high yield corporate bonds maturing in the year 2028, which may include bonds with embedded issuer call options falling within that year. The
Fund may also invest in high yield corporate bonds with maturity dates within six months prior to or after the Fund's target maturity year. An embedded issuer call option means that the bond's issuer has the right to redeem a bond prior to
its designated maturity date. The Fund is part of the MyIncome suite of target maturity bond ETFs and is designed to terminate on or about December 15, 2028, at which point the
Fund will distribute its remaining net assets to shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation. The Fund does not seek to distribute any predetermined amount at maturity.
The Fund primarily invests in U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds rated below investment grade at the time of purchase. Below investment grade is defined as bonds rated BB+ or lower by S&P Global Ratings and/or Fitch Ratings Inc.,
Ba1 or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or equivalent ratings by another registered nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or, if unrated by an NRSRO, of comparable quality as determined by the
7
Adviser. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net
assets in corporate bonds rated investment grade at the time of purchase. As of the date of this Prospectus, it is expected that a significant portion of the Fund will comprise
securities of companies in the financial, industrial and utilities sectors, although this may change from time to time.
The Fund may use derivative instruments (primarily futures contracts, interest rate and
credit default swaps, and options on treasury futures) to manage yield, interest rate exposure (also known as duration), weighted average maturity, and exposure to credit quality.
In the Fund's target maturity year, proceeds from corporate bonds maturing prior to the Fund's liquidation date may be
reinvested in cash and cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, shares of money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in corporate bonds to the extent possible;
however, leading up to the Fund's target maturity date, the Fund's cash and cash equivalents holdings may increase and the Fund's investment in high yield corporate bonds may be
less than 80% of the Fund's net assets.
The Adviser actively manages
the Fund using a risk-aware approach focusing on bottom-up security selection to construct a portfolio that seeks to overweight the most attractive sectors and issuers. The Adviser
chooses individual securities identified for investment through analyzing relative value, issuer fundamentals, liquidity, price trends and other factors which are supported by the performance of similar instruments through economic and market cycles.
The Adviser may consider selling a security when one of the selection characteristics no
longer applies, when the Adviser believes that the valuation has become excessive, or when more attractive alternatives are identified. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities.
The Fund should not be confused with a target date fund, which has assets that are managed according to a particular investment strategy that converts fund assets to conservative investments over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and
you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general
economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or
recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that
geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, trade policy changes or disputes, the threat or actual imposition of tariffs, natural disasters, the
spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following:
market fluctuations, changes in interest rates, actual or perceived inability or unwillingness of issuers, guarantors or liquidity providers to make scheduled principal or interest payments, or illiquidity in debt securities markets. To the
extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. A rising interest rate environment may cause the value of
the Fund's fixed income securities to decrease, an adverse impact on the liquidity of the Fund's fixed income securities, and increased volatility of the fixed income markets.
During periods when interest rates are at low levels, the Fund's yield can be low, and the Fund may have a negative yield (i.e., it may lose money on an operating basis). To the extent that interest rates fall, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially
faster than originally anticipated. If the principal on a debt obligation is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. During periods of falling interest
rates, the income received by the Fund may decline. Changes in interest rates will likely have a greater effect on the values of debt securities of longer durations. Returns on investments in debt securities could trail the returns on
other investment options, including investments in equity securities.
Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk: Lower-quality debt securities (“high
yield” or “junk” bonds) are considered predominantly speculative, and can involve a substantially greater risk of default than higher quality debt
securities. Issuers of lower-quality debt securities may have substantially greater risk of insolvency or bankruptcy than issuers of higher-quality debt securities. They can be
illiquid, and their values can have significant volatility and may decline significantly over short periods of time. Lower-quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general.
8
Fluctuation of
Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be
bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value (NAV) per share
and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the NAV per share (premium) or less than the NAV per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines.
Declining Yield Risk: Leading up to the Fund's target maturity date as bonds mature, the Fund may transition its portfolio to cash and cash
equivalents. If so, the Fund's yield will generally tend to move toward the yield of cash and cash equivalents and thus may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by
the Fund and/or prevailing yields for bonds in the market.
Financial Sector Risk: Financial services companies are subject to
extensive governmental regulation, which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must
maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased
competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. Certain
events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies
to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity
securities), or cease operations. 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.
Futures Contract Risk: A futures contract is a standardized agreement
that calls for the purchase or sale of a specific asset at a specific price at a specific future time, or cash settlement of the terms of the contract. Transactions in futures contracts can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a
futures contract transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out the futures contract at a favorable
time or price. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular futures contract. In the event no such market exists, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions, and the Fund will be unable to terminate its exposure to
the futures contract. There is also a risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the futures contract and movements in the price of the underlying assets. The
counterparty to a futures contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations.
Income Risk: The Fund's income may decline due to falling interest rates or other factors. Issuers of
securities held by the Fund may call or redeem the securities during periods of falling interest rates, and the Fund would likely be required to reinvest in securities paying lower interest rates. If an obligation held by the Fund is prepaid, the
Fund may have to reinvest the prepayment in other obligations paying income at lower rates.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector
products and services in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage
and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved
in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in,
aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, another component of the industrial sector,
are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market, stressed market conditions, or restrictions on resale may limit the ability of the Fund to sell a
security at an advantageous time or price or at all. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations
in market value. If the liquidity of the Fund's holdings deteriorates, it may lead to differences between the market price of Fund Shares and the
9
net asset value of Fund Shares,
and could result in the Fund Shares being less liquid. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may also limit the ability of the Fund to obtain cash to meet redemptions on a timely
basis. In addition, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in any illiquid investments and/or the difficulty in purchasing and selling such investments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain market or sector.
Management Risk: The Fund is actively managed. The Adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, relative value, or potential appreciation
of a particular sector, security, commodity or investment strategy may prove to be incorrect, and may cause the Fund to incur losses. There can be no assurance that the Adviser's
investment techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk: An investment in a money market fund
is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds seek to preserve the value of their shares at $1.00 per share, although there can be no assurance that they will do so, and it is
possible to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. A major or unexpected change in interest rates or a decline in the credit quality of an issuer or entity providing
credit support, an inactive trading market for money market instruments, or adverse market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions could cause the share price of such a money market fund to fall below $1.00. Other money market funds price and
transact at a
“floating” NAV that will fluctuate along with changes in the market-based value of fund assets. Shares sold utilizing a floating NAV
may be worth more or less than their original purchase price. Recent changes in the regulation of money market funds may affect the operations and structures of money market funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a money market fund managed by the Adviser, the Adviser may have an
incentive to take into account the effect on such money market fund in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that money market fund.
Although the Adviser takes steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund.
New Fund Risk: The Fund is new and there is no assurance that the Fund will grow quickly. When the Fund's size is small, the Fund may
experience low trading volume, which could lead to wider bid/ask spreads. In addition, the Fund may face the risk of being delisted if the Fund does not meet certain conditions of
the listing exchange. Any resulting liquidation of the Fund could cause elevated transaction costs for the Fund and negative tax consequences for its shareholders.
Non-Diversification Risk: As a
“non-diversified” fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a
relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds.
Options Risk: The Fund's successful use of options depends on the ability of the Adviser to forecast market
movements correctly. When the Fund purchases an option, it runs the risk that it will lose its entire investment in the option in a relatively short period of time, unless the Fund exercises the option or enters into a closing sale
transaction before the option's expiration. If the price of the underlying security does not rise (in the case of a call) or fall (in the case of a put) to an extent sufficient to cover the option premium and transaction costs, the Fund will lose
part or all of its investment in the option. The effective use of options also depends on the Fund's ability to terminate option positions at times when the Adviser deems it
desirable to do so. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect closing transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The sale of options by the Fund may create investment leverage.
Portfolio Turnover Risk: Frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities may result in higher Fund
expenses and may result in more significant distributions of short-term capital gains to investors, which are taxed to individuals as ordinary income.
Swaps Risk: A swap is a two-party contract that generally obligates the parties to exchange payments based on a specified reference
security, basket of securities, security index or index component. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and are
subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty's defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps may be difficult to value). It may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or
price, which may result in significant losses.
Utilities Sector Risk: Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government
regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate
changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the
10
changes in financing costs. This
factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company's earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and
dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These
utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of
their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less
profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively
impact profitability.
Among the risks that may affect utility
companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods;
restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at
reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes.
Valuation Risk: Certain portfolio holdings may be valued on the basis of
factors other than market quotations. This may occur more often in times of market turmoil or reduced liquidity. There are multiple methods that can be used to value a portfolio holding when market quotations are not readily available. The value established for any portfolio
holding at a point in time might differ from what would be produced using a different methodology or if it had been priced using market quotations. Portfolio holdings that are
valued using techniques other than market quotations, including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to
greater fluctuation in their valuations from one day to the next than if market quotations were used. In addition, there is no assurance that the Fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time, and it is possible that the Fund would incur a loss
because a portfolio position is sold or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by the Fund at that
time.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund's returns based on net assets and comparing the Fund's performance to the Index. When available, updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: www.statestreet.com/im.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are John Mele and Kyle Kelly.
John Mele is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager on the
Fundamental Active Investment Grade Credit Team. He joined the Adviser in 2016 through the acquisition of GE Asset Management Incorporated (“GEAM”) by the ultimate parent company of State Street Investment Management.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed
Income Beta Solutions Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as
“Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind
securities and/or cash. Creation Unit transactions may be conducted in exchange for cash only, which may cause the Fund to recognize capital gains and to pay out higher annual capital gain distributions to shareholders than if such transactions had been conducted in-kind.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the [Nasdaq Stock Market LLC] (the
“Exchange”), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your
broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value
(“NAV”), Fund
11
Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV
(premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable 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”). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at
www.statestreet.com/im.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through
a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser or
its affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale
or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over
another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
12
State Street® My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
| Investment Objective |
| The State Street My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to maximize current income while seeking preservation of capital. |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund
(“Fund Shares”). You may pay other fees, such
as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
| Management fees |
[ ]% |
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
None |
| Other expenses1 |
[ ]% |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses |
[ ]% |
1
“Other
expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| Year 1 |
Year 3 |
| $[
] |
$[
] |
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. The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser” or “SSGA FM”) invests at least 80% of the Fund's net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds rated below
investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds). The Fund will provide shareholders with at least sixty (60) days' notice prior to any change in its 80% investment
policy. The Fund primarily invests in high yield corporate bonds maturing in the year 2029, which may include bonds with embedded issuer call options falling within that year. The
Fund may also invest in high yield corporate bonds with maturity dates within six months prior to or after the Fund's target maturity year. An embedded issuer call option means that the bond's issuer has the right to redeem a bond prior to
its designated maturity date. The Fund is part of the MyIncome suite of target maturity bond ETFs and is designed to terminate on or about December 15, 2029, at which point the
Fund will distribute its remaining net assets to shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation. The Fund does not seek to distribute any predetermined amount at maturity.
The Fund primarily invests in U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds rated below investment grade at the time of purchase. Below investment grade is defined as bonds rated BB+ or lower by S&P Global Ratings and/or Fitch Ratings Inc.,
Ba1 or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or equivalent ratings by another registered nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or, if unrated by an NRSRO, of comparable quality as determined by the
13
Adviser. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net
assets in corporate bonds rated investment grade at the time of purchase. As of the date of this Prospectus, it is expected that a significant portion of the Fund will comprise
securities of companies in the financial, industrial and utilities sectors, although this may change from time to time.
The Fund may use derivative instruments (primarily futures contracts, interest rate and
credit default swaps, and options on treasury futures) to manage yield, interest rate exposure (also known as duration), weighted average maturity, and exposure to credit quality.
In the Fund's target maturity year, proceeds from corporate bonds maturing prior to the Fund's liquidation date may be
reinvested in cash and cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, shares of money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in corporate bonds to the extent possible;
however, leading up to the Fund's target maturity date, the Fund's cash and cash equivalents holdings may increase and the Fund's investment in high yield corporate bonds may be
less than 80% of the Fund's net assets.
The Adviser actively manages
the Fund using a risk-aware approach focusing on bottom-up security selection to construct a portfolio that seeks to overweight the most attractive sectors and issuers. The Adviser
chooses individual securities identified for investment through analyzing relative value, issuer fundamentals, liquidity, price trends and other factors which are supported by the performance of similar instruments through economic and market cycles.
The Adviser may consider selling a security when one of the selection characteristics no
longer applies, when the Adviser believes that the valuation has become excessive, or when more attractive alternatives are identified. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities.
The Fund should not be confused with a target date fund, which has assets that are managed according to a particular investment strategy that converts fund assets to conservative investments over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and
you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general
economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or
recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that
geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, trade policy changes or disputes, the threat or actual imposition of tariffs, natural disasters, the
spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following:
market fluctuations, changes in interest rates, actual or perceived inability or unwillingness of issuers, guarantors or liquidity providers to make scheduled principal or interest payments, or illiquidity in debt securities markets. To the
extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. A rising interest rate environment may cause the value of
the Fund's fixed income securities to decrease, an adverse impact on the liquidity of the Fund's fixed income securities, and increased volatility of the fixed income markets.
During periods when interest rates are at low levels, the Fund's yield can be low, and the Fund may have a negative yield (i.e., it may lose money on an operating basis). To the extent that interest rates fall, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially
faster than originally anticipated. If the principal on a debt obligation is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. During periods of falling interest
rates, the income received by the Fund may decline. Changes in interest rates will likely have a greater effect on the values of debt securities of longer durations. Returns on investments in debt securities could trail the returns on
other investment options, including investments in equity securities.
Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk: Lower-quality debt securities (“high
yield” or “junk” bonds) are considered predominantly speculative, and can involve a substantially greater risk of default than higher quality debt
securities. Issuers of lower-quality debt securities may have substantially greater risk of insolvency or bankruptcy than issuers of higher-quality debt securities. They can be
illiquid, and their values can have significant volatility and may decline significantly over short periods of time. Lower-quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general.
14
Fluctuation of
Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be
bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value (NAV) per share
and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the NAV per share (premium) or less than the NAV per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines.
Declining Yield Risk: Leading up to the Fund's target maturity date as bonds mature, the Fund may transition its portfolio to cash and cash
equivalents. If so, the Fund's yield will generally tend to move toward the yield of cash and cash equivalents and thus may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by
the Fund and/or prevailing yields for bonds in the market.
Financial Sector Risk: Financial services companies are subject to
extensive governmental regulation, which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must
maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased
competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. Certain
events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies
to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity
securities), or cease operations. 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.
Futures Contract Risk: A futures contract is a standardized agreement
that calls for the purchase or sale of a specific asset at a specific price at a specific future time, or cash settlement of the terms of the contract. Transactions in futures contracts can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a
futures contract transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out the futures contract at a favorable
time or price. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular futures contract. In the event no such market exists, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions, and the Fund will be unable to terminate its exposure to
the futures contract. There is also a risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the futures contract and movements in the price of the underlying assets. The
counterparty to a futures contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations.
Income Risk: The Fund's income may decline due to falling interest rates or other factors. Issuers of
securities held by the Fund may call or redeem the securities during periods of falling interest rates, and the Fund would likely be required to reinvest in securities paying lower interest rates. If an obligation held by the Fund is prepaid, the
Fund may have to reinvest the prepayment in other obligations paying income at lower rates.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector
products and services in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage
and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved
in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in,
aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, another component of the industrial sector,
are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market, stressed market conditions, or restrictions on resale may limit the ability of the Fund to sell a
security at an advantageous time or price or at all. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations
in market value. If the liquidity of the Fund's holdings deteriorates, it may lead to differences between the market price of Fund Shares and the
15
net asset value of Fund Shares,
and could result in the Fund Shares being less liquid. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may also limit the ability of the Fund to obtain cash to meet redemptions on a timely
basis. In addition, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in any illiquid investments and/or the difficulty in purchasing and selling such investments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain market or sector.
Management Risk: The Fund is actively managed. The Adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, relative value, or potential appreciation
of a particular sector, security, commodity or investment strategy may prove to be incorrect, and may cause the Fund to incur losses. There can be no assurance that the Adviser's
investment techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk: An investment in a money market fund
is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds seek to preserve the value of their shares at $1.00 per share, although there can be no assurance that they will do so, and it is
possible to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. A major or unexpected change in interest rates or a decline in the credit quality of an issuer or entity providing
credit support, an inactive trading market for money market instruments, or adverse market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions could cause the share price of such a money market fund to fall below $1.00. Other money market funds price and
transact at a
“floating” NAV that will fluctuate along with changes in the market-based value of fund assets. Shares sold utilizing a floating NAV
may be worth more or less than their original purchase price. Recent changes in the regulation of money market funds may affect the operations and structures of money market funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a money market fund managed by the Adviser, the Adviser may have an
incentive to take into account the effect on such money market fund in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that money market fund.
Although the Adviser takes steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund.
New Fund Risk: The Fund is new and there is no assurance that the Fund will grow quickly. When the Fund's size is small, the Fund may
experience low trading volume, which could lead to wider bid/ask spreads. In addition, the Fund may face the risk of being delisted if the Fund does not meet certain conditions of
the listing exchange. Any resulting liquidation of the Fund could cause elevated transaction costs for the Fund and negative tax consequences for its shareholders.
Non-Diversification Risk: As a
“non-diversified” fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a
relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds.
Options Risk: The Fund's successful use of options depends on the ability of the Adviser to forecast market
movements correctly. When the Fund purchases an option, it runs the risk that it will lose its entire investment in the option in a relatively short period of time, unless the Fund exercises the option or enters into a closing sale
transaction before the option's expiration. If the price of the underlying security does not rise (in the case of a call) or fall (in the case of a put) to an extent sufficient to cover the option premium and transaction costs, the Fund will lose
part or all of its investment in the option. The effective use of options also depends on the Fund's ability to terminate option positions at times when the Adviser deems it
desirable to do so. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect closing transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The sale of options by the Fund may create investment leverage.
Portfolio Turnover Risk: Frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities may result in higher Fund
expenses and may result in more significant distributions of short-term capital gains to investors, which are taxed to individuals as ordinary income.
Swaps Risk: A swap is a two-party contract that generally obligates the parties to exchange payments based on a specified reference
security, basket of securities, security index or index component. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and are
subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty's defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps may be difficult to value). It may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or
price, which may result in significant losses.
Utilities Sector Risk: Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government
regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate
changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the
16
changes in financing costs. This
factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company's earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and
dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These
utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of
their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less
profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively
impact profitability.
Among the risks that may affect utility
companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods;
restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at
reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes.
Valuation Risk: Certain portfolio holdings may be valued on the basis of
factors other than market quotations. This may occur more often in times of market turmoil or reduced liquidity. There are multiple methods that can be used to value a portfolio holding when market quotations are not readily available. The value established for any portfolio
holding at a point in time might differ from what would be produced using a different methodology or if it had been priced using market quotations. Portfolio holdings that are
valued using techniques other than market quotations, including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to
greater fluctuation in their valuations from one day to the next than if market quotations were used. In addition, there is no assurance that the Fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time, and it is possible that the Fund would incur a loss
because a portfolio position is sold or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by the Fund at that
time.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund's returns based on net assets and comparing the Fund's performance to the Index. When available, updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: www.statestreet.com/im.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are John Mele and Kyle Kelly.
John Mele is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager on the
Fundamental Active Investment Grade Credit Team. He joined the Adviser in 2016 through the acquisition of GE Asset Management Incorporated (“GEAM”) by the ultimate parent company of State Street Investment Management.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed
Income Beta Solutions Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as
“Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind
securities and/or cash. Creation Unit transactions may be conducted in exchange for cash only, which may cause the Fund to recognize capital gains and to pay out higher annual capital gain distributions to shareholders than if such transactions had been conducted in-kind.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the [Nasdaq Stock Market LLC] (the
“Exchange”), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your
broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value
(“NAV”), Fund
17
Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV
(premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable 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”). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at
www.statestreet.com/im.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through
a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser or
its affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale
or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over
another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
18
State Street® My2030 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
| Investment Objective |
| The State Street My2030 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to maximize current income while seeking preservation of capital. |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund
(“Fund Shares”). You may pay other fees, such
as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
| Management fees |
[ ]% |
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
None |
| Other expenses1 |
[ ]% |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses |
[ ]% |
1
“Other
expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| Year 1 |
Year 3 |
| $[
] |
$[
] |
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. The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser” or “SSGA FM”) invests at least 80% of the Fund's net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds rated below
investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds). The Fund will provide shareholders with at least sixty (60) days' notice prior to any change in its 80% investment
policy. The Fund primarily invests in high yield corporate bonds maturing in the year 2030, which may include bonds with embedded issuer call options falling within that year. The
Fund may also invest in high yield corporate bonds with maturity dates within six months prior to or after the Fund's target maturity year. An embedded issuer call option means that the bond's issuer has the right to redeem a bond prior to
its designated maturity date. The Fund is part of the MyIncome suite of target maturity bond ETFs and is designed to terminate on or about December 15, 2030, at which point the
Fund will distribute its remaining net assets to shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation. The Fund does not seek to distribute any predetermined amount at maturity.
The Fund primarily invests in U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds rated below investment grade at the time of purchase. Below investment grade is defined as bonds rated BB+ or lower by S&P Global Ratings and/or Fitch Ratings Inc.,
Ba1 or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or equivalent ratings by another registered nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or, if unrated by an NRSRO, of comparable quality as determined by the
19
Adviser. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net
assets in corporate bonds rated investment grade at the time of purchase. As of the date of this Prospectus, it is expected that a significant portion of the Fund will comprise
securities of companies in the financial, industrial and utilities sectors, although this may change from time to time.
The Fund may use derivative instruments (primarily futures contracts, interest rate and
credit default swaps, and options on treasury futures) to manage yield, interest rate exposure (also known as duration), weighted average maturity, and exposure to credit quality.
In the Fund's target maturity year, proceeds from corporate bonds maturing prior to the Fund's liquidation date may be
reinvested in cash and cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, shares of money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in corporate bonds to the extent possible;
however, leading up to the Fund's target maturity date, the Fund's cash and cash equivalents holdings may increase and the Fund's investment in high yield corporate bonds may be
less than 80% of the Fund's net assets.
The Adviser actively manages
the Fund using a risk-aware approach focusing on bottom-up security selection to construct a portfolio that seeks to overweight the most attractive sectors and issuers. The Adviser
chooses individual securities identified for investment through analyzing relative value, issuer fundamentals, liquidity, price trends and other factors which are supported by the performance of similar instruments through economic and market cycles.
The Adviser may consider selling a security when one of the selection characteristics no
longer applies, when the Adviser believes that the valuation has become excessive, or when more attractive alternatives are identified. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities.
The Fund should not be confused with a target date fund, which has assets that are managed according to a particular investment strategy that converts fund assets to conservative investments over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and
you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general
economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or
recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that
geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, trade policy changes or disputes, the threat or actual imposition of tariffs, natural disasters, the
spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following:
market fluctuations, changes in interest rates, actual or perceived inability or unwillingness of issuers, guarantors or liquidity providers to make scheduled principal or interest payments, or illiquidity in debt securities markets. To the
extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. A rising interest rate environment may cause the value of
the Fund's fixed income securities to decrease, an adverse impact on the liquidity of the Fund's fixed income securities, and increased volatility of the fixed income markets.
During periods when interest rates are at low levels, the Fund's yield can be low, and the Fund may have a negative yield (i.e., it may lose money on an operating basis). To the extent that interest rates fall, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially
faster than originally anticipated. If the principal on a debt obligation is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. During periods of falling interest
rates, the income received by the Fund may decline. Changes in interest rates will likely have a greater effect on the values of debt securities of longer durations. Returns on investments in debt securities could trail the returns on
other investment options, including investments in equity securities.
Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk: Lower-quality debt securities (“high
yield” or “junk” bonds) are considered predominantly speculative, and can involve a substantially greater risk of default than higher quality debt
securities. Issuers of lower-quality debt securities may have substantially greater risk of insolvency or bankruptcy than issuers of higher-quality debt securities. They can be
illiquid, and their values can have significant volatility and may decline significantly over short periods of time. Lower-quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general.
20
Fluctuation of
Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be
bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value (NAV) per share
and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the NAV per share (premium) or less than the NAV per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines.
Declining Yield Risk: Leading up to the Fund's target maturity date as bonds mature, the Fund may transition its portfolio to cash and cash
equivalents. If so, the Fund's yield will generally tend to move toward the yield of cash and cash equivalents and thus may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by
the Fund and/or prevailing yields for bonds in the market.
Financial Sector Risk: Financial services companies are subject to
extensive governmental regulation, which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must
maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased
competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. Certain
events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies
to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity
securities), or cease operations. 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.
Futures Contract Risk: A futures contract is a standardized agreement
that calls for the purchase or sale of a specific asset at a specific price at a specific future time, or cash settlement of the terms of the contract. Transactions in futures contracts can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a
futures contract transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out the futures contract at a favorable
time or price. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular futures contract. In the event no such market exists, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions, and the Fund will be unable to terminate its exposure to
the futures contract. There is also a risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the futures contract and movements in the price of the underlying assets. The
counterparty to a futures contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations.
Income Risk: The Fund's income may decline due to falling interest rates or other factors. Issuers of
securities held by the Fund may call or redeem the securities during periods of falling interest rates, and the Fund would likely be required to reinvest in securities paying lower interest rates. If an obligation held by the Fund is prepaid, the
Fund may have to reinvest the prepayment in other obligations paying income at lower rates.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector
products and services in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage
and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved
in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in,
aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, another component of the industrial sector,
are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market, stressed market conditions, or restrictions on resale may limit the ability of the Fund to sell a
security at an advantageous time or price or at all. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations
in market value. If the liquidity of the Fund's holdings deteriorates, it may lead to differences between the market price of Fund Shares and the
21
net asset value of Fund Shares,
and could result in the Fund Shares being less liquid. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may also limit the ability of the Fund to obtain cash to meet redemptions on a timely
basis. In addition, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in any illiquid investments and/or the difficulty in purchasing and selling such investments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain market or sector.
Management Risk: The Fund is actively managed. The Adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, relative value, or potential appreciation
of a particular sector, security, commodity or investment strategy may prove to be incorrect, and may cause the Fund to incur losses. There can be no assurance that the Adviser's
investment techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk: An investment in a money market fund
is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds seek to preserve the value of their shares at $1.00 per share, although there can be no assurance that they will do so, and it is
possible to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. A major or unexpected change in interest rates or a decline in the credit quality of an issuer or entity providing
credit support, an inactive trading market for money market instruments, or adverse market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions could cause the share price of such a money market fund to fall below $1.00. Other money market funds price and
transact at a
“floating” NAV that will fluctuate along with changes in the market-based value of fund assets. Shares sold utilizing a floating NAV
may be worth more or less than their original purchase price. Recent changes in the regulation of money market funds may affect the operations and structures of money market funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a money market fund managed by the Adviser, the Adviser may have an
incentive to take into account the effect on such money market fund in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that money market fund.
Although the Adviser takes steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund.
New Fund Risk: The Fund is new and there is no assurance that the Fund will grow quickly. When the Fund's size is small, the Fund may
experience low trading volume, which could lead to wider bid/ask spreads. In addition, the Fund may face the risk of being delisted if the Fund does not meet certain conditions of
the listing exchange. Any resulting liquidation of the Fund could cause elevated transaction costs for the Fund and negative tax consequences for its shareholders.
Non-Diversification Risk: As a
“non-diversified” fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a
relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds.
Options Risk: The Fund's successful use of options depends on the ability of the Adviser to forecast market
movements correctly. When the Fund purchases an option, it runs the risk that it will lose its entire investment in the option in a relatively short period of time, unless the Fund exercises the option or enters into a closing sale
transaction before the option's expiration. If the price of the underlying security does not rise (in the case of a call) or fall (in the case of a put) to an extent sufficient to cover the option premium and transaction costs, the Fund will lose
part or all of its investment in the option. The effective use of options also depends on the Fund's ability to terminate option positions at times when the Adviser deems it
desirable to do so. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect closing transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The sale of options by the Fund may create investment leverage.
Portfolio Turnover Risk: Frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities may result in higher Fund
expenses and may result in more significant distributions of short-term capital gains to investors, which are taxed to individuals as ordinary income.
Swaps Risk: A swap is a two-party contract that generally obligates the parties to exchange payments based on a specified reference
security, basket of securities, security index or index component. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and are
subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty's defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps may be difficult to value). It may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or
price, which may result in significant losses.
Utilities Sector Risk: Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government
regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate
changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the
22
changes in financing costs. This
factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company's earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and
dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These
utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of
their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less
profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively
impact profitability.
Among the risks that may affect utility
companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods;
restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at
reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes.
Valuation Risk: Certain portfolio holdings may be valued on the basis of
factors other than market quotations. This may occur more often in times of market turmoil or reduced liquidity. There are multiple methods that can be used to value a portfolio holding when market quotations are not readily available. The value established for any portfolio
holding at a point in time might differ from what would be produced using a different methodology or if it had been priced using market quotations. Portfolio holdings that are
valued using techniques other than market quotations, including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to
greater fluctuation in their valuations from one day to the next than if market quotations were used. In addition, there is no assurance that the Fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time, and it is possible that the Fund would incur a loss
because a portfolio position is sold or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by the Fund at that
time.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund's returns based on net assets and comparing the Fund's performance to the Index. When available, updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: www.statestreet.com/im.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are John Mele and Kyle Kelly.
John Mele is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager on the
Fundamental Active Investment Grade Credit Team. He joined the Adviser in 2016 through the acquisition of GE Asset Management Incorporated (“GEAM”) by the ultimate parent company of State Street Investment Management.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed
Income Beta Solutions Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as
“Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind
securities and/or cash. Creation Unit transactions may be conducted in exchange for cash only, which may cause the Fund to recognize capital gains and to pay out higher annual capital gain distributions to shareholders than if such transactions had been conducted in-kind.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the [Nasdaq Stock Market LLC] (the
“Exchange”), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your
broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value
(“NAV”), Fund
23
Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV
(premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable 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”). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at
www.statestreet.com/im.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through
a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser or
its affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale
or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over
another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
24
State Street® My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
| Investment Objective |
| The State Street My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to maximize current income while seeking preservation of capital. |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund
(“Fund Shares”). You may pay other fees, such
as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
| Management fees |
[ ]% |
| Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
None |
| Other expenses1 |
[ ]% |
| Total annual Fund operating expenses |
[ ]% |
1
“Other
expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell or hold all of your Fund Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| Year 1 |
Year 3 |
| $[
] |
$[
] |
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. The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus and, as a result, does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser” or “SSGA FM”) invests at least 80% of the Fund's net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds rated below
investment grade (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds). The Fund will provide shareholders with at least sixty (60) days' notice prior to any change in its 80% investment
policy. The Fund primarily invests in high yield corporate bonds maturing in the year 2031, which may include bonds with embedded issuer call options falling within that year. The
Fund may also invest in high yield corporate bonds with maturity dates within six months prior to or after the Fund's target maturity year. An embedded issuer call option means that the bond's issuer has the right to redeem a bond prior to
its designated maturity date. The Fund is part of the MyIncome suite of target maturity bond ETFs and is designed to terminate on or about December 15, 2031, at which point the
Fund will distribute its remaining net assets to shareholders pursuant to a plan of liquidation. The Fund does not seek to distribute any predetermined amount at maturity.
The Fund primarily invests in U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds rated below investment grade at the time of purchase. Below investment grade is defined as bonds rated BB+ or lower by S&P Global Ratings and/or Fitch Ratings Inc.,
Ba1 or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or equivalent ratings by another registered nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or, if unrated by an NRSRO, of comparable quality as determined by the
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Adviser. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net
assets in corporate bonds rated investment grade at the time of purchase. As of the date of this Prospectus, it is expected that a significant portion of the Fund will comprise
securities of companies in the financial, industrial and utilities sectors, although this may change from time to time.
The Fund may use derivative instruments (primarily futures contracts, interest rate and
credit default swaps, and options on treasury futures) to manage yield, interest rate exposure (also known as duration), weighted average maturity, and exposure to credit quality.
In the Fund's target maturity year, proceeds from corporate bonds maturing prior to the Fund's liquidation date may be
reinvested in cash and cash equivalents, including, but not limited to, shares of money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in corporate bonds to the extent possible;
however, leading up to the Fund's target maturity date, the Fund's cash and cash equivalents holdings may increase and the Fund's investment in high yield corporate bonds may be
less than 80% of the Fund's net assets.
The Adviser actively manages
the Fund using a risk-aware approach focusing on bottom-up security selection to construct a portfolio that seeks to overweight the most attractive sectors and issuers. The Adviser
chooses individual securities identified for investment through analyzing relative value, issuer fundamentals, liquidity, price trends and other factors which are supported by the performance of similar instruments through economic and market cycles.
The Adviser may consider selling a security when one of the selection characteristics no
longer applies, when the Adviser believes that the valuation has become excessive, or when more attractive alternatives are identified. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities.
The Fund should not be confused with a target date fund, which has assets that are managed according to a particular investment strategy that converts fund assets to conservative investments over time.
Principal Risks of Investing in the
Fund
As with all investments, there are certain risks of investing in the Fund. Fund Shares will change in value, and
you could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general
economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or
recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that
geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, trade policy changes or disputes, the threat or actual imposition of tariffs, natural disasters, the
spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following:
market fluctuations, changes in interest rates, actual or perceived inability or unwillingness of issuers, guarantors or liquidity providers to make scheduled principal or interest payments, or illiquidity in debt securities markets. To the
extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. A rising interest rate environment may cause the value of
the Fund's fixed income securities to decrease, an adverse impact on the liquidity of the Fund's fixed income securities, and increased volatility of the fixed income markets.
During periods when interest rates are at low levels, the Fund's yield can be low, and the Fund may have a negative yield (i.e., it may lose money on an operating basis). To the extent that interest rates fall, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially
faster than originally anticipated. If the principal on a debt obligation is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. During periods of falling interest
rates, the income received by the Fund may decline. Changes in interest rates will likely have a greater effect on the values of debt securities of longer durations. Returns on investments in debt securities could trail the returns on
other investment options, including investments in equity securities.
Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk: Lower-quality debt securities (“high
yield” or “junk” bonds) are considered predominantly speculative, and can involve a substantially greater risk of default than higher quality debt
securities. Issuers of lower-quality debt securities may have substantially greater risk of insolvency or bankruptcy than issuers of higher-quality debt securities. They can be
illiquid, and their values can have significant volatility and may decline significantly over short periods of time. Lower-quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general.
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Fluctuation of
Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts Risk: As with all exchange-traded funds, Fund Shares may be
bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of Fund Shares in the secondary market may differ from the Fund's daily net asset value (NAV) per share
and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the NAV per share (premium) or less than the NAV per share (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines.
Declining Yield Risk: Leading up to the Fund's target maturity date as bonds mature, the Fund may transition its portfolio to cash and cash
equivalents. If so, the Fund's yield will generally tend to move toward the yield of cash and cash equivalents and thus may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by
the Fund and/or prevailing yields for bonds in the market.
Financial Sector Risk: Financial services companies are subject to
extensive governmental regulation, which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must
maintain. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased
competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial institutions and markets. Certain
events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies
to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity
securities), or cease operations. 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.
Futures Contract Risk: A futures contract is a standardized agreement
that calls for the purchase or sale of a specific asset at a specific price at a specific future time, or cash settlement of the terms of the contract. Transactions in futures contracts can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a
futures contract transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out the futures contract at a favorable
time or price. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular futures contract. In the event no such market exists, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions, and the Fund will be unable to terminate its exposure to
the futures contract. There is also a risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the futures contract and movements in the price of the underlying assets. The
counterparty to a futures contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations.
Income Risk: The Fund's income may decline due to falling interest rates or other factors. Issuers of
securities held by the Fund may call or redeem the securities during periods of falling interest rates, and the Fund would likely be required to reinvest in securities paying lower interest rates. If an obligation held by the Fund is prepaid, the
Fund may have to reinvest the prepayment in other obligations paying income at lower rates.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector
products and services in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage
and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved
in this industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in,
aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, another component of the industrial sector,
are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market, stressed market conditions, or restrictions on resale may limit the ability of the Fund to sell a
security at an advantageous time or price or at all. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations
in market value. If the liquidity of the Fund's holdings deteriorates, it may lead to differences between the market price of Fund Shares and the
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net asset value of Fund Shares,
and could result in the Fund Shares being less liquid. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may also limit the ability of the Fund to obtain cash to meet redemptions on a timely
basis. In addition, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in any illiquid investments and/or the difficulty in purchasing and selling such investments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain market or sector.
Management Risk: The Fund is actively managed. The Adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, relative value, or potential appreciation
of a particular sector, security, commodity or investment strategy may prove to be incorrect, and may cause the Fund to incur losses. There can be no assurance that the Adviser's
investment techniques and decisions will produce the desired results.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk: An investment in a money market fund
is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds seek to preserve the value of their shares at $1.00 per share, although there can be no assurance that they will do so, and it is
possible to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. A major or unexpected change in interest rates or a decline in the credit quality of an issuer or entity providing
credit support, an inactive trading market for money market instruments, or adverse market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions could cause the share price of such a money market fund to fall below $1.00. Other money market funds price and
transact at a
“floating” NAV that will fluctuate along with changes in the market-based value of fund assets. Shares sold utilizing a floating NAV
may be worth more or less than their original purchase price. Recent changes in the regulation of money market funds may affect the operations and structures of money market funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a money market fund managed by the Adviser, the Adviser may have an
incentive to take into account the effect on such money market fund in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that money market fund.
Although the Adviser takes steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund.
New Fund Risk: The Fund is new and there is no assurance that the Fund will grow quickly. When the Fund's size is small, the Fund may
experience low trading volume, which could lead to wider bid/ask spreads. In addition, the Fund may face the risk of being delisted if the Fund does not meet certain conditions of
the listing exchange. Any resulting liquidation of the Fund could cause elevated transaction costs for the Fund and negative tax consequences for its shareholders.
Non-Diversification Risk: As a
“non-diversified” fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a
relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds.
Options Risk: The Fund's successful use of options depends on the ability of the Adviser to forecast market
movements correctly. When the Fund purchases an option, it runs the risk that it will lose its entire investment in the option in a relatively short period of time, unless the Fund exercises the option or enters into a closing sale
transaction before the option's expiration. If the price of the underlying security does not rise (in the case of a call) or fall (in the case of a put) to an extent sufficient to cover the option premium and transaction costs, the Fund will lose
part or all of its investment in the option. The effective use of options also depends on the Fund's ability to terminate option positions at times when the Adviser deems it
desirable to do so. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect closing transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The sale of options by the Fund may create investment leverage.
Portfolio Turnover Risk: Frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities may result in higher Fund
expenses and may result in more significant distributions of short-term capital gains to investors, which are taxed to individuals as ordinary income.
Swaps Risk: A swap is a two-party contract that generally obligates the parties to exchange payments based on a specified reference
security, basket of securities, security index or index component. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and are
subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty's defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps may be difficult to value). It may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or
price, which may result in significant losses.
Utilities Sector Risk: Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government
regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate
changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the
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changes in financing costs. This
factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company's earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and
dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These
utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of
their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less
profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively
impact profitability.
Among the risks that may affect utility
companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods;
restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at
reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes.
Valuation Risk: Certain portfolio holdings may be valued on the basis of
factors other than market quotations. This may occur more often in times of market turmoil or reduced liquidity. There are multiple methods that can be used to value a portfolio holding when market quotations are not readily available. The value established for any portfolio
holding at a point in time might differ from what would be produced using a different methodology or if it had been priced using market quotations. Portfolio holdings that are
valued using techniques other than market quotations, including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to
greater fluctuation in their valuations from one day to the next than if market quotations were used. In addition, there is no assurance that the Fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time, and it is possible that the Fund would incur a loss
because a portfolio position is sold or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by the Fund at that
time.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund's returns based on net assets and comparing the Fund's performance to the Index. When available, updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: www.statestreet.com/im.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are John Mele and Kyle Kelly.
John Mele is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager on the
Fundamental Active Investment Grade Credit Team. He joined the Adviser in 2016 through the acquisition of GE Asset Management Incorporated (“GEAM”) by the ultimate parent company of State Street Investment Management.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed
Income Beta Solutions Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Purchase and Sale Information
The Fund will issue (or redeem) Fund Shares to certain institutional investors (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of Fund Shares known as
“Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind
securities and/or cash. Creation Unit transactions may be conducted in exchange for cash only, which may cause the Fund to recognize capital gains and to pay out higher annual capital gain distributions to shareholders than if such transactions had been conducted in-kind.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the [Nasdaq Stock Market LLC] (the
“Exchange”), other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through your
broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund Shares trade at market prices rather than at net asset value
(“NAV”), Fund
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Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV
(premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling Fund Shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable 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”). Recent information regarding the Fund's NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at
www.statestreet.com/im.
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through
a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. Any withdrawals made from a tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund Shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser or
its affiliates may pay the financial intermediary for certain activities related to the Fund, including educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems, or other services related to the sale
or promotion of the Fund. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over
another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
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Additional Strategies
Information
Principal
Strategies
Please see each Fund's respective “The Fund's Principal Investment
Strategy” section under
“Fund Summaries” above for a discussion of its principal investment strategies. The Funds may invest in various types of securities and
engage in various investment techniques which are not the principal focus of the Funds and therefore are not described in this Prospectus. These securities, techniques and practices, together with their risks, are described in the Statement of
Additional Information (the
“SAI”) which you may obtain free of charge by contacting shareholder services (see the back cover of this Prospectus for the
address and phone number).
Bond Ladders. The fixed-income investment technique of building exposure to a portfolio of bonds with
various maturities, through investment in the Funds, and other MyIncome ETFs, is called a bond ladder. Ladders may help create predictable streams of income, may reduce exposure to volatile stocks, and manage some potential risks from changing
interest rates; however, such outcomes are not guaranteed.
Each Fund
has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in corporate bonds that are rated
below investment grade. A Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any change in this non-fundamental 80% investment policy. The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of SSGA Active Trust (the “Trust”) may change each Fund's investment
objective, investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise noted in this Prospectus or in the SAI.
Non-Principal Strategies
Temporary Defensive Positions. In response to actual or perceived adverse market, economic, political, or
other conditions, a Fund may (but will not necessarily), without notice, depart from its principal investment strategies by temporarily investing for defensive purposes. Temporary defensive positions may include, but are not limited to, cash, cash
equivalents, U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities, money market funds, and high-quality debt investments. If a Fund invests for
defensive purposes, it may not achieve its investment objective. In addition, the defensive strategy may not work as intended.
Borrowing Money. Each Fund may borrow money from a bank as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”) or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund, but only for temporary or emergency purposes.
The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging,
mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (not including temporary borrowings not in excess of 5% of its total assets). Each Fund may also invest in reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions. Consistent with
a rule under the 1940 Act, each Fund may treat such investments as either borrowings or derivatives transactions. To the extent a Fund treats reverse repurchase agreements or
similar financing transactions as borrowings, such investments will also be included in the 33 1/3% limit.
Lending of Securities. Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 40% of the value of its net assets via a securities
lending program through its securities lending agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street” or the “Lending Agent”), to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions desiring to borrow securities to complete transactions and for other
purposes. A securities lending program allows a Fund to receive a portion of the income generated by lending its securities and investing the respective collateral. A Fund will
receive collateral for each loaned security which is at least equal to the market value of that security, marked to market each trading day. To the extent a Fund receives cash collateral, as of the date of this Prospectus, the Adviser expects to invest such cash
collateral in a fund managed by the Adviser that invests in U.S. dollar-denominated, short-term, high quality debt obligations, including the following: a broad range of money market instruments; certificates of deposit and time deposits
of U.S. and foreign banks; commercial paper and other high quality obligations of U.S. or foreign companies; asset-backed securities; mortgage-related securities; repurchase
agreements; and shares of money market funds. With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the borrower may be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. A Fund is compensated by the difference between the amount earned on the reinvestment of cash
collateral and the fee paid to the borrower. In the case of collateral other than cash, a Fund is compensated by
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a fee paid by the borrower equal to a percentage
of the market value of the loaned securities. In the securities lending program, the borrower generally has the right to vote the loaned securities; however, a Fund may call loans
to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the Fund's economic interest in the investment is to be voted upon. Security loans may be terminated at any time by a Fund.
Additional Risk Information
The following section provides information regarding the principal risks identified under “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” in each Fund Summary along with additional risk information. Risk information is applicable to all Funds.
Principal Risks
Debt Securities Risk. The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following:
market fluctuations, changes in interest rates, actual or perceived inability or unwillingness of issuers, guarantors or liquidity providers to make scheduled principal or interest payments or illiquidity in debt securities markets. To the extent that
interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. A rising interest rate environment may cause the value of a Fund's fixed
income securities to decrease, a decline in a Fund's income and yield, an adverse impact on the liquidity of a Fund's fixed income securities, and increased volatility of the fixed income markets. During periods when interest rates are at low
levels, a Fund's yield can be low, and a Fund may have a negative yield (i.e., it may lose money on an operating basis). To the extent that interest rates fall, certain underlying
obligations may be paid off substantially faster than originally anticipated. If the principal on a debt obligation is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may
have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. During periods of falling interest rates, the income received by a Fund may decline. During inflationary periods, the U.S. Federal Reserve has, in past practice, raised interest
rates in an effort to combat these high levels of inflation. High levels of inflation and/or a significantly changing interest rate environment can lead to heightened levels of
volatility and reduced liquidity. Changes in interest rates will likely have a greater effect on the values of debt securities of longer durations. Returns on investments in debt
securities could trail the returns on other investment options, including investments in equity securities.
Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment-grade and unrated securities of comparable credit quality (commonly known as “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) lack strong investment-grade
characteristics, are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's continuing ability to make
principal and interest payments, and are subject to greater levels of credit, liquidity and market risk than higher-rated securities. They can involve a substantially greater risk of default than higher-rated securities, and their values can
decline significantly over short periods of time. Issuers of lower-quality debt securities may have substantially greater risk of insolvency or bankruptcy than issuers of
higher-quality debt securities. In the event the issuer of a debt security held by a Fund defaults on its payments or becomes insolvent or bankrupt, the Fund may not receive the return it was promised on the investment and could lose its entire investment. The lower ratings of junk
bonds reflect a greater possibility that actual or perceived adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer or in general economic conditions, or an unanticipated rise in
interest rates, may impair the ability of the issuer to make payments of interest and principal. If this were to occur, the values of such securities held by a Fund may fall substantially and a Fund could lose some or all of the value of its investment. Lower-quality debt securities
tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general, than higher quality debt securities. The market for lower quality debt securities
can be less liquid than for higher quality debt securities, especially during periods of recession or general market decline, which could make it difficult at times for a Fund to sell certain securities at prices used in calculating a Fund's net asset value. These securities may
have significant volatility.
Call/Prepayment Risk. Call/prepayment risk is the risk that an issuer
will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by a Fund earlier than expected or required. This may occur, for example, when there is a decline in interest rates, and an issuer of bonds or preferred stock redeems the bonds or stock in order to replace them with
obligations on which it is required to pay a lower interest or dividend rate. It may also occur when there is an
unanticipated increase in the rate at which mortgages or other receivables underlying mortgage- or asset-backed
securities held by a Fund are prepaid. In any such case, a Fund may be forced to invest the prepaid amounts in
lower-yielding investments, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income.
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Credit
Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer, guarantor or liquidity provider of a fixed-income security held by a Fund may be unable or unwilling, or may be perceived (whether by market participants, ratings agencies, pricing services or
otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. It includes the risk that the security will be
downgraded by a credit rating agency; generally, lower credit quality issuers present higher credit risks. An actual or perceived decline in creditworthiness of an issuer of a fixed-income security held by a Fund may result in a decrease in the value of the security. It is possible that
the ability of an issuer to meet its obligations will decline substantially during the period when a Fund owns securities of the issuer or that the issuer will default on its
obligations or that the obligations of the issuer will be limited or restructured.
The credit rating assigned to any particular investment does not necessarily reflect the issuer's current financial condition and does not reflect an assessment of an investment's volatility or liquidity. Securities rated in the lowest
category of investment-grade are considered to have speculative characteristics. If a security held by a Fund loses its rating or its rating is downgraded, the Fund may nonetheless continue to hold the security in the discretion of the
Adviser. In the case of asset-backed or mortgage-related securities, changes in the actual or perceived ability of the obligors on the underlying assets or mortgages to make
payments of interest and/or principal may affect the values of those securities.
Declining Yield Risk. Leading up to a Fund's target maturity date as
bonds mature, the Fund may transition its portfolio to cash and cash equivalents. If so, the Fund's yield will generally tend to move toward the yield of cash and cash equivalents and thus may be lower than the yields of the bonds previously held by the Fund and/or prevailing yields for
bonds in the market.
Derivatives Risk. A derivative is a financial contract the value of which depends on, or is derived from,
the value of an underlying asset, interest rate, or index. Derivative transactions typically involve leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a loss greater than the principal amount invested, and a Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. Risks associated with derivative
instruments include potential changes in value in response to interest rate changes or other market developments or as a result of the counterparty's credit quality; the potential for the derivative transaction not to have the effect the
Adviser anticipated or a different or less favorable effect than the Adviser anticipated; the failure of the counterparty to the derivative transaction to perform its obligations under the transaction or to settle a trade; possible mispricing or
improper valuation of the derivative instrument; imperfect correlation in the value of a derivative with the asset, rate, or index underlying the derivative; the risk that a Fund may be required to post collateral or margin with its counterparty,
and will not be able to recover the collateral or margin in the event of the counterparty's insolvency or bankruptcy; the risk that a Fund will experience losses on its derivatives investments and on its other portfolio investments, even when the
derivatives investments may be intended in part or entirely to hedge those portfolio investments; the risks specific to the asset underlying the derivative instrument; lack of
liquidity for the derivative instrument, including, without limitation, absence of a secondary trading market; the potential for reduced returns to a Fund due to losses on the
transaction and an increase in volatility; the potential for the derivative transaction to have the effect of accelerating the recognition of gain; and legal risks arising from the documentation relating to the derivative transaction.
Futures Contract Risk. The risk of loss relating to the use of futures contracts is potentially unlimited. The ability to establish and close out
positions in futures contracts will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market. There is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange will exist for any
particular futures contract or at any particular time. In the event no such market exists, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions, and a Fund will be unable to terminate the futures contract. In using futures contracts, a Fund will be
reliant on the ability of the Adviser to predict market and price movements correctly; the skills needed to use such futures contracts successfully are different from those needed for traditional portfolio management. If a Fund uses futures
contracts for hedging purposes, there is a risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the futures contracts and movements in the securities or index
underlying the futures contracts or movements in the prices of the Fund's investments that are the subject of such hedge. The prices of futures contracts, for a number of reasons, may not correlate perfectly with movements in the securities or index underlying them. For example,
participants in the futures markets are subject to margin deposit requirements. Such requirements may cause investors to take actions with respect to their futures positions that
they would not otherwise take. The margin requirements in the futures markets may be less onerous than margin requirements in the securities markets in general, and as a result those markets may attract more speculators than the securities markets do.
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Increased participation by
speculators in those markets may cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortion, even a correct forecast of general market trends by the Adviser
still may not result in a successful futures activity over a very short time period. The risk of a position in a futures contract may be very large compared to the relatively low level of margin a Fund is required to deposit. A Fund will typically be required to
post margin with its futures commission merchant in connection with its transactions in futures contracts. In many cases, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract
may result in immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required margin deposit. A Fund will incur brokerage fees in connection with its futures transactions. In the event of an insolvency of the futures commission merchant or a clearing house, a Fund
may not be able to recover all (or any) of the margin it has posted with the futures commission merchant, or to realize the value of any increase in the price of its positions, or
it may experience a significant delay in doing so. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), certain foreign regulators, and many
futures exchanges have established limits referred to as “position limits” on the maximum net long or net
short positions that any person and certain affiliated entities may hold or control in a particular futures and options contract. In addition, federal position limits apply to swaps that are economically equivalent to futures contracts on certain
agricultural, metals and energy commodities. All positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, must be aggregated for purposes of complying with position limits. It is possible that the positions
of different clients managed by the Adviser may be aggregated for this purpose. Therefore, the trading decisions of the Adviser may have to be modified and positions held by a Fund
liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits. The modification of investment decisions or the elimination of open positions, if it occurs, may adversely affect the performance of a Fund. A violation of position limits could also lead to regulatory action
materially adverse to a Fund's investment strategy. The Fund may also be affected by other regimes, including
those of the European Union and United Kingdom, and trading venues that impose position limits on commodity
derivative contracts. An exchange may order a person who holds or controls a position in excess of a position
accountability level not to further increase its position, to comply with any prospective limit that exceeds the size of the position owned or controlled, or to reduce any open position that exceeds the position accountability level if the
exchange determines that such action is necessary to maintain an orderly market. Position accountability levels
could adversely affect a Fund's ability to establish and maintain positions in commodity futures contracts to which such levels apply, if the Fund were to trade in such contracts, and a Fund's ability to achieve its investment
objective.
Futures contracts traded on markets outside the U.S. are not generally subject to the same level of regulation by the CFTC
or other U.S. regulatory entities as contracts traded in the U.S., including without limitation as to the execution, delivery, and clearing of transactions. U.S. regulators neither
regulate the activities of a foreign exchange, nor have the power to compel enforcement of the rules of the foreign exchange or the laws of the foreign country in question. Margin and other payments made by a Fund may not be afforded the same protections as are
afforded those payments in the U.S., including in connection with the insolvency of an executing or clearing broker or a clearinghouse or exchange. Certain foreign futures
contracts may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. contracts.
Options Risk. The Funds' successful use of options depends on the
ability of the Adviser to forecast market movements correctly. For example, if a Fund were to write a call option on a security based on the Adviser's expectation that the price of the security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to
sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if a Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser's expectation that the price of the
underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price. When a Fund purchases an option, it runs the risk that it will lose its entire investment in the option in a
relatively short period of time, unless the Fund exercises the option or enters into a closing sale transaction before the option's expiration. If the price of the underlying
security does not rise (in the case of a call) or fall (in the case of a put) to an extent sufficient to cover the option premium and transaction costs, a Fund will lose part or
all of its investment in the option. This contrasts with an investment by a Fund in the underlying security, since the Fund will not realize a loss if the security's price does not change over a relatively short time period. The effective use
of options also depends on a Fund's ability to terminate option positions at times when the Adviser deems it desirable to do so. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to
effect closing transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The sale of options by a Fund may create investment leverage.
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Swaps Risk.
A swap is a two-party contract that generally obligates the parties to exchange payments based on a specified
reference security, basket of securities, security index or index component. Swaps can
involve greater risks than direct investment in securities because swaps may be leveraged and are subject to counterparty risk (e.g., the risk of a counterparty's
defaulting on the obligation or bankruptcy), credit risk and pricing risk (i.e., swaps
may be difficult to value). Swaps may also be considered illiquid. It may not be possible for a Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.
Counterparty Risk. A Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives
contracts and other transactions such as repurchase agreements or reverse repurchase agreements. A Fund's ability to profit from these types of investments and transactions will
depend on the willingness and ability of its counterparty to perform its obligations. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, a Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, resulting in a loss to
the Fund. A Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in an insolvency, bankruptcy, or other reorganization proceeding involving its counterparty (including
recovery of any collateral posted by it) and may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances. If a Fund holds collateral posted by its counterparty, it may be delayed or prevented from realizing on the collateral in the event of a bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding relating to the counterparty. Under applicable law or contractual provisions, including if a Fund enters into an investment or transaction with a financial
institution and such financial institution (or an affiliate of the financial institution) experiences financial difficulties, then the Fund may in certain situations be prevented or delayed from exercising its rights to terminate the investment or transaction, or to realize on any
collateral and may result in the suspension of payment and delivery obligations of the parties under such
investment or transactions or in another institution being substituted for that financial institution without the consent of the Fund. Further, a Fund may be subject to
“bail-in” risk under applicable law whereby, if required by the financial institution's authority, the financial institution's
liabilities could be written down, eliminated or converted into equity or an alternative instrument of ownership. A bail-in of a financial institution may result in a reduction in
value of some or all of its securities and, if a Fund holds such securities or has entered into a transaction with such a financial security when a bail-in occurs, such Fund may also be similarly impacted.
Leveraging Risk. Borrowing transactions, reverse repurchase agreements,
certain derivatives transactions, securities lending transactions and other investment transactions such as when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward commitment transactions may create investment leverage. If a Fund engages in transactions that have a leveraging
effect on the Fund's investment portfolio, the value of the Fund will be potentially more volatile and all other risks will tend to be compounded. This is because leverage
generally creates investment risk with respect to a larger base of assets than a Fund would otherwise have and so magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund's underlying assets. The use of leverage is considered to be a speculative investment practice and
may result in losses to a Fund. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of leverage may cause a Fund to
liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy repayment, interest payment, or margin obligations or to meet asset coverage requirements.
Financial Sector
Risk. Financial services companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which
may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain.
Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change or due to increased competition. In addition, deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause
an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, thereby affecting a wide range of financial
institutions and markets. Certain events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause
certain financial services companies to incur large losses. Securities of financial services companies may experience a dramatic decline in value when such companies experience substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, take
action to raise capital (such as the issuance of debt or equity securities), or cease operations. 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.
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Fluctuation of Net Asset Value,
Share Premiums and Discounts Risk. The NAV of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market
value of a Fund's securities holdings. The market prices of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in a Fund's net asset value and supply and demand of
Fund Shares on the Exchange. It cannot be predicted whether Fund Shares will trade below, at or above their net asset value. Each Fund and its holdings in ETFs are subject to the same market forces. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact
that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for Fund Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities trading individually or in the aggregate at any
point in time. The market prices of Fund Shares may deviate significantly from the net asset value of Fund Shares
during periods of market volatility. However, given that Fund Shares can be created and redeemed in Creation Units (unlike shares of many closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to,
their net asset value), the Adviser believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of Fund Shares should not be sustained over long periods. While the
creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that Fund Shares normally will trade close to a Fund's net asset value, disruptions to creations and redemptions or market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from such Fund's net asset value. If an investor
purchases Fund Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value of Fund Shares or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the net asset value of Fund Shares, then the investor may sustain
losses.
Income Risk. A
Fund's income may decline due to falling interest rates or other factors. Issuers of securities held by a Fund may call or redeem the securities during periods of falling interest
rates, and the Fund would likely be required to reinvest in securities paying lower interest rates. If an obligation held by a Fund is prepaid, the Fund may have to reinvest the prepayment in other obligations paying income at lower rates. A reduction in the income earned by a Fund may
limit the Fund's ability to achieve its objective.
Extension Risk.
During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of slower-than-expected principal payments. This may increase the
period of time during which an investment earns a below-market interest rate, increase the security's duration and reduce the value of the security. Extension risk may be heightened during periods of adverse economic conditions generally, as payment rates decline
due to higher unemployment levels and other factors.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that the securities held by a Fund will decline in
value because of increases in market interest rates. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security's price to changes in interest rates. Debt securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates,
usually making them more volatile than debt securities with shorter durations. For example, the value of a security with a duration of five years would be expected to decrease by
5% for every 1% increase in interest rates. Falling interest rates also create the potential for a decline in a Fund's income and yield. Interest-only and principal-only securities are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, which can affect not only their prices but can
also change the income flows and repayment assumptions about those investments. Variable and floating rate securities also generally increase or decrease in value in response to
changes in interest rates, although generally to a lesser degree than fixed-rate securities. A substantial increase in interest rates may also have an adverse impact on the liquidity of a security, especially those with longer durations. Interest rate changes can be sudden and
unpredictable, and are influenced by a number of factors, including government policy, monetary policy, inflation expectations, perceptions of risk, and supply and demand for
bonds. Changes in government or central bank policy, including changes in tax policy or changes in a central bank's implementation of specific policy goals, may have a substantial impact on interest rates. This could lead to heightened levels of interest rate, volatility and
liquidity risks for the fixed income markets generally and could have a substantial and immediate effect on the
values of a Fund's investments. There can be no guarantee that any particular government or central bank policy
will be continued, discontinued or changed, nor that any such policy will have the desired effect on interest rates.
Reinvestment Risk. Income from a Fund may decline when the Fund invests the proceeds from investment income, sales of portfolio securities or
matured, traded or called debt obligations. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, an issuer of debt obligations may exercise an option to redeem securities
prior to maturity, forcing a Fund to reinvest the proceeds in lower-yielding securities. A decline in income received by a Fund from its investments is likely to have a negative effect on the yield and total return of the Fund Shares.
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Industrial Sector Risk. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial
sector products and services in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental
damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Aerospace and defense companies, a component of the industrial sector, can be significantly affected by government spending policies because companies involved in this
industry rely, to a significant extent, on U.S. and foreign government demand for their products and services. Thus, the financial condition of, and investor interest in, aerospace and defense companies are heavily influenced by governmental
defense spending policies which are typically under pressure from efforts to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, another component of the
industrial sector, are cyclical and have occasional sharp price movements which may result from changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor agreements and insurance costs.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may not be able to dispose of investments readily
at a favorable time or prices (or at all) or at prices approximating those at which a Fund currently values them. For example, certain investments may be subject to restrictions on resale, may trade in the over-the-counter market or in limited volume, or may
not have an active trading market. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. It
may be difficult for a Fund to value illiquid investments accurately. The market for certain investments may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer. If the liquidity of a
Fund's holdings deteriorates, it may lead to differences between the market price of Fund Shares and the net asset value of Fund Shares, and could result in the Fund Shares being less liquid. Disposal of illiquid investments may entail
registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid investments. A Fund may seek to borrow money to meet its obligations (including among other things redemption obligations) if it is unable to dispose of
illiquid investments, resulting in borrowing expenses and possible leveraging of the Fund.
Management Risk. Each Fund is actively managed. The Adviser's judgments
about the attractiveness, relative value, or potential appreciation of a particular sector, security, commodity or investment strategy may prove to be incorrect, and may cause a Fund to incur losses. There can be no assurance that the Adviser's investment techniques and decisions will
produce the desired results.
Market Risk. Market prices of investments held by a Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A Fund's investments
are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile,
and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors, including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, inflation, changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers and general market liquidity. Even if general
economic conditions do not change, the value of an investment in a Fund could decline if the particular industries, sectors or companies in which the Fund invests do not perform well or are adversely affected by events. Further, legal,
political, regulatory and tax changes also may cause fluctuations in markets and securities prices. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, trade policy changes or disputes, the threat or actual
imposition of tariffs, natural disasters, public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on a Fund and its investments. Due to the interconnectedness of economies and financial markets throughout the world, whether or not a
Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic and financial difficulties, the value and liquidity of the Fund's
investments may be negatively affected. A widespread outbreak of an infectious illness, such as COVID-19, and efforts to contain its spread, may result in market volatility,
inflation, reduced liquidity of certain instruments, disruption in the trading of certain instruments, and systemic economic weakness. The foregoing could impact a Fund and its investments and result in disruptions to the services provided
to a Fund by its service providers.
Money Market Fund
Investment Risk. An investment in a money market fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds seek to preserve the value of their shares at $1.00 per share, although there can be no assurance
that they will do so, and it is possible to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. A major or unexpected change in interest rates or a decline in the credit quality of an issuer or entity providing credit support, an inactive trading market for money market instruments,
or adverse market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions could cause the share price of such a money market fund to fall below $1.00. It is
possible that such a money market fund will issue and redeem shares at $1.00 per share at times when the fair value of the money market fund's portfolio per
37
share is more or less than $1.00. None of State
Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, SSGA FM or their affiliates (collectively, the
“State Street Entities”) guarantee the value of an investment in a money market fund at $1.00 per share. Investors should have no expectation of
capital support to a money market fund from the State Street Entities. Other money market funds price and transact at a “floating” NAV that will fluctuate along with changes in the market-based value of fund assets. Shares sold utilizing a floating NAV
may be worth more or less than their original purchase price. Recent changes in the regulation of money market funds may affect the operations and structures of money market funds. A money market fund may be permitted or required to impose redemption fees during times of
market stress. To the extent a Fund invests in a money market fund managed by the Adviser, the Adviser may have an incentive to take into account the effect on such money market
fund in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that money market fund. Although the Adviser takes steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund.
New Fund Risk. The Funds are new and there is no assurance that a Fund
will grow quickly. When a Fund's size is small, the Fund may experience low trading volume, which could lead to wider bid/ask spreads. In addition, a Fund may face the risk of being delisted if the Fund does not meet certain conditions of the listing exchange. Any resulting
liquidation of a Fund could cause elevated transaction costs for the Fund and negative tax consequences for its
shareholders.
Non-Diversification Risk. As a
“non-diversified” fund, a Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent a Fund invests in a
relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of
issuers. The value of Fund Shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. A Fund may engage in frequent trading of its portfolio securities. Fund turnover
generally involves a number of direct and indirect costs and expenses to a Fund, including, for example, brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and bid/asked spreads, and transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestment in
other securities. The costs related to increased portfolio turnover have the effect of reducing a Fund's investment return, and the sale of securities by the Fund may result in the
realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains.
Utilities Sector Risk. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors,
liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors, rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs.
This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company's earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings
and dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more
similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and
their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable. In addition, natural disasters,
terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company's equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability.
Among the risks that may affect utility companies are the following: risks of increases in
fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the
difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the
effects of regulatory changes.
Valuation Risk. Certain portfolio holdings may be valued on the basis of factors other than market quotations. This may occur more often
in times of market turmoil or reduced liquidity. There are multiple methods that can be used to value a portfolio holding when market quotations are not readily available. The
value established for any portfolio holding at a point in time might differ from what would be produced using a different methodology or if it had been priced using market quotations. Portfolio holdings that are valued using techniques other than market quotations,
38
including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to greater fluctuation in their valuations from one day to the next than if market quotations
were used. Technological issues or other service disruption issues involving third-party service providers may cause a Fund to value its investments incorrectly. In addition, there
is no assurance that a Fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time, and it is possible that a Fund would incur a loss because a portfolio position is sold or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by a Fund at that
time.
Non-Principal Risks
Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. A Fund has a limited
number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants (“APs”), which are responsible for the creation and
redemption activity for a Fund. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Fund Shares may trade at a material discount to NAV
and possibly face delisting: (i) APs exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other APs step forward to perform these
services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.
Cash Transaction Risk. To the extent a Fund sells portfolio securities to meet some or all of a redemption
request with cash, the Fund may incur taxable gains or losses that it might not have incurred had it made redemptions entirely in-kind. As a result, a Fund may pay out higher annual capital gain distributions than if the in-kind redemption process was
used.
Conflicts of Interest Risk. An investment in a Fund may be subject to a number of actual or potential conflicts of interest. For example, the Adviser
or its affiliates may provide services to a Fund, such as securities lending agency services, custodial, administrative, bookkeeping, and accounting services, transfer agency and
shareholder servicing, securities brokerage services, and other services for which the Fund would compensate the Adviser and/or such affiliates. A Fund may invest in other pooled investment vehicles sponsored, managed, or otherwise affiliated with the
Adviser. There is no assurance that the rates at which a Fund pays fees or expenses to the Adviser or its affiliates, or the terms on which it enters into transactions with the Adviser or its affiliates will be the most favorable available in the
market generally or as favorable as the rates the Adviser makes available to other clients. Because of its financial interest, the Adviser may have an incentive to enter into transactions or arrangements on behalf of a Fund with itself or
its affiliates in circumstances where it might not have done so in the absence of that interest, provided that the Adviser will comply with applicable regulatory
requirements.
The Adviser and its affiliates serve as investment adviser
to other clients and may make investment decisions that may be different from those that will be made by the Adviser on behalf of the Funds. For example, the Adviser may provide
asset allocation advice to some clients that may include a recommendation to invest in or redeem from particular
issuers while not providing that same recommendation to all clients invested in the same or similar issuers. The
Adviser may (subject to applicable law) be simultaneously seeking to purchase (or sell) investments for a Fund and to sell (or purchase) the same investment for accounts, funds, or structured products for which it serves as asset manager, or
for other clients or affiliates. The Adviser and its affiliates may invest for clients in various securities that are senior, pari passu or junior to, or have interests different
from or adverse to, the securities that are owned by a Fund. The Adviser or its affiliates, in connection with its other business activities, may acquire material nonpublic confidential information that may restrict the Adviser from purchasing securities or selling securities for itself or its
clients (including the Funds) or otherwise using such information for the benefit of its clients or itself.
The foregoing does not purport to be a comprehensive list or complete explanation of all potential conflicts of interests which may affect a Fund. A Fund may encounter circumstances, or enter into transactions, in which conflicts of interest that are not listed or discussed above may arise.
The foregoing does not purport to be a comprehensive list or complete explanation of all potential conflicts of interests which may affect a Fund. A Fund may encounter circumstances, or enter into transactions, in which conflicts of interest that are not listed or discussed above may arise.
Costs of Buying and Selling Shares. Investors buying or selling Fund
Shares in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers, as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small
amounts of Fund Shares. In addition, secondary market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price that an investor is willing to pay for Fund Shares (the “bid” price) and the price at which an investor is
willing to sell Fund Shares (the
“ask” price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “spread” or “bid/ask
39
spread.” The bid/ask spread varies over time for Fund Shares based on trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if Fund Shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if Fund Shares have little trading
volume and market liquidity. Further, increased market volatility may cause increased bid/ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling Fund Shares, including bid/ask spreads,
frequent trading of Fund Shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in Fund Shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.
Cybersecurity Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on
computer systems to perform business and operational functions, funds (such as the Funds) and their service providers (including the Adviser) may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or
technological malfunctions. Furthermore, 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. In general, cyber-attacks are deliberate, but unintentional events may have similar effects. Cyber-attacks include, among
others, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, preventing legitimate users from accessing information or services on a website, releasing confidential information without authorization, and causing operational disruption.
Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, a Fund, the Adviser, a custodian, the transfer agent, or other affiliated or third-party service provider may adversely affect a Fund or its shareholders. For instance,
cyber-attacks or technical malfunctions may interfere with the processing of shareholder or other transactions, affect a Fund's ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential Fund information,
impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject a Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and additional
compliance costs. Cyber-attacks or technical malfunctions may render records of Fund assets and transactions, shareholder ownership of Fund Shares, and other data integral to the functioning of a Fund inaccessible or inaccurate or incomplete. A Fund may also incur substantial costs
for cybersecurity risk management in order to prevent cyber incidents in the future. A Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. While the Adviser has
established business continuity plans and systems designed to minimize the risk of cyber-attacks through the use of technology, processes and controls, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified, given
the evolving nature of this threat. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning could exacerbate these risks or result in cyber security incidents that implicate personal data. Each Fund relies on third-party service providers for
many of its day-to-day operations, and will be subject to the risk that the protections and protocols implemented by those service providers will be ineffective to protect the Fund from cyber-attack. The Adviser does not control the
cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by third-party service providers, and such third-party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Adviser or the Funds. Similar types of cybersecurity risks or technical
malfunctions also are present for issuers of securities in which each Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause a Fund's
investment in such securities to lose value.
Regulatory
Risk. Governmental and regulatory actions may have unexpected or adverse consequences on particular markets,
strategies, or investments, which may adversely impact a Fund and impair how it is managed. Policy and legislative changes in the United States and in other countries may affect
aspects of financial regulation, and may in some instances contribute to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the financial markets. The impact of these changes on the markets, and the practical implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time.
Securities Lending Risk. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed 40% of the value of its net assets. For these purposes,
net assets shall exclude the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan. Such loans may be terminated at any time. Any such loans must be continuously secured by
collateral maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by a Fund, marked to market each trading day. A Fund will receive the amount of all dividends, interest and other distributions on the loaned
securities; however, the borrower has the right to vote the loaned securities. A Fund will call loans to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the investment is to be voted upon. Efforts to recall such securities promptly may be unsuccessful,
especially for foreign securities or thinly traded securities. Securities lending involves the risk that the Fund may lose money because the borrower of the loaned securities fails
to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, a Fund may experience delays in recovering the securities or exercising its rights in the collateral. Loans are made only to borrowers that are deemed by the securities lending agent
to be of good financial standing. In a loan transaction, a Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities provided as collateral or acquired with cash
collateral. Each Fund will attempt to minimize this risk by limiting
40
the investment of cash collateral to high quality
instruments of short maturity either directly on behalf of the lending Fund or through one or more joint accounts or funds, which may include those managed by the Adviser. In
addition, a Fund will be subject to the risk that any income generated by lending its securities or reinvesting cash collateral is lower than any fees the Fund has agreed to pay a borrower. The Adviser will take into account the tax impact to shareholders
of substitute payments for dividends when overseeing a Fund's securities lending activity.
Trading Issues. Although Fund Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange and may be listed or traded on
U.S. and non-U.S. stock exchanges other than the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such Fund Shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Fund Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or
for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Fund Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Fund Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by
extraordinary market volatility pursuant to Exchange “circuit breaker” rules. Similar to the shares of
operating companies listed on a stock exchange, Fund Shares may be sold short and are therefore subject to the risk of increased volatility in the trading price of a Fund's shares. While each Fund expects that the ability of Authorized Participants to create and redeem Fund Shares at net asset
value should be effective in reducing any such volatility, there is no guarantee that it will eliminate the volatility associated with such short sales. There 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 or that Fund Shares will trade with any volume, or at all, on any stock exchange.
Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to each Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (“Investment Advisory Agreement”) between the Trust and the Adviser, and, subject to the oversight of the Board, is responsible for the investment
management of each Fund. The Adviser provides an investment management program for each Fund and manages the investment of each Fund's assets. In addition, the Adviser provides
administrative, compliance and general management services to each Fund. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Investment Management, which itself is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. The Adviser is registered with the SEC
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser and certain other affiliates of State Street Corporation make up State Street Investment Management, the
investment management arm of State Street Corporation. As of [ ], 2025, the Adviser managed approximately $[ ] trillion in assets and State Street Investment
Management managed approximately $[ ] trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal business address is One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
For the services provided to the Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreement, each Fund expects to pay the
Adviser the annual fees based on a percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets of [ ]%. With respect to each Fund, the management fee is reduced by any acquired fund fees and expenses attributable to the Fund's investments in other
investment companies (except acquired fund fees and expenses associated with holdings of acquired funds for cash management purposes).
From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its management fee. The
Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, acquired fund fees and expenses associated with holdings of acquired funds for cash management purposes, brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees
(including any Trustee's counsel fees), litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses.
SSGA FM, as the investment adviser for the Funds, may hire one or more sub-advisers to oversee the day-to-day investment
activities of the Funds. The sub-advisers are subject to oversight by the Adviser. The Adviser and the Trust have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, with the approval of the Board,
including a majority of the Independent Trustees, of the Trust, to retain and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated investment sub-advisers for a Fund without submitting the sub-advisory agreement to a vote of the Fund's
shareholders. The Trust will notify shareholders in the event of any change in the identity of such sub-adviser or sub-advisers. The Adviser has ultimate responsibility for the investment performance of the Funds due to its responsibility to oversee
each sub-adviser and recommend their hiring, termination and replacement. The Adviser is not required to disclose fees paid to any unaffiliated sub-adviser retained pursuant to the
order.
41
A summary of the factors considered by the Board
in connection with the initial approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Funds will be available in the Funds' Form N-CSR filing with the SEC for the period ended
[ ], 2026.
42
Portfolio Managers
The Adviser manages the Funds using a team of investment professionals. The team approach
is used to create an environment that encourages the flow of investment ideas. The portfolio managers within the team work together in a cohesive manner to develop and enhance techniques that drive the investment process for the respective investment
strategy. This approach requires portfolio managers to share a variety of responsibilities, including investment strategy and analysis, while retaining responsibility for the implementation of the strategy within any particular portfolio. The
approach also enables the team to draw upon the resources of other groups within State Street Investment
Management. Each portfolio management team is overseen by State Street Investment Management's internal
governance.
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund are John Mele and Kyle Kelly.
John Mele is a Vice President of State Street Investment Management and the Adviser and a
Senior Portfolio Manager on the Fundamental Active Investment Grade Credit Team. He is responsible for the investment grade credit allocation within several actively managed fixed income strategies. Mr. Mele joined State Street Investment Management in 2016 through
the acquisition of GE Asset Management (GEAM) by the ultimate parent company of State Street Investment Management. He also held roles in Private Equity and Finance while with
GEAM. Prior to joining GEAM, Mr. Mele worked at Citigroup as a portfolio manager/research analyst in Citigroup's Private Client Group. His responsibilities included managing discretionary equity and balanced portfolios for high net worth clients. Mr. Mele's prior work experience
also includes several years in investment management compliance and investment product development. Mr. Mele holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of
Connecticut, a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University and a Master of Business Administration with specializations in Economics and Finance from New York University's Stern School of Business.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of State Street Investment Management and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income
Beta Solutions Team where he manages high yield and investment grade credit ETFs and separate accounts. Prior to joining the portfolio management team, he worked as an investment
risk management analyst focused on State Street Investment Management's fixed income and multi-asset class products. Mr. Kelly graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Economics. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
designation and the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute, CFA Society Boston, Inc., and the Global Association of Risk
Professionals.
Additional information about the portfolio managers'
compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers' ownership of the Funds is available in the SAI.
Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. The Adviser serves as Administrator for each Fund. State Street, part of State Street Corporation, is the Sub-Administrator
for each Fund and the Custodian for each Fund's assets, and serves as Transfer Agent to each Fund.
Lending Agent. State Street serves as the securities lending agent for the Trust. For its services, the lending agent would typically
receive a portion of the net investment income, if any, earned on the collateral for the securities loaned.
Distributor. State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC serves as the Funds' distributor
(“SSGA FD” or the “Distributor”) pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between SSGA FD and the Trust. The Distributor will not distribute Fund Shares in less than Creation Units, and it does not maintain a secondary market in Fund Shares. The
Distributor may enter into selected dealer agreements with other broker-dealers or other qualified financial institutions for the sale of Creation Units of Fund Shares.
Additional Information. The Board oversees generally the operations of the Funds and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements
with various parties, including, among others, the Funds' investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, and accountants, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not
parties to any such contractual arrangements or intended beneficiaries of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any shareholder any right to enforce them directly against the service providers
or to seek any remedy under them directly against the service providers.
43
This Prospectus provides information concerning
the Trust and the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase Fund Shares. Neither this Prospectus nor the related SAI is intended, or should be read, to be
or give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Funds and any investor, or to give rise to any rights in any shareholder or other person other than any rights under federal or state law that may not be waived.
Additional Purchase and Sale Information
Fund Shares are listed for secondary trading on the Exchange and individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold in
the secondary market through a broker-dealer. The secondary markets are closed on weekends and also are generally closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day (observed), Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Exchange may close early on the business day before certain holidays and on the day
after Thanksgiving Day. Exchange holiday schedules are subject to change without notice. If you buy or sell Fund Shares in the secondary market, you will pay the secondary market
price for Fund Shares. In addition, you may incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction.
The trading prices of Fund Shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand rather than the relevant Fund's net asset value, which is calculated at the end of each business day. Fund
Shares will trade on the Exchange at prices that may be above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a
discount), to varying degrees, the daily net asset value of Fund Shares. The trading prices of Fund Shares may deviate significantly from the relevant Fund's net asset value during periods of market volatility. Given, however, that Fund Shares can be
issued and redeemed daily in Creation Units, the Adviser believes that large discounts and premiums to net asset
value should not be sustained over long periods.
The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an
indicative optimized portfolio value
(“IOPV”) relating to each Fund. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of each Fund's net asset value per Fund Share.
Premiums and discounts between the IOPV and the market price may occur. This should not be viewed as a
“real-time” update of the net asset value per Fund Share. The IOPV is based on the current market value of the published basket of
portfolio securities and/or cash required to be deposited in exchange for a Creation Unit and does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of a Fund's actual portfolio at a
particular point in time. Moreover, the IOPV is generally determined by using current market quotations and/or price quotations obtained from broker-dealers and other market intermediaries and valuations based on current market rates. The IOPV may not be calculated in the same
manner as the NAV, which (i) is computed only once a day, (ii) unlike the calculation of the IOPV, takes into account Fund expenses, and (iii) may be subject, in accordance with
the requirements of the 1940 Act, to fair valuation at different prices than those used in the calculations of the IOPV. The IOPV price is based on quotes and closing prices from the securities' local market converted into U.S. dollars at the current currency rates and
may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market's close. Therefore, the IOPV may not reflect the best possible valuation of a Fund's current portfolio. Neither the Funds nor the Adviser or any of their affiliates are involved
in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of such IOPVs and make no warranty as to their accuracy.
The Funds do not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions;
however, the Funds reserve the right to reject or limit purchases at any time as described in the SAI. When considering that no restriction or policy was necessary, the Board evaluated the risks posed by market timing activities, such as whether frequent purchases
and redemptions would interfere with the efficient implementation of a Fund's investment strategy, or whether they would cause a Fund to experience increased transaction costs. The
Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, Fund Shares are issued and redeemed only in large quantities of shares known as Creation Units, available only from a Fund directly, and that most trading in a Fund occurs on the Exchange at prevailing market
prices and does not involve the Fund directly. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is unlikely that (a) market timing would be attempted by a Fund's shareholders or (b) any attempts to market time a Fund by shareholders would
result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders.
Distributions
Dividends and Capital Gains. As a Fund shareholder,
you are entitled to your share of the applicable Fund's income and net realized gains on its investments. Each Fund pays out substantially all of its net earnings to its
shareholders as
“distributions.”
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Each Fund may earn interest from debt securities
and, if participating, securities lending income. These amounts, net of expenses and taxes (if applicable), are passed along to Fund shareholders as “income dividend distributions.” Each Fund will generally be treated as realizing short-term capital gains or losses whenever it sells or exchanges assets
held for one year or less. Net short-term capital gains will generally be treated as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders. Each Fund will generally be treated as realizing long-term capital gains or losses whenever it sells or
exchanges assets held for more than one year. Net capital gains (the excess of a Fund's net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses) are distributed to shareholders as “capital gain distributions.”
Income dividend distributions, if any, for the Funds are generally distributed to shareholders monthly, but may vary significantly from period to period.
Net capital gains for each Fund are distributed at least annually. Dividends may be
declared and paid more frequently or at any other time to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.
Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole Fund Shares only if the broker through whom you
purchased Fund Shares makes such option available. Distributions which are reinvested will nevertheless be taxable to the same extent as if such distributions had not been
reinvested.
Portfolio Holdings
Disclosure
The Funds' portfolio holdings disclosure policy is described in the SAI. In addition, the
identities and quantities of the securities held by each Fund are disclosed on the Funds' website.
Additional Tax Information
The following discussion is a summary of some important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to
an investment in a Fund. Your investment in a Fund may have other tax implications. Please consult your tax advisor about federal, state, local, foreign or other tax laws
applicable to you. Investors, including non-U.S. investors, may wish to consult the SAI tax section for additional disclosure.
Each Fund has elected or will elect to be a regulated investment company and intends to qualify each year to be treated as such. A regulated investment company is generally not subject to tax at the corporate level on income and gains
that are distributed to shareholders. However, a Fund's failure to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company may result in corporate level taxation, and consequently,
a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.
Taxes On Distributions. In general, your distributions are subject to federal income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or
reinvest them in a Fund. The income dividends and short-term capital gains distributions you receive from a Fund will be taxed as ordinary income. Any distributions of a Fund's net
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gain regardless of how long you have owned Fund Shares. Long-term capital gains are generally taxed to noncorporate shareholders at reduced rates. Distributions in excess of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings
and profits are treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of your basis in the applicable Fund's shares, and, in general, as capital gain thereafter.
U.S. individuals with income exceeding specified thresholds are subject to a 3.8%
Medicare contribution tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which includes taxable
interest, dividends and certain capital gains (generally including capital gain distributions and capital gains realized upon the sale of Fund Shares). This 3.8% tax also applies
to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts.
Certain tax-exempt educational institutions will be subject to an excise tax on net
investment income. For these purposes, certain dividends and capital gain distributions, and certain gains from the disposition of Fund Shares (among other categories of income), are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder's net investment
income.
Distributions paid in January, but declared by a Fund in October, November or December of the previous year, payable to
shareholders of record in such a month, may be taxable to you in the calendar year in which they were declared. The Funds will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income
dividends and capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
45
A distribution will reduce a Fund's net asset
value per Fund Share and may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain even though, from an investment standpoint, the distribution may constitute a return of
capital.
Original Issue Discount. Investments by a Fund in zero coupon or other discount securities will result in income to the Fund equal to a portion of
the excess face value of the securities over their issue price (the “original issue discount” or “OID”) each year that the securities are held,
even though the Fund may receive no cash interest payments or may receive cash interest payments that are less than the income recognized for tax purposes. In other circumstances,
whether pursuant to the terms of a security or as a result of other factors outside the control of a Fund, a Fund may recognize income without receiving a commensurate amount of cash. A Fund's share of such income is included in determining
the amount that the Fund must distribute to maintain its eligibility for treatment as a regulated investment company and to avoid the payment of federal tax, including the
nondeductible 4% excise tax. Because any income required to be recognized as a result of the OID and/or market discount rules (discussed below) may not be matched by a corresponding cash payment, the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities to be able to make
distributions to its shareholders in order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and eliminate taxes at the Fund level.
Inflation-Indexed Bonds. Special rules apply if a Fund holds inflation-indexed bonds. Generally, all stated interest on inflation-indexed bonds is
taken into income by a Fund under its regular method of accounting for interest income. The amount of any positive inflation adjustment for a taxable year, which results from an
increase in the inflation-adjusted principal amount of the bond, is treated as OID. The amount of a Fund's OID in a taxable year with respect to a bond will increase the Fund's taxable income for such year without a corresponding receipt of cash until the bond matures. As a
result, a Fund may need to use other sources of cash to satisfy its distribution requirements for such year. The amount of any negative inflation adjustments, which result from a
decrease in the inflation-adjusted principal amount of the bond, first reduces the amount of interest (including stated interest, OID, and market discount, if any) otherwise
includible in a Fund's income with respect to the bond for the taxable year; any remaining negative adjustments will be either treated as ordinary loss or, in certain circumstances, carried forward to reduce the amount of interest income taken
into account with respect to the bond in future taxable years.
Market Discount. Any market discount recognized on a market discount bond is taxable as ordinary income. A
market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or below adjusted issue price if the bond was issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by a Fund to include the market discount in
income as it accrues, the gain on the Fund's disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market
discount. Where the income required to be recognized as a result of the market discount rules is not matched by a corresponding cash receipt by the Fund, the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities to enable the Fund to make distributions to its shareholders in order to
qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and eliminate taxes at the Fund level, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund.
Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. A Fund may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject to numerous special and complex rules. These
rules could affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund and/or defer a
Fund's ability to recognize losses. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income
distributed to you by a Fund. You should consult your personal tax advisor regarding the application of these rules.
Foreign Currency Transactions. A Fund's transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency
options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in
the value of the foreign currency concerned.
Taxes on Exchange-Listed Share Sales. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund Shares is
generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if Fund Shares have been held for more than one year and as short-term capital gain or loss if Fund Shares have been held for one year or less, except that any capital loss on the sale of Fund
Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such Fund Shares.
46
Taxes on Creations and
Redemptions of Creation Units. A person who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a
gain or loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time and the exchanger's aggregate basis in the securities
surrendered plus any cash paid for the Creation Units. A person who exchanges Creation Units for 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 and
the amount of cash received. 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 wash sale rules apply and when a
loss might be deductible.
Under current federal tax laws, any capital gain or loss realized upon a redemption (or creation) of Creation Units is
generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the applicable Fund Shares (or securities surrendered) have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the applicable Fund Shares (or securities
surrendered) have been held for one year or less.
If you create or redeem Creation Units, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many Fund Shares you purchased
or sold and at what price.
The Trust on behalf of each Fund has the right
to reject an order for Creation Units if the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the Fund Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the
applicable Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code, the applicable Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of the 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. If the
Trust does issue Creation Units to a purchaser (or a group of purchasers) that would, upon obtaining the Fund Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund, the purchaser (or group of purchasers) will
not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.
If a Fund redeems Creation Units in cash, it may bear additional costs and recognize more capital gains than it would if it
redeems Creation Units in-kind.
Certain Tax-Exempt
Investors. A Fund, if investing in certain limited real estate investments and other publicly traded
partnerships, may be required to pass through certain “excess inclusion income” and other income as
“unrelated business taxable
income” (“UBTI”). Prior to investing in a Fund, tax-exempt
investors sensitive to UBTI should consult their tax advisors regarding this issue and IRS pronouncements addressing the treatment of such income in the hands of such investors.
Non-U.S. Investors. Ordinary income dividends paid by a Fund to shareholders who are non-resident aliens
or foreign entities will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax (other than distributions reported by the Fund as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends), unless a lower treaty rate applies or unless such income
is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. In general, a Fund may report interest-related dividends to the extent of its net income derived from U.S. source interest
and a Fund may report short-term capital gain dividends to the extent its net short-term capital gain for the taxable year exceeds its net long-term capital loss. Gains on the sale of Fund
Shares and dividends that are, in each case, effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. will generally be subject to U.S. federal net income
taxation at regular income tax rates. Non-U.S. shareholders that own, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of a Fund's shares are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning special tax rules that may apply to their investment.
Unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold Fund Shares comply with IRS requirements that will generally require them to
report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to distributions payable to such entities. A
non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such
agreement.
Backup Withholding. A Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold (as “backup withholding”) on amounts payable to any shareholder who (1) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no
number at all, (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends, (3)
47
has failed to certify to the Fund that such
shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (4) has not certified that such shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). The backup withholding rate is
currently 24%. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax on shareholders who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States.
Certain Potential Tax Reporting Requirements. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes
a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct
shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Significant
penalties may be imposed for the failure to comply with the reporting requirements. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax
advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Other Tax Issues. A Fund may be subject to tax in certain states where the Fund does business (or is treated as doing business as a
result of its investments). Furthermore, in those states which have income tax laws, the tax treatment of the Funds and of Fund shareholders with respect to distributions by the
Funds may differ from federal tax treatment.
The foregoing discussion
summarizes some of the consequences under current federal income tax law of an investment in the Funds. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax
advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Funds under all applicable tax laws.
General Information
The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on March 30, 2011. If shareholders of any Fund are required to vote on any matters, shareholders are entitled to one vote for each Fund Share they own. Annual meetings of
shareholders will not be held except as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable law. See the SAI for more information concerning the Trust's form of
organization.
Management and
Organization
Each Fund is a separate series of the Trust, which is an open-end registered management investment
company.
From time to time, a Fund may advertise yield and total return figures. Yield is a historical measure of dividend income,
and total return is a measure of past dividend income (assuming that it has been reinvested) plus capital appreciation. Neither yield nor total return should be used to predict the future performance of a Fund.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP serves as counsel to the Trust, including the Funds. [ ] serves as the independent registered public accounting firm and will audit the Funds' financial statements annually.
48
Financial
Highlights
The Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus and, therefore, do not have financial
information.
49
Where to Learn More About
the Funds
This Prospectus does not contain all the information included in the
Registration Statement filed with the SEC with respect to Fund Shares. An SAI, the Annual and Semi-annual Reports to shareholders and Form N-CSR, each of which has been or will be filed with the SEC, provide more information about the Funds. In the annual report, you will find
a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund's performance during the Funds' last fiscal year, as applicable. In the
Form N-CSR, you will find each Fund's annual and semi-annual financial statements. The Prospectus and SAI may be supplemented from time to time. The SAI is incorporated herein by reference
(i.e., it is legally part of this Prospectus). These materials may be obtained without
charge, upon request, by writing to the Distributor, State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC, One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, by visiting the Funds' website at www.statestreet.com/im or by calling the following number:
Investor Information: 1-866-787-2257
The Registration Statement, including this Prospectus, the SAI, and the exhibits as
well as any shareholder reports may be reviewed on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also obtain copies of this and other information, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address:
[email protected].
Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Funds in writing to State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors,
LLC, One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, or by calling the Investor Information number listed above.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offer of Fund Shares, and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust or the Funds. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale of Fund Shares shall under any circumstance imply that the information contained herein is correct as of any date after the date of this Prospectus.
Dealers effecting transactions in Fund Shares, whether or not
participating in this distribution, are generally required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition to any obligation of dealers to deliver a Prospectus when
acting as underwriters.
[ ]STATPROThe Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-22542.
SUBJECT
TO COMPLETION. THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SSGA ACTIVE TRUST (THE “TRUST”)
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
[ ], 2025
This Statement of Additional Information
(“SAI”) is not a prospectus. With respect to each of the Trust's series listed below (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), this SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated [ ], 2025, as may be revised from time to time.
| FUND |
TICKER |
| STATE STREET MY2027 HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BOND ETF |
[ ] |
| STATE STREET MY2028 HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BOND ETF |
[ ] |
| STATE STREET MY2029 HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BOND ETF |
[ ] |
| STATE STREET MY2030 HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BOND ETF |
[ ] |
| STATE STREET MY2031 HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BOND ETF |
[ ] |
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for the ETF: The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted.
Copies of the Prospectus and the Funds' Form N-CSR filing and Annual Report to Shareholders (when available) may be obtained without charge by writing to State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC, the Trust's principal
underwriter (referred to herein as
“Distributor” or “Principal Underwriter”), One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02114, by visiting the Trust's website at https://www.statestreet.com/im or by calling 1-866-787-2257. The Funds had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI and therefore did not have any financial information to report for the
[August 31, 2025] fiscal year end.
[ ]SAI
1
General Description of the Trust
The Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“1940 Act”), consisting of multiple investment series, including the Funds. The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust
on March 30, 2011 and each Fund was established on August 14, 2025. The offering of each Fund's shares
(“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). SSGA Funds Management, Inc. serves as the investment adviser for each Fund (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”). State Street Investment Management, consisting of the Adviser and other investment advisory affiliates of State Street
Corporation, is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.
Each Fund offers and issues Shares at their net asset value (sometimes referred to herein as “NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). Each Fund generally offers and issues Shares in exchange for (i) a basket of securities designated by the Fund (“Deposit Securities”) together with the deposit of a specified cash payment
(“Cash Component”) or (ii) a cash payment equal in value to the Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) together with the Cash Component. The primary consideration accepted by a Fund (i.e., Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash) is set
forth under “Purchase and Redemption
of Creation Units” later in this SAI. The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security and reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash (subject to applicable
legal requirements). The Shares have been approved for listing and secondary trading on a national securities exchange (the “Exchange”). The Shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices. These prices may differ from the Shares' net asset values. The Shares are also redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and generally in exchange for either (i)
portfolio securities and a specified cash payment or (ii) cash (subject to applicable legal requirements).
Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash at least equal to a specified percentage of the market value of the missing Deposit
Securities as set forth in the Participant Agreement (as defined below). See “Purchase and Redemption of Creation
Units.” The Trust may impose a
transaction fee for each creation or redemption. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. In addition to the fixed creation or
redemption transaction fee, an additional transaction fee of up to three times the fixed creation or redemption transaction fee and/or an additional variable charge may apply.
Investment Policies
Each Fund may invest in the following types of investments, consistent with its investment strategies and objective. Please see a Fund's Prospectus for additional information regarding its principal investment strategies.
DIVERSIFICATION STATUS
Each Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that a Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the
securities of a single issuer. This means that a Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund. This may have an adverse effect on a Fund's performance or subject a Fund's Shares to
greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies.
Each Fund intends to maintain a level of diversification and otherwise conduct their operations so as to enable each Fund to qualify for treatment as a “regulated
investment company” for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Internal Revenue Code”), and to relieve each Fund of any liability for federal income tax to the extent that its earnings are distributed to shareholders. Compliance with the diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code may
limit the investment flexibility of the Funds and may make it less likely that the Funds will meet their investment objectives.
ASSET-BACKED AND MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
Mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and certain stripped mortgage-backed securities, represent a participation in, or are secured by, mortgage loans.
Asset-backed securities are structured like mortgage-backed securities, but instead of mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets may include such items as motor vehicle installment sales or installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and
personal property and receivables from credit card agreements. The cash flow generated by the underlying assets is
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applied to make required payments on the
securities and to pay related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed or mortgage-backed securities depends on,
among other things, the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets. Each Fund may invest in any
such instruments or variations as may be developed, to the extent consistent with its investment objective and policies and applicable regulatory requirements. In general, the
collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of a shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is likely to experience substantial prepayments.
Mortgage-backed securities have yield and maturity characteristics corresponding to the
underlying assets. Unlike traditional debt securities, which may pay a fixed rate of interest until maturity, when the entire principal amount comes due, payments on certain mortgage-backed securities include both interest and a partial repayment of principal. Besides the
scheduled repayment of principal, repayments of principal may result from the voluntary prepayment, refinancing or foreclosure of the underlying mortgage loans. If property owners
make unscheduled prepayments of their mortgage loans, these prepayments will result in early payment of the applicable mortgage-backed securities. In that event, a Fund may be unable to invest the proceeds from the early payment of the mortgage-backed securities in an investment that provides
as high a yield as the mortgage-backed securities. Consequently, early payment associated with mortgage-backed securities may cause these securities to experience significantly
greater price and yield volatility than that experienced by traditional fixed-income securities. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by factors including the level of interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of the mortgage and other social
and demographic conditions. During periods of falling interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments tends to increase, thereby tending to decrease the life of mortgage-backed securities. During periods of rising interest rates, the rate of
mortgage prepayments usually decreases, thereby tending to increase the life of mortgage-backed securities. If the life of a mortgage-backed security is inaccurately predicted, a Fund may not be able to realize the rate of return it expected.
Adjustable rate mortgage securities (“ARMs”), like traditional mortgage-backed securities, are interests in pools of mortgage loans that provide investors with
payments consisting of both principal and interest as mortgage loans in the underlying mortgage pool are paid off by the borrowers. Unlike fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities,
ARMs are collateralized by or represent interests in mortgage loans with variable rates of interest. These interest rates are reset at periodic intervals, usually by reference to an interest rate index or market interest rate. Although the rate adjustment
feature may act as a buffer to reduce sharp changes in the value of adjustable rate securities, these securities are still subject to changes in value based on, among other things, changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer's
creditworthiness. Because the interest rates are reset only periodically, changes in the interest rate on ARMs may lag changes in prevailing market interest rates. Also, some ARMs (or the underlying mortgages) are subject to caps or floors
that limit the maximum change in the interest rate during a specified period or over the life of the security. As a result, changes in the interest rate on an ARM may not fully reflect changes in prevailing market interest rates during certain
periods.
A Fund may also invest in hybrid ARMs, whose underlying mortgages combine fixed-rate and adjustable rate features.
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are less effective than other types of securities
as a means of locking in attractive long-term interest rates. One reason is the need to reinvest prepayments of principal; another is the possibility of significant unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in interest rates. These prepayments would have to be reinvested
at lower rates. The automatic interest rate adjustment feature of mortgages underlying ARMs likewise reduces the ability to lock-in attractive rates. As a result, mortgage-backed
and asset-backed securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other securities of comparable maturities, although
they may have a similar risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayments may also significantly shorten the effective maturities of these securities, especially during periods of declining interest rates.
Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, a reduction in prepayments may increase the effective maturities of these securities, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than
traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing the volatility of the Fund.
At times, some mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities will have higher than market interest rates and therefore will be purchased at a premium above their par value. Prepayments may cause losses on securities purchased at a premium.
CMOs may be issued by a U.S. government agency or instrumentality or by a private issuer.
Although payment of the principal of, and interest on, the underlying collateral securing privately issued CMOs may be guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, these CMOs represent obligations solely of the private issuer and are not
insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or any other person or entity.
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Prepayments could cause early retirement of CMOs.
CMOs are designed to reduce the risk of prepayment for certain investors by issuing multiple classes of securities, each having different maturities, interest rates and payment
schedules, and with the principal and interest on the underlying mortgages allocated among the several classes in various ways. Payment of interest or principal on some classes or series of CMOs may be subject to contingencies or some classes or series
may bear some or all of the risk of default on the underlying mortgages. CMOs of different classes or series are generally retired in sequence as the underlying mortgage loans in
the mortgage pool are repaid. If enough mortgages are repaid ahead of schedule, the classes or series of a CMO with the earliest maturities generally will be retired prior to their
maturities. Thus, the early retirement of particular classes or series of a CMO would have the same effect as the
prepayment of mortgages underlying other mortgage-backed securities. Conversely, slower than anticipated prepayments can extend the effective maturities of CMOs, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to
rising interest rates than traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing their volatility.
Prepayments could result in losses on stripped mortgage-backed securities. Stripped
mortgage-backed securities are usually structured with two classes that receive different portions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage loans. The yield to maturity on an interest only or “IO” class of stripped mortgage-backed securities
is extremely sensitive not only to changes in prevailing interest rates but also to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying assets. A rapid rate of principal prepayments may have a measurable adverse effect on a Fund's yield to
maturity to the extent it invests in IOs. If the assets underlying the IO experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to recoup fully its
initial investment in these securities. Principal only or “POs” tend to increase in value if prepayments are
greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are slower than anticipated. The secondary market for stripped mortgage-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid
than that for other mortgage-backed securities, potentially limiting the Fund's ability to buy or sell those securities at any particular time.
Subprime mortgage loans, which typically are made to less creditworthy borrowers, have a
higher risk of default than conventional mortgage loans. Therefore, mortgage-backed securities backed by subprime mortgage loans may suffer significantly greater declines in value due to defaults or the increased risk of default.
The risks associated with other asset-backed securities (including in particular the risks of issuer default and of early prepayment) are generally similar to those described above for CMOs. In addition, because asset-backed securities generally
do not have the benefit of a security interest in the underlying assets that is comparable to a mortgage, asset-backed securities present certain additional risks that are not
present with mortgage-backed securities. The ability of an issuer of asset-backed securities to enforce its security interest in the underlying assets may be limited. For example,
revolving credit receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give debtors the right to set-off certain amounts owed,
thereby reducing the balance due. Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles, rather than by real property.
Asset-backed securities may be collateralized by the fees earned by service providers. The values of asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset and are therefore subject to risks
associated with the negligence or malfeasance by their servicers and to the credit risk of their servicers. In certain circumstances, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of the security holders in and to the
underlying collateral. The insolvency of entities that generate receivables or that utilize the assets may result in added costs and delays in addition to losses associated with a decline in the value of the underlying assets.
Federal, state and local government officials and representatives as well as certain private parties have proposed actions to assist homeowners who own or occupy property subject to mortgages. Certain of those proposals involve actions that would
affect the mortgages that underlie or relate to certain mortgage-related securities, including securities or other instruments which a Fund may hold or in which it may invest. Some
of those proposals include, among other things, lowering or forgiving principal balances; forbearing, lowering or eliminating interest payments; or utilizing eminent domain powers to seize mortgages, potentially for below market compensation. The prospective or actual implementation of one or
more of these proposals may significantly and adversely affect the value and liquidity of securities held by a Fund and could cause the Fund's net asset value to decline,
potentially significantly. Tremendous uncertainty remains in the market concerning the resolution of these issues; the range of proposals and the potential implications of any
implemented solution is impossible to predict.
A Fund may invest in any level of the capital structure of an issuer of mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities,
including the equity or “first
loss” tranche. See “COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS.”
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Consistent with a Fund's investment objective and
policies, the Adviser may also cause a Fund to invest in other types of mortgage- and asset-backed securities offered currently or in the future, including certain
yet-to-be-developed types of mortgage- and asset-backed securities which may be created as the market evolves.
BANK LOANS
Bank loans include floating rate loans and institutionally traded floating rate debt
obligations issued by asset-backed pools and other issues, and interests therein. Bank loan interests may be acquired from U.S. or foreign commercial banks, insurance companies, finance companies or other financial institutions that have made loans or are members of a lending
syndicate or from other holders of loan interests. Bank loans typically pay interest at rates which are re-determined periodically on the basis of a floating base lending rate (such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)) plus a
premium. Bank loans are typically of below investment grade quality. Bank loans generally (but not always) hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a borrower and are often secured with collateral.
Each Fund may invest in both secured and unsecured bank loans. Holders' claims under unsecured loans are subordinated to claims of creditors holding secured indebtedness and possibly other classes of creditors holding unsecured
debt. Unsecured loans have a greater risk of default than secured loans, particularly during periods of deteriorating economic conditions. Also, since they do not afford the lender
recourse to collateral, unsecured loans are subject to greater risk of nonpayment in the event of default than secured loans. Many such loans are relatively illiquid and may be difficult to value.
Some bank loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could
subordinate the bank loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of the bank loans, including, in certain circumstances, invalidating such bank loans or causing interest
previously paid to be refunded to the borrower. If interest were required to be refunded, it could negatively affect a Fund's performance.
Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness or pay only a small fraction of the amount owed.
Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, a Fund bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested.
Investments in bank loans through a direct assignment of the financial institution's interest with respect to the bank loan
may involve additional risks. For example, if a secured bank loan is foreclosed, a Fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, a Fund could be held liable as a co-lender. When a Fund
is a purchaser of an assignment, it succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement of the assigning lender and becomes a lender under the loan agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning lender.
Bank loans may be structured to include both term loans, which are generally fully funded
at the time of investment, and revolving credit facilities, which would require a Fund to make additional investments in the bank loans as required under the terms of the credit facility at the borrower's demand.
A financial institution's employment as agent bank may be terminated in the event that it fails to observe a requisite
standard of care or becomes insolvent. A successor agent bank would generally be appointed to replace the terminated agent bank, and assets held by the agent bank under the loan agreement would remain available to the holders of such
indebtedness. However, if assets held by the agent bank for the benefit of a Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the agent bank's general creditors, the Fund may incur certain costs and delays in realizing payments on a bank
loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.
BONDS
A bond is an interest-bearing security issued by a company, governmental unit or, in some cases, a non-U.S. entity. The
issuer of a bond has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal (the bond's face value) periodically or on a specified maturity date; provided, however, a zero coupon bond pays no interest to
its holder during its life. The value of a zero coupon bond to a Fund consists of the difference between such bond's face value at the time of maturity and the price for which it was acquired, which may be an amount significantly less than its
face value (sometimes referred to as a “deep discount” price).
6
An issuer may have the right to redeem or “call” a bond before maturity, in which case the investor may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower market rates. Most bonds bear
interest income at a
“coupon” rate that is fixed for the life of the bond. The value of a fixed rate bond usually rises when market interest rates fall,
and falls when market interest rates rise. Accordingly, a fixed rate bond's yield (income as a percent of the bond's current value) may differ from its coupon rate as its value rises or falls. Fixed rate bonds generally are also subject to inflation risk, which is the risk that the value of the bond or income from the bond will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. This could mean
that, as inflation increases, the
“real” value of the assets of a Fund holding fixed rate bonds can decline, as can the value of the Fund's distributions. Other
types of bonds bear income at an interest rate that is adjusted periodically. Because of their adjustable interest rates, the value of “floating-rate” or “variable-rate” bonds fluctuates much less in response to
market interest rate movements than the value of fixed rate bonds. A Fund may treat some of these bonds as having a shorter maturity for purposes of calculating the weighted average maturity of its investment portfolio. Bonds may be senior
or subordinated obligations. Senior obligations generally have the first claim on a corporation's earnings and assets and, in the event of liquidation, are paid before subordinated obligations. Bonds may be unsecured (backed only by the issuer's
general creditworthiness) or secured (also backed by specified collateral).
The investment return of corporate bonds reflects interest on the bond and changes in the market value of the bond. The market value of a corporate bond may be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation's performance and
perceptions of the corporation in the market place. There is a risk that the issuers of the securities may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments
at the time called for by such a security.
COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS
Collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) are a type of asset-backed security and
include, among other things, collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. A CBO is a trust which is backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below
investment grade fixed income securities. 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.
The cash flows from the CDO trust are generally
split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. Senior tranches are paid from the cash flows from the underlying assets before the junior tranches and
equity or “first loss” tranches. Losses are first borne by the equity tranches, next by the junior tranches, and finally by the
senior tranches. Senior tranches pay the lowest interest rates but are generally safer investments than more junior tranches because, should there be any default, senior tranches are typically paid first. The most junior tranches, such as equity tranches,
would attract the highest interest rates but suffer the highest risk should the holder of an underlying loan default. If some loans default and the cash collected by the CDO is insufficient to pay all of its investors, those in the lowest, most junior
tranches suffer losses first. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CDO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than the underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection
from the equity tranche, more senior 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
and aversion to CDO securities as a class.
The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the quality and type of the collateral and the tranche of the CDO in
which a Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by a Fund as illiquid investments; however,
an active dealer market, or other relevant measures of liquidity, may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO potentially to be deemed liquid by the Adviser under liquidity policies approved
by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”). In addition to the risks associated with debt
instruments (e.g., interest rate risk and credit 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 default; (iii) the possibility that a Fund may invest in CDOs 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 or unexpected investment results.
COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS (CLOs)
Each Fund may invest in CLOs. A CLO is a financing company (generally called a Special Purpose Vehicle or “SPV”), created to reapportion the risk and return characteristics of a pool of assets. While the assets underlying CLOs are
typically senior loans, the assets may also include (i) unsecured loans, (ii) other debt securities that are rated below
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investment grade, (iii) debt tranches of other
CLOs and (iv) equity securities incidental to investments in senior loans. When investing in CLOs, a Fund will not invest in equity tranches, which are the lowest tranche. However,
a Fund may invest in lower debt tranches of CLOs, which typically experience a lower recovery, greater risk of loss or deferral or non-payment of interest than more senior debt tranches of the CLO. In addition, a Fund intends to invest in CLOs consisting primarily
of individual senior loans of borrowers and not repackaged CLO obligations from other high risk pools. The underlying senior loans purchased by CLOs are generally performing at the
time of purchase but may become non-performing, distressed or defaulted. CLOs with underlying assets of non-performing, distressed or defaulted loans are not contemplated to comprise a significant portion of a Fund's investments in CLOs. The key feature of the CLO structure is the
prioritization of the cash flows from a pool of debt securities among the several classes of the CLO. The SPV is a company founded solely for the purpose of securitizing payment
claims arising out of this diversified asset pool. On this basis, marketable securities are issued by the SPV which, due to the diversification of the underlying risk, generally
represent a lower level of risk than the original assets. The redemption of the securities issued by the SPV typically takes place at maturity out of the cash flow generated by the collected claims.
Holders of CLOs bear risks of the underlying investments, index or reference obligation and are subject to counterparty
risk.
A Fund may have the right to receive payments only from the CLOs, and generally does not have direct rights against the
issuer or the entity that sold the assets to be securitized. While certain CLOs enable the investor to acquire interests in a pool of securities without the brokerage and other expenses associated with directly holding the same securities, investors
in CLOs generally pay their share of the CLO's administrative and other expenses. Although it is difficult to predict whether the prices of indices and securities underlying a CLO will rise or fall, these prices (and, therefore, the prices of CLOs) will be influenced by the same types of political and economic events that affect issuers of securities and capital markets
generally. If the issuer of a CLO uses shorter term financing to purchase longer term securities, the issuer may be forced to sell its securities at below market prices if it experiences difficulty in obtaining short-term financing, which may
adversely affect the value of the CLOs owned by a Fund.
Certain CLOs may be thinly traded or have a limited trading market. CLOs are typically privately offered and sold. As a
result, investments in CLOs may be characterized by a Fund as illiquid investments. In addition to the general risks associated with debt securities discussed herein, CLOs 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 default; (iii) the possibility that the investments in CLOs are subordinate to other classes or tranches thereof; 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 or unexpected investment results.
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (CMOs) AND MULTICLASS PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES
CMOs are debt obligations collateralized by mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. CMOs may be collateralized
by Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), Federal National Mortgage Association
(“Fannie Mae”), or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
(“Freddie Mac”) certificates, but also may be collateralized by whole loans or private mortgage pass-through securities (such collateral
is collectively hereinafter referred to as “Mortgage Assets”). Mortgage Assets may be collateralized by commercial or residential uses. Multiclass pass-through securities are equity interests in a trust composed of Mortgage Assets. Payments of principal of and interest on the
Mortgage Assets, and any reinvestment income thereon, may require a Fund to pay debt service on the CMOs or make
scheduled distributions on the multiclass pass-through securities. CMOs may be issued by federal agencies, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks,
investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. The issuer of a series of mortgage pass-through securities may elect to be treated as a Real Estate Mortgage
Investment Conduit
(“REMIC”). REMICs include governmental and/or private entities that issue a fixed pool of mortgages secured by an interest in real
property. REMICs are similar to CMOs in that they issue multiple classes of securities, but unlike CMOs, which are required to be structured as debt securities, REMICs may be structured as indirect ownership interests in the underlying assets of the REMICs
themselves. Although CMOs and REMICs differ in certain respects, characteristics of CMOs described below apply in
most cases to REMICs, as well.
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In a CMO, a series of bonds or certificates is
issued in multiple classes. Each class of CMOs, often referred to as a tranche, is issued at a specific fixed or floating coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final
distribution date. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Assets may cause the CMOs to be retired substantially earlier than their stated maturities or final distribution dates. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on a monthly, quarterly or semiannual
basis. Certain CMOs may have variable or floating interest rates and others may be stripped mortgage securities.
The
principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the several classes of a CMO series in a number of different ways. Generally, the purpose of the allocation
of the cash flow of a CMO to the various classes is to obtain a more predictable cash flow to certain of the individual tranches than exists with the underlying collateral of the
CMO. As a general rule, the more predictable the cash flow is on a CMO tranche, the lower the anticipated yield will be on that tranche at the time of issuance relative to prevailing market yields on other mortgage-backed securities. As part of
the process of creating more predictable cash flows on most of the tranches in a series of CMOs, one or more tranches generally must be created that absorb most of the volatility in the cash flows on the underlying mortgage loans. The yields
on these tranches are generally higher than prevailing market yields on mortgage-backed securities with similar maturities. As a result of the uncertainty of the cash flows of these tranches, the market prices of and yield on these tranches
generally are more volatile. See
“COLLATERALIZED DEBT
OBLIGATIONS” for a discussion on investments in structured products with multiple tranches.
CMO RESIDUALS
CMO residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.
government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing. The cash flow generated by the mortgage
assets underlying a series of a CMO is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the securities or certificates issued by the CMO and second to pay the
related administrative expenses and any management fee of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after
making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual
represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest
rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the pre-payment experience on the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to pre-payments on the related underlying mortgage assets. In
addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are
based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances a Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual. CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional
investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. In addition, CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not have been registered under the Securities Act. CMO residuals, whether or not
registered under the Securities Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability, and may be deemed “illiquid.”
COMMERCIAL PAPER
Commercial paper consists of short-term, promissory notes issued by banks, corporations and other entities to finance
short-term credit needs. These securities generally are discounted but sometimes may be interest bearing.
CONCENTRATION
The Funds do not intend to concentrate their investments in any particular industry. The
Funds look to the Global Industry Classification Standard Level 3 (Industries) in making industry determinations. The Trust's general policy is to exclude securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities, and tax-exempt securities of state, territory,
possession or municipal governments and their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions (except to the extent that the income from a municipal bond is derived principally from the assets and revenues of non-governmental
users) when measuring industry concentration.
9
CONVERTIBLE
SECURITIES
Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred
stock or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent
value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a
convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.
Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stock. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stock, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities.
Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price
of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stock and interest rates. When the underlying common stock declines in
value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types
of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common
stock rises in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the
value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stock. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and
decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
Each Fund may invest in other exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) (including ETFs managed by the Adviser).
ETFs may be structured as investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act, typically as open-end funds or unit investment trusts. These ETFs are generally based on specific domestic and foreign market securities indices. An “index-based ETF” seeks to provide investment results that match the performance of an index by holding in its portfolio either the contents of
the index or a representative sample of the securities in the index. An “actively-managed ETF” invests in securities based
on an adviser's investment strategy. An “enhanced ETF” seeks to provide investment results
that match a positive or negative multiple of the performance of an underlying index. In seeking to provide such results, an ETF and, in particular, an enhanced ETF, may engage in short sales of securities included in the underlying index and may invest in derivatives
instruments, such as equity index swaps, futures contracts, and options on securities, futures contracts, and stock indices. Alternatively, ETFs may be structured as grantor trusts or other forms of pooled investment vehicles that are not registered
or regulated under the 1940 Act. These ETFs typically hold commodities, precious metals, currency or other non-securities investments. ETFs, like mutual funds, have expenses associated with their operation, such as advisory and custody fees.
When a Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, including the brokerage costs associated with the purchase and sale of
shares of the ETF, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF's expenses. In addition, it may be more costly to own an ETF than to directly own the securities or other
investments held by the ETF because of ETF expenses. The risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities or other investments held by the ETF, although lack of liquidity in the market for the
shares of an ETF could result in the ETF's value being more volatile than the underlying securities or other investments.
EXCHANGE-TRADED NOTES
Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETNs”) are debt obligations of investment banks which are traded on exchanges and the returns of which are linked to the performance of market indexes. In addition to trading ETNs on exchanges, investors may
redeem ETNs directly with the issuer on a weekly basis, typically in a minimum amount of 50,000 units, or hold the ETNs until maturity. ETNs may be riskier than ordinary debt
securities and may have no principal protection. A Fund's investment in an ETN may be influenced by many unpredictable factors, including highly volatile commodities prices,
changes in supply and demand relationships, weather, agriculture, trade, changes in interest rates, and monetary and other governmental policies, action and inaction. Investing in ETNs is not equivalent to investing directly in index
components or the relevant index itself. Because ETNs are debt securities, they possess credit risk; if the issuer has financial difficulties or goes bankrupt, the investor may not receive the return it was promised.
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FUTURES CONTRACTS, FORWARDS,
OPTIONS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS
Each Fund may invest in derivatives, including
forward contracts, exchange-traded futures on indices, exchange-traded futures on Treasuries or Eurodollars, U.S. exchange-traded or over-the-counter (“OTC”) put and call options contracts and exchange-traded or OTC swap transactions (including interest rate swaps, total return
swaps, excess return swaps, and credit default swaps).
Futures and Options on Futures: Futures contracts generally provide for the future sale by one
party and purchase by another party of a specified commodity or security at a specified future time and at a specified price. Index futures contracts are settled daily with a payment by one party to the other of a cash amount based on the difference between the
level of the index specified in the contract from one day to the next. A futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value
of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract originally was written. Although the value of an index might be a
function of the value of certain specified securities, physical delivery of these securities is not always made. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of
indexes, as well as financial instruments, including, without limitation: U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; GNMA Certificates; three-month U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit; Eurodollar certificates
of deposit; the Australian Dollar; the Canadian Dollar; the British Pound; the Japanese Yen; the Swiss Franc; the Mexican Peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the Euro. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed
and traded in the future. Futures contracts are standardized as to maturity date and underlying instrument and are traded on futures exchanges.
The Funds may purchase and write (sell) call and put options on futures. Options on futures
give the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price upon expiration of, or at any time during the period of, the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder
acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true.
A Fund is required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or U.S. government
securities (or other eligible collateral) with a broker or custodian to initiate and maintain open positions in futures contracts. A margin deposit is intended to assure completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the underlying commodity or payment of the cash settlement
amount) if it is not terminated prior to the specified delivery date. Brokers may establish deposit requirements which are higher than the exchange minimums. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margin deposits which may range
upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.
After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy price changes, additional payments will be required.
Conversely, change in the contract value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of excess margin to the contract holder. Variation margin payments are made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains
open. In such case, a Fund would expect to earn interest income on its margin deposits. Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying commodity, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery
by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (involving the same exchange, underlying commodity, security or index and delivery month). If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, a Fund realizes a
capital gain, or if it is more, a Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, a Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. The transaction costs also
must be included in these calculations.
Options: A Fund may purchase and sell put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities and may or may not be
listed on a national securities exchange and issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary
investment risk. Options on particular securities may be more volatile than the underlying securities, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject
to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying securities themselves.
Short Sales “Against the Box”: The Funds may engage in short sales “against the
box.” In a short sale against the box, a Fund agrees to sell at a future date a security that it either contemporaneously owns or has the right to acquire at no extra
cost. If the price of the security has declined at the time a Fund is required to deliver the security, the Fund will benefit from the difference in the price. If the price of the security has increased, the Fund will be required to pay the difference.
11
Forwards: A forward contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific security, currency or other instrument for an agreed
price at a future date that is individually negotiated and privately traded by traders and their customers. Unlike contracts traded on an exchange (such as futures contracts),
forward contracts trade OTC and are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse and are subject to the creditworthiness of the counterparty of the trade. Forward contracts are
highly leveraged and highly volatile, and a relatively small price movement in a forward contract may result in substantial losses to a Fund. Depending on the asset underlying the forward contract, forward transactions can be influenced by, among
other things, changing supply and demand relationships, government commercial and trade programs and policies, national and international political and economic events, weather and
climate conditions, insects and plant disease, purchases and sales by foreign countries and changing interest rates.
Swap Transactions: Each Fund may enter into swap transactions, including interest rate swap,
credit default swap, NDF, and total return swap transactions. Swap transactions are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on the change in market value or level of a specified rate, index or asset. In
return, the other party agrees to make payments to the first party based on the return of a different specified rate, index or asset. Swap transactions will usually be done on a net basis, i.e., where the two parties make net payments with a Fund
receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if any, of a Fund's obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap is accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or
equivalents having an aggregate value at least equal to the accrued excess is maintained by the Fund. Swaps may be used in conjunction with other instruments to offset interest
rate, currency or other underlying risks. For example, interest rate swaps may be offset with “caps,” “floors” or “collars.” A “cap” is essentially a call option which places a
limit on the amount of floating rate interest that must be paid on a certain principal amount. A “floor” is essentially a put option which places a limit on the minimum amount that would be paid on a certain principal amount. A “collar” is essentially a combination of a long cap and a short floor where the limits are set at different levels.
The use of swap transactions by a Fund entails certain risks, which may be different
from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the securities and other investments that are the referenced asset for the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning
different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index, but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of
observing the performance of the swap under all the possible market conditions. Because some swap transactions have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a
loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.
Bilateral OTC transactions differ from exchange-traded or cleared derivatives transactions
in several respects. Bilateral OTC transactions are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation. Without the availability of a clearing corporation, bilateral OTC transaction pricing is normally done by reference to information from market makers
and/or available index data, which information is carefully monitored by the Adviser and verified in appropriate cases. As bilateral OTC transactions are entered into directly with a dealer, there is a risk of nonperformance by the dealer as a
result of its insolvency or otherwise. Under regulations adopted by the CFTC and federal banking regulators
(“Margin Rules”), a Fund is required to post collateral (known as variation margin) to cover the mark-to-market exposure in respect
of its uncleared swaps. The Margin Rules also mandate that collateral in the form of initial margin be posted to cover potential future exposure attributable to uncleared swap transactions. In the event a Fund is required to post collateral in
the form of initial margin or variation margin in respect of its uncleared swap transactions, all such collateral will be posted with a third party custodian pursuant to a triparty custody agreement between the Fund, its dealer counterparty and an
unaffiliated custodian.
The requirement to execute certain OTC derivatives contracts on exchanges or electronic
trading platforms called swap execution facilities (“SEFs”) may offer certain advantages over
traditional bilateral OTC trading, such as ease of execution, price transparency, increased liquidity and/or favorable pricing. However, SEF trading may make it more difficult and
costly for a Fund to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions and may result in additional costs and risks. Market participants such as the Funds that execute derivatives contracts through a SEF, whether directly or through a broker
intermediary, are required to submit to the jurisdiction of the SEF and comply with SEF and CFTC rules and regulations which impose, among other things disclosure and recordkeeping obligations. In addition, a Fund will generally incur SEF or
broker intermediary fees when it trades on a SEF. A Fund may also be required to indemnify the SEF or broker intermediary for any losses or costs that may result from the Fund's
transactions on the SEF.
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Total Return
Swaps: A Fund may enter into total return swap transactions for investment purposes. Total return swaps are
transactions in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in
return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swaps may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such
security or market, including in cases in which there may be disadvantages associated with direct ownership of a
particular security. In a typical total return equity swap, payments made by a Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an
index). That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks
making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Total return swaps involve not only the risk associated with the investment in the underlying securities, but also the risk of the counterparty not fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.
Credit Default Swaps: A Fund may enter into credit default swap
transactions for investment purposes. A credit default swap transaction may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. A Fund
may be either the protection buyer or protection seller in the transaction. Credit default swaps may also be structured based on the debt of a basket of issuers, rather than a single issuer, and may be customized with respect to the default
event that triggers purchase or other factors. As a protection seller, a Fund would generally receive an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap, which typically is between six months and three years, provided that
there is no credit event. If a credit event occurs, generally the protection seller must pay the protection buyer the full face amount of the reference obligations that may have
little or no value. If a Fund were a protection buyer and no credit event occurred during the term of the swap, the Fund would recover nothing if the swap were held through its
termination date. However, if a credit event occurred, the protection buyer may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of the reference obligation that may have little or no value. Where a Fund is the
protection buyer, credit default swaps involve the risk that the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Fund in the event of a default. The purchase of credit default swaps involves costs, which will reduce a Fund's return.
Currency Swaps: A Fund may enter into currency swap transactions for investment purposes. Currency swaps are similar to interest rate
swaps, except that they involve multiple currencies. A Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has exposure to one currency and desires exposure to a different currency.
Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of
the contract. In addition to paying and receiving amounts at the beginning and end of the transaction, both sides will have to pay in full on a periodic basis based upon the
currency they have borrowed. Change in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.
Interest Rate Swaps: A Fund may enter into an interest rate swap in an effort to protect against
declines in the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. In such an instance, the Fund may agree to pay a fixed rate (multiplied by a notional amount) while a counterparty agrees to pay a floating rate (multiplied by the same notional amount). If interest
rates rise, resulting in a diminution in the value of the Fund's portfolio, the Fund would receive payments under the swap that would offset, in whole or in part, such diminution in value.
Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars: A Fund may use interest rate caps, floors and collars. Interest rate caps, floors and collars are similar to interest rate
swap contracts because the payment obligations are measured by changes in interest rates as applied to a notional amount and because they are generally individually negotiated with
a specific counterparty. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specific index exceeds a specified interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal 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 index falls below specified interest rates, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. The
purchase of an interest rate collar entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds or falls below a specified interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest
rate collar.
Options on Swaps: An option on a swap agreement, or a “swaption,” is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap agreement or to
shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. In return, the purchaser pays a “premium” to the seller of the contract. The seller of the contract receives the premium and bears the risk of unfavorable changes on
the underlying
13
swap. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and
call swaptions. A Fund may also enter into swaptions on either an asset-based or liability-based basis, depending on whether the Fund is hedging its assets or its liabilities. A
Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions to the same extent it may make use of standard options on securities or other instruments. A Fund may enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular
investment or portion of its holdings, as a duration management technique, to protect against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or for any other purposes, such as for speculation to increase
returns. Swaptions are generally subject to the same risks involved in a Fund's use of
options.
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 amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when a Fund writes a
swaption, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.
Contracts for Differences: Contracts for differences are swap arrangements in which a Fund may
agree with a counterparty that its return (or loss) will be based on the relative performance of two different groups or “baskets” of securities. For example, as to one of the baskets, a Fund's return is based on theoretical long futures positions in the
securities comprising that basket, and as to the other basket, the Fund's return is based on theoretical short futures positions in the securities comprising that other basket. The notional sizes of the baskets will not necessarily be the same,
which can give rise to investment leverage. A Fund may also use actual long and short futures positions to achieve the market exposure(s) as contracts for differences. A Fund may enter into swaps and contracts for differences for investment
return, hedging, risk management and for investment leverage.
Government Regulation: The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) that was signed into law on July 21, 2010 created a new statutory framework that comprehensively regulated the OTC derivatives markets for the first time. Prior to the Dodd-Frank Act, the OTC derivatives markets were traditionally traded on
a bilateral basis (so-called
“bilateral OTC
transactions”). Under the Dodd-Frank Act, certain OTC derivatives transactions are now required to be centrally cleared and traded on SEFs.
On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 (the “Derivatives Rule”) under the 1940 Act which replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered
funds' use of derivatives. The Derivatives Rule permits a Fund to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule requires the Funds to trade derivatives and certain other instruments that create future payment or delivery obligations subject to a value-at-risk
(“VaR”) leverage limit, develop and implement a derivatives risk management program and new testing requirements, and
comply with new requirements related to board and SEC reporting. These requirements apply unless a Fund qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” as defined in the Derivatives Rule. To the extent a Fund uses derivatives, complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase
the cost of a Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. Other new regulations could adversely affect the value, availability and
performance of certain derivative instruments, may make them more costly, and may limit or restrict their use by the Funds.
Regulation Under the Commodity Exchange Act: Each Fund intends to use commodity interests, such as
futures, swaps and options on futures in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the CEA. An exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” has been claimed with respect to each series of the Trust in accordance with Rule 4.5 such that registration or regulation
as a commodity pool operator under the CEA is not necessary.
Restrictions on Trading in Commodity Interests: Each Fund
reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures, options thereon and swaps to the extent allowed by the CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in
accordance with a Fund's policies.
Certain additional risk factors related to derivatives are discussed below:
Derivatives Risk: Under recently adopted rules by the CFTC, transactions in some types of interest rate swaps and index credit default swaps
on North American and European indices are required to be cleared. In addition, the CFTC may promulgate additional regulations that require clearing of other classes of swaps. In a
cleared derivatives transaction (which includes futures, options on futures, and cleared swaps transactions), a Fund's counterparty is a clearing house (such as CME, ICE Clear Credit or LCH.Clearnet), rather than a bank or broker. Since each
Fund is not a member of a clearing house and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, a Fund holds cleared derivatives through accounts at
clearing members, who are futures commission merchants that are members of the clearing houses and who have the appropriate regulatory
14
approvals to engage in cleared
derivatives transactions. A Fund makes and receives payments owed under cleared derivatives transactions (including margin payments) through its accounts at clearing members.
Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients' obligations to the clearing house. In contrast to bilateral OTC transactions, clearing members generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time
and increases in margin above the margin that it required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing
transactions and to terminate transactions in accordance with their rules. Any such increase or termination could interfere with the ability of a Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Also, a Fund is subject to execution risk if it enters into a derivatives
transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Advisor expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is
willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund's behalf. While the documentation in place between a Fund and its clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all transactions submitted for
clearing that are within credit limits specified by the clearing members in advance, the Fund could be subject to this execution risk if the Fund submits for clearing transactions
that exceed such credit limits, if the clearing house does not accept the transactions for clearing, or if the clearing members do not comply with their agreement to clear such transactions. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose
some or all of the benefit of any increase in the value of the transaction after the time of the transaction. In addition, new regulations could, among other things, restrict a
Fund's ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund or increasing margin or capital requirements. If a Fund is not able to enter into a particular
derivatives transaction, the Fund's investment performance and risk profile could be adversely affected as a result.
Counterparty Risk: Counterparty risk with respect to OTC derivatives may be affected by new
regulations promulgated by the CFTC and SEC affecting the derivatives market. As described under “Derivatives Risk” above, all futures and options on futures and some swap transactions are required to be cleared, and a party to a cleared
derivatives transaction is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared derivatives position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivative
transaction. Clearing members are required to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to
cleared derivatives transactions from the clearing member's proprietary assets. However, all funds and other
property received by a clearing broker from its customers are generally held by the clearing broker on a
commingled basis in an omnibus account, and the clearing broker may also invest those funds in certain
instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. Also, the clearing member transfers to the clearing house
the amount of margin required by the clearing house for cleared derivatives transactions, which amounts are
generally held in the relevant omnibus account at the clearing house for all customers of the clearing member.
For commodities futures positions, the clearing house may use all of the collateral held in the clearing member's omnibus
account to meet a loss in that account, without regard to which customer in fact supplied that collateral. Accordingly, in addition to bearing the credit risk of its clearing member, each customer to a futures transaction also bears “fellow customer” risk from other customers of the clearing member. However, with respect to cleared swaps positions, recent regulations
promulgated by the CFTC require that the clearing member notify the clearing house of the amount of initial margin provided by the clearing member to the clearing house that is
attributable to each customer. Because margin in respect of cleared swaps must be earmarked for specific clearing member customers, the clearing house may not use the collateral of one customer to cover the obligations of another customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide
accurate reporting, a Fund is subject to the risk that a clearing house will use the Fund's assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing house to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing
house. In addition, clearing members may generally choose to provide to the clearing house the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its customers in
the aggregate, rather than the gross amount for each customer.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
A Fund may take advantage of opportunities in the area of options and futures contracts,
options on futures contracts, warrants, swaps and any other investments which are not presently contemplated for use by the Fund or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the extent such opportunities are both consistent with the Fund's
investment objective and legally permissible for the Fund. Before entering into such transactions or making any such investment, a Fund will provide appropriate disclosure.
15
HIGH YIELD
SECURITIES
Investment in high yield securities (commonly known as “junk” bonds) generally provides greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher
quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and credit risk. These high yield securities are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to
the issuer's continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of debt securities that are high yield may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities. In addition, high yield securities
are often issued by smaller, less creditworthy companies or by highly leveraged (indebted) firms, but can also be issued by governments. Such issuers are generally less able than more financially stable issuers to make scheduled payments of
interest and principal. The risks posed by securities issued under such circumstances are substantial.
Investing in high yield debt securities involves risks that are greater than the risks of investing in higher quality debt
securities. These risks include: (i) changes in credit status, including weaker overall credit conditions of issuers and risks of default; (ii) industry, market and economic risk; and (iii) greater price variability and credit risks of certain high yield securities such as zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities. While these risks provide the opportunity for maximizing
return over time, they may result in greater volatility of the value of a Fund than a fund that invests in higher-rated securities.
Furthermore, the value of high yield securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic, company or industry conditions than is the case for higher quality securities. The market values of certain of these lower-rated and
unrated debt securities tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do higher-rated securities which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates, and tend to be more sensitive to economic
conditions than are higher-rated securities. Adverse market, credit or economic conditions could make it difficult at certain times to sell certain high yield securities held by a Fund.
The secondary market on which high yield securities are traded may be less liquid than the
market for higher grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the price at which a Fund could sell a high yield security, and could adversely affect the daily net asset value per share of a Fund. When secondary markets for high
yield securities are less liquid than the market for higher grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because there is less reliable, objective data available.
The use of credit ratings as a principal method of selecting high yield securities can
involve certain risks. For example, credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of high yield securities. Also, credit rating agencies may fail to change credit ratings in a timely fashion to reflect events since the security was last
rated.
ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS
Each Fund may invest in illiquid investments. A Fund may not acquire any illiquid
investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment means any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven
calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. If illiquid investments exceed 15% of a Fund's net assets, certain
remedial actions will be taken as required by Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act and the Funds' policies and procedures.
INFLATION-PROTECTED OBLIGATIONS
Each Fund may invest in inflation-protected public obligations, commonly known as “TIPS,” of the U.S. Treasury, as well as TIPS of major governments and emerging market countries, excluding the United States. TIPS are a type of security issued by
a government that are designed to provide inflation protection to investors. TIPS are income-generating instruments whose interest and principal payments are adjusted for
inflation—a sustained increase in prices that erodes the purchasing power of money. The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied monthly to the principal of the bond,
follows a designated inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted principal so that as inflation rises or falls, both the principal value and the interest payments will increase or
decrease. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of an investment. Because of this inflation adjustment feature, inflation-protected bonds typically have lower yields than
conventional fixed-rate bonds.
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INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Each Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including affiliated
funds and money market funds, subject to applicable limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Pursuant to Section 12(d)(1), a Fund may invest in the securities of another investment company (the
“acquired company”) provided that the Fund, immediately after such purchase or acquisition, does not own in the aggregate: (i) more than 3% of
the total outstanding voting stock of the acquired company; (ii) securities issued by the acquired company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; or (iii) securities issued by the acquired company and all other investment companies
(other than Treasury stock of the Fund) having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund. To the extent allowed by law, regulation, and/or a Fund's investment restrictions, a Fund may invest its assets in
securities of investment companies, including affiliated funds and/or money market funds, in excess of the limits
discussed above.
If a Fund invests in and, thus, is a shareholder of, another investment company, the Fund's
shareholders will indirectly bear the Fund's proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by such other investment company, including advisory fees, in addition to both the management fees payable directly by the Fund to the Fund's own investment adviser and the
other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with the Fund's own operations.
LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain creditworthy borrowers in U.S. and
non-U.S. markets in an amount not to exceed 40% of the value of its net assets. The borrowers provide collateral that is marked to market daily in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned. A Fund may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the
securities loaned. A Fund receives the value of any interest or cash or non-cash distributions paid on the loaned
securities. A Fund cannot vote proxies for securities on loan, but may recall loans to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the Fund's economic interest in the investment is to be voted upon. Efforts to recall such securities promptly may
be unsuccessful, especially for foreign securities or thinly traded securities. Distributions received on loaned securities in lieu of dividend payments (i.e., substitute payments) would not be considered qualified dividend income.
With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the borrower may be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. A Fund is compensated by the difference between the amount earned on the reinvestment of cash collateral
and the fee paid to the borrower. In the case of collateral other than cash, a Fund is compensated by a fee paid by the borrower equal to a percentage of the market value of the
loaned securities. Any cash collateral may be reinvested in certain high quality short-term instruments either directly on behalf of the lending Fund or through one or more joint
accounts or funds, which may include those managed by the Adviser. A Fund could lose money due to a decline in the value of collateral provided for loaned securities or any investments made with cash collateral. Certain non-cash collateral
or investments made with cash collateral may have a greater risk of loss than other non-cash collateral or investments.
A Fund may pay a portion of the interest or fees earned from securities lending to a borrower
as described above, and to one or more securities lending agents approved by the Board who administer the lending program for the Funds in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. In such capacity, the lending agent provides the following services to the
Funds in connection with the Funds' securities lending activities: (i) locating borrowers among an approved list of prospective borrowers; (ii) causing the delivery of loaned
securities from a Fund to borrowers; (iii) monitoring the value of loaned securities, the value of collateral received, and other lending parameters; (iv) seeking additional
collateral, as necessary, from borrowers; (v) receiving and holding collateral from borrowers, and facilitating the investment and reinvestment of all or substantially all cash collateral in an investment vehicle designated by the Funds; (vi) returning
collateral to borrowers; (vii) facilitating substitute dividend, interest, and other distribution payments to the Funds from borrowers; (viii) negotiating the terms of each loan of securities, including but not limited to the amount of any loan
premium, and monitoring the terms of securities loan agreements with prospective borrowers for consistency with the requirements of the Funds' Securities Lending Authorization Agreement; (ix) selecting securities, including amounts
(percentages), to be loaned; (x) recordkeeping and accounting servicing; and (xi) arranging for return of loaned securities to the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement. State Street Bank and Trust
Company (“State Street”), an affiliate of the Trust, has been approved by the Board to serve as securities lending agent for the Funds and the Trust has entered into an agreement with State Street for such services. Among other matters, the Trust
has agreed to indemnify State Street for certain liabilities. State Street has received an order of exemption from the SEC under Sections 17(a) and 12(d)(1) under the 1940 Act to
serve as the lending agent for affiliated investment companies such as the Trust and to invest the cash collateral received from loan transactions to be invested in an affiliated
cash collateral fund.
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Securities lending involves exposure to certain
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 such as
Taiwan), “gap” risk (i.e., the risk of a mismatch between the return on cash collateral reinvestments and the fees a Fund
has agreed to pay a borrower), risk of loss of collateral, credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. If a securities lending counterparty were to default, a Fund would be subject to the risk of a possible delay in receiving collateral or in recovering the loaned
securities, or to a possible loss of rights in the collateral. In the event a borrower does not return a Fund's securities as agreed, the Fund may experience losses if the proceeds received from liquidating the collateral do not at least equal the
value of the loaned security at the time the collateral is liquidated, plus the transaction costs incurred in purchasing replacement securities. Although State Street has agreed to provide a Fund with indemnification in the event of a borrower
default, a Fund is still exposed to the risk of losses in the event a borrower does not return a Fund's securities as agreed. For example, delays in recovery of lent securities may cause a Fund to lose the opportunity to sell the securities at a
desirable price.
LEVERAGING
While the Funds do not anticipate doing so, a Fund may borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets. However, under normal circumstances, a Fund will not borrow money from a bank in an amount greater than 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets. Borrowing for
investment purposes is one form of leverage. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk, but also increases investment opportunity. Because substantially all of a Fund's assets will fluctuate in
value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the NAV of a Fund will increase more when such Fund's portfolio assets increase in value and decrease more when the Fund's portfolio assets decrease in value than would
otherwise be the case. Moreover, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the returns on the borrowed
funds.
OTHER SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS
Each Fund may invest in short-term instruments, including money market instruments,
(including money market funds advised by the Adviser), cash and cash equivalents, on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity or for other reasons. Money market instruments are generally short-term investments that may include but are not limited to: (i) shares of money market
funds (including those advised by the Adviser); (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored
enterprises); (iii) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), bankers' acceptances, fixed time deposits and
other obligations of U.S. and foreign banks (including foreign branches) and similar institutions; (iv) commercial paper rated at the date of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody's Investors Service (“Moody's”) or “A-1” by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), or if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser; (v) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of
not more than 397 days and that present minimal credit risk; and (vi) short-term U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign banks (including U.S. branches) that, in the opinion
of the Adviser, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S. banks which may be purchased by a Fund. Any of these instruments may be purchased on a current or a forward-settled
basis. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers' acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with
international transactions. Money market instruments also include shares of money market funds. The SEC and other
government agencies continue to review the regulation of money market funds. The SEC has adopted changes to the
rules that govern money market funds over the years, most recently in July 2023. Legislative developments may also affect money market funds. These changes and developments may affect the investment strategies, performance, yield, operating
expenses and continued viability of a money market fund.
PERPETUAL BONDS
Perpetual bonds offer a fixed return with no maturity date. Because they never mature, perpetual bonds can be more volatile
than other types of bonds that have a maturity date and may have heightened sensitivity to changes in interest rates. An issuer of perpetual bonds is responsible for coupon
payments in perpetuity but does not have to redeem the securities. Perpetual bonds may be callable after a set period of time. It is possible that one or more perpetual bonds in
which a Fund invests will be characterized as equity rather than debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Where such perpetual bonds are issued by non-U.S. issuers, they may be treated in turn as equity securities of a “passive foreign investment company.”
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PREFERRED SECURITIES
Preferred securities pay fixed or adjustable rate interest or dividends to investors, and
are generally senior to common stock, but may be subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore may be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. There is no assurance that interest payments, dividends or
distributions on the preferred securities in which a Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable. In the case of preferred stock, in order to be payable, distributions on preferred securities must be declared by the issuer's board of
directors. The market value of preferred securities may be affected by favorable and unfavorable changes impacting companies in the utilities and financial services sectors, which are prominent issuers of preferred securities, and by actual
and anticipated changes in tax laws.
Because the claim on an issuer's earnings represented by preferred securities may become
onerous when interest rates fall below the rate payable on such securities, the issuer may redeem the securities. Thus, in declining interest rate environments in particular, a Fund's holdings of higher rate-paying fixed rate preferred securities may be reduced and the
Fund would be unable to acquire securities paying comparable rates with the redemption
proceeds.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS AND RESTRICTED SECURITIES
Each Fund may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements and, accordingly, are subject to restrictions on
resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. While such private placements may offer attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise available on the open
market, the securities so purchased are often “restricted securities,” i.e., securities which cannot be
sold to the public without registration under the Securities Act or the availability of an exemption from registration (such as Rules 144 or 144A), or which are not readily
marketable because they are subject to other legal or contractual delays in or restrictions on resale. Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers, or in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers, or in
limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration, or in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act.
Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for such investments, especially
under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, a Fund could find it more difficult to sell such securities when the Adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held. Market quotations for such securities are generally less readily
available than for publicly traded securities. The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to ascertain a market value for such securities for purposes of computing a Fund's net asset value, and the judgment of the Adviser may at times
play a greater role in valuing these securities than in the case of publicly traded securities. Disposing of such securities, which may be illiquid investments, can involve
time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for a Fund to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. A Fund may have to bear the extra
expense of registering such securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting such registration.
A Fund may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the Securities Act when selling restricted securities to the public, and in such event the Fund may be
liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a part of it, is materially inaccurate or
misleading.
RATINGS
An investment grade rating means the security or issuer is rated investment grade by
Moody's, S&P, Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), Morningstar DBRS, or another credit
rating agency designated as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization by the SEC, or is unrated but considered to be of equivalent quality by the
Adviser.
Subsequent to purchase by a Fund, a rated security may cease
to be rated or its investment grade rating may be reduced below an investment grade rating. Bonds rated lower than Baa3 by Moody's or BBB- by S&P or Fitch are below investment
grade quality and are obligations of issuers that are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore, carry greater
investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Such securities (“lower rated securities”) are commonly referred to as “junk” bonds and are subject to a substantial
degree of credit risk. Lower rated securities are often issued by smaller, less creditworthy companies or by highly leveraged (indebted) firms, which are generally less able than more financially stable firms to make scheduled payments of interest
and principal. The risks posed by securities issued under such circumstances are substantial. Bonds rated below
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investment-grade tend to be less marketable than
higher-quality bonds because the market for them is less broad. The market for unrated bonds is even narrower. See “HIGH YIELD SECURITIES” above for more information relating to the risks associated with investing in lower rated securities, or Appendix A for
more information on the ratings of debt instruments.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements with commercial banks, brokers or dealers to
generate income from its excess cash balances and to invest securities lending cash collateral. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a Fund acquires a financial instrument (e.g., a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a
banker's acceptance or a certificate of deposit) from a seller, subject to resale to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next Business Day—as defined below). A repurchase agreement may be considered a loan
collateralized by securities. The resale price reflects an agreed upon interest rate effective for the period the instrument is held by a Fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument.
In these repurchase agreement transactions, the securities acquired by a Fund (including
accrued interest earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of the value of the repurchase agreement and are held by the Custodian until repurchased. No more than an aggregate of 15% of a Fund's net assets will be invested in illiquid investments, including
repurchase agreements having maturities longer than seven days and securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, or for which there are no readily available market quotations.
The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if the other party to
the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying security at a time when the value of the security has declined, a Fund may incur a loss upon disposition of the security. If the other party to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or
reorganization under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine that the underlying security is collateral for a loan by a Fund not within the control of the Fund and, therefore, the Fund may not be able to substantiate
its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Each Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase
the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. The securities purchased with the funds obtained from the agreement and
securities collateralizing the agreement will have maturity dates no later than the repayment date. Generally the effect of such transactions is that a Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement,
while in many cases a Fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such
transactions are only advantageous if a Fund has an opportunity to earn a greater rate of interest on the cash derived from these transactions than the interest cost of obtaining the same amount of cash. Opportunities to realize earnings from
the use of the proceeds equal to or greater than the interest required to be paid may not always be available and a Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when
the Adviser believes it will be advantageous to the Fund. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any interim increase or decrease in the value of a Fund's assets. A Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements if it either meets the relevant asset coverage requirements of
Section 18 of the 1940 Act for senior securities representing indebtedness, or elects to treat such arrangements as derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule. Each Fund
does not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 10% of its total assets.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
U.S. Government obligations are a type of bond. U.S. Government obligations include
securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
One type of U.S. Government obligation, U.S. Treasury obligations, are backed by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have
initial maturities of greater than ten years.
Other U.S. Government obligations are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government
including, but not limited to, Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage
Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home
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Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLB”), Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central
Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation . Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for
example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the
discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as
those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. Government provides financial support to such
U.S. Government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will always do so,
since the U.S. Government is not so obligated by law.
In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, placing the two federal
instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the terms of the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained
warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality. Under these Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (“SPAs”), the U.S. Treasury has pledged to provide a limited amount of capital per instrumentality as needed, including the
contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. In May 2009, the U.S. Treasury increased its maximum commitment to each instrumentality under the SPAs from $100 billion to $200 billion per instrumentality. In December 2009,
the U.S. Treasury amended the SPAs to provide Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with some additional flexibility to meet the requirement to reduce their mortgage portfolios. Also in
December 2009, the U.S. Treasury further amended the SPAs to allow the cap on the U.S. Treasury's funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's net worth through the end of 2012. On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury
announced that it was again amending the SPAs to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10% dividend annually on all amounts received under the funding commitment. Instead, they were required to transfer to the
U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceeded a capital reserve amount of $3 billion. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced
amendments to the SPAs permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively. It is believed that the amendment puts
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because the companies no longer have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal
regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question
as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization,
consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.
U.S. REGISTERED SECURITIES OF FOREIGN ISSUERS
Each Fund may purchase exchange-traded common stocks and exchange-traded preferred securities of foreign corporations, as
well as U.S. registered, dollar-denominated bonds of foreign corporations, governments, agencies and supra-national entities. Investing in U.S. registered, dollar-denominated,
securities issued by non-U.S. issuers involves some risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These include differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, adverse
changes in investment or exchange control regulations, political instability which could affect U.S. investments in foreign countries, and potential restrictions of the flow of international capital. Foreign companies may be subject to less
governmental regulation than U.S. issuers. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource
self- sufficiency and balance of payment positions.
A Fund's investments in common stock of foreign corporations may also be in the form of American Depositary Receipts
(“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts are receipts,
typically issued by a bank or trust company, which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S.
financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a foreign issuer. For other Depositary Receipts, the depository may be a foreign or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a foreign or a U.S. issuer. Depositary Receipts will not necessarily be
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denominated in the same currency as their
underlying securities. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and EDRs, in bearer form, are designated for use in European
securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world.
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES
Variable rate securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by entities such as (1) U.S.
Government, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, (2) states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities or states and multi-state agencies or authorities, (3) corporations, (4) financial institutions, (5) insurance companies or (6) trusts that have a rate of interest subject to adjustment at regular intervals but less frequently than annually. A variable
rate security provides for the automatic establishment of a new interest rate on set dates. Variable rate obligations whose interest is readjusted no less frequently than annually will be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until
the next readjustment of the interest rate. A Fund may also purchase floating rate securities. A floating rate security provides for the automatic adjustment of its interest rate whenever a specified interest rate changes. Interest rates on
these securities are ordinarily tied to, and are a percentage of, a widely recognized interest rate, such as the yield on 90-day U.S. Treasury bills or the prime rate of a specified bank. These rates may change as often as twice daily. Generally,
changes in interest rates will have a smaller effect on the market value of variable and fixed rate floating rate securities than on the market value of comparable fixed rate fixed income obligations. Thus, investing in variable and fixed rate
floating rate securities generally allows less opportunity for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in comparable fixed rate fixed income securities.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES
Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis. Delivery of and payment for these securities may take place as
long as a month or more after the date of the purchase commitment. The value of these securities is subject to market fluctuation during this period, and no income accrues to a
Fund until settlement takes place. When entering into a when-issued transaction, a Fund will rely on the other party to consummate the transaction; if the other party fails to do
so, a Fund may be disadvantaged.
Securities purchased on a when-issued basis and held by a Fund are subject to changes in
market value based upon actual or perceived changes in the level of interest rates. Generally, the value of such securities will fluctuate inversely to changes in interest rates — i.e., they will appreciate in value when interest rates decline and decrease in value when
interest rates rise. Therefore, if a Fund purchases securities on a “when-issued” basis, there may be a greater
possibility of fluctuation in the Fund's NAV.
Special Considerations and Risks
A discussion of the risks associated with an investment in each Fund is contained in
the Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.
GENERAL
Investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of a Fund's
portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of securities generally and other factors.
An investment in a Fund should also be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in
an investment in securities, including the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the securities markets may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the portfolio securities and thus
in the value of Shares). Securities are susceptible to general market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. These investor perceptions are based on various
and unpredictable factors including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and
global or regional political, economic and banking crises. Securities of issuers traded on exchanges may be suspended on certain exchanges by the issuers themselves, by an exchange or by government authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in
emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied
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broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities
in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and instruments that reference the securities, such as
participatory notes (or
“P-notes”) or other derivative instruments, may be halted.
The principal trading market for some securities may be in the over-the-counter market. The
existence of a liquid trading market for certain securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in such securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made or maintained or that any such market will be or remain liquid. The price at which
securities may be sold and the value of a Fund's Shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for a Fund's portfolio securities are limited or absent or if bid/ask spreads are wide.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RISK
An investment in a Fund may be subject to a number of actual or potential conflicts of
interest. For example, the Adviser or its affiliates may provide services to a Fund, such as securities lending agency services, custodial, administrative, bookkeeping, and accounting services, transfer agency and shareholder servicing, securities brokerage services, and other
services for which the Fund would compensate the Adviser and/or such affiliates. A Fund may invest in other pooled investment vehicles sponsored, managed, or otherwise affiliated
with the Adviser. There is no assurance that the rates at which a Fund pays fees or expenses to the Adviser or its affiliates, or the terms on which it enters into transactions
with the Adviser or its affiliates, will be the most favorable available in the market generally or as favorable as the rates the Adviser makes available to other clients. Because of its financial interest, the Adviser may have an incentive to enter into
transactions or arrangements on behalf of a Fund with itself or its affiliates in circumstances where it might not have done so in the absence of that interest.
CONTINUOUS OFFERING
The method by which Creation Units of Shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities
laws. Because new Creation Units of Shares are issued and sold by the Trust on an ongoing basis, at any point a
“distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities
on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and
subject them to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act.
For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a
statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent Shares, and sells such Shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving
solicitation of secondary market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its
client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.
Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of Shares, are generally
required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions
as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus-delivery obligation with respect to Shares of a Fund are reminded that under Securities Act Rule 153, a prospectus-delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the
Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Exchange is satisfied by the fact that a Fund's Prospectus is available at the Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only
available with respect to transactions on an exchange.
SSGA FM or its affiliates (the “Selling
Shareholder”) may purchase Creation Units through a broker-dealer to “seed” (in whole or in part) Funds as they are launched, or may purchase shares from broker-dealers or other investors that have
previously provided “seed” for a Fund when it was launched or otherwise in secondary market transactions, and because the Selling Shareholder may be deemed an affiliate of such Funds, the Shares are being registered to permit the resale of
these shares from time to time after purchase. The Funds will not receive any of the proceeds from the resale by the Selling Shareholders of these Shares.
23
The Selling Shareholder intends to sell all or a
portion of the Shares owned by it and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more broker-dealers, and may also hedge such positions. The Shares may be sold on
any national securities exchange on which the Shares may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, in the over-the-counter market or in transactions other than on these exchanges or systems at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time
of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve cross or block transactions.
The Selling Shareholder may also loan or pledge Shares to broker-dealers that in turn may
sell such Shares, to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Selling Shareholder may also enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of Shares, which Shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell.
The Selling Shareholder and any broker-dealer or agents participating in the distribution of Shares may be deemed to be
“underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions
paid to any such broker-dealer or agent and any profit on the resale of the Shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities
Act. The Selling Shareholder who may be deemed an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section
2(a)(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
COUNTERPARTY RISK
Counterparty risk with respect to derivatives has been and may continue to be affected by new rules and regulations
affecting the derivatives market. Some derivatives transactions are required to be centrally cleared, and a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it
holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivatives transaction. Credit risk of market participants with respect to derivatives that are centrally cleared is concentrated in a few clearing houses, and it is
not clear how an insolvency proceeding of a clearing house would be conducted, what effect the insolvency proceeding would have on any recovery by a Fund, and what impact an insolvency of a clearing house would have on the financial system
more generally.
FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS
There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular
futures contract or option at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures or options position. In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if a
Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, a Fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying futures
contracts it has sold.
Each Fund will minimize the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures or options contract by only entering into futures and options for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market.
The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered index
futures contracts) is potentially unlimited. The risk of a futures position may still be large as traditionally measured due to the low margin deposits required. In many cases, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in
immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required margin deposit. A Fund, however, may utilize futures and options contracts in a manner designed to limit its risk exposure to that which is comparable to
what it would have incurred through direct investment in securities.
Utilization of futures transactions by a Fund involves the risk of loss by a Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom a Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option.
Certain financial futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The “daily price fluctuation
limit” or “daily limit” establishes the maximum amount that
the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day's settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, generally no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond
that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation
of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing
prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.
24
RISKS OF SWAP AGREEMENTS
Swap agreements are subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default occurs,
a Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction, but such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect the Fund's rights as a creditor.
The use of interest-rate and index swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. The use of a swap requires an understanding
not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index, but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. These transactions generally do not involve the delivery of
securities or other underlying assets or principal.
The absence of a regulated execution facility or contract market and lack of liquidity for swap transactions has led, in
some instances, to difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. Under recently adopted rules and regulations, transactions in some types of swaps are required to be centrally cleared. In a cleared
derivatives transaction, a Fund's counterparty to the transaction is a central derivatives clearing organization, or clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Because the Funds are not members of a clearing house, and only members of a clearing
house can participate directly in the clearing house, each Fund holds cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, a Fund will
make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through its accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients' obligations to the clearing house. Centrally cleared derivative arrangements may be less
favorable to a Fund than bilateral (non-cleared) arrangements. For example, a Fund may be required to provide greater amounts of margin for cleared derivatives transactions than for bilateral derivatives transactions. Also, in contrast to
bilateral derivatives transactions, in some cases following a period of notice to a Fund, a clearing member generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time or an increase in margin requirements above the
margin that the clearing member required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing transactions or to
terminate transactions at any time in accordance with their rules. A Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or which
SSGA FM expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund's behalf. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the transaction,
including loss of an increase in the value of the transaction and loss of hedging protection. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between a Fund and clearing members is drafted by the clearing members and generally is less
favorable to the Fund than typical bilateral derivatives documentation.
These clearing rules and other new rules and regulations could, among other things, restrict a Fund's ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer
available to the Fund, increasing margin or capital requirements, or otherwise limiting liquidity or increasing transaction costs. These regulations, as applicable to swaps, are relatively new and evolving, so their potential impact on a Fund and
the financial system are not yet known.
Because they are two party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and
because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid and subject to a Fund's limitation on investments in illiquid investments. To the extent that a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. Like
most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to a Fund's interest.
If a Fund uses a swap as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the Fund will be exposed to the
risk that the swap will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the Fund. While hedging strategies involving swap instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can
also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other Fund investments. Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively.
EUROPE – RECENT EVENTS
A number of countries in Europe, including Greece, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, have
substantial government debt levels. The concern over these debt levels has led to volatility in the European financial markets, which has adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe. For some countries, the ability
to repay sovereign debt is in question, and default is possible, which could affect their ability to borrow in the future.
25
Several countries have agreed to multi-year
bailout loans from the European Central Bank, the IMF, and other institutions. A default or debt restructuring by any European country can adversely impact holders of that
country's debt and can affect exposures to other European Union (“EU”) countries and their financial companies as
well. These financial difficulties may continue, worsen or spread within or outside Europe. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit
future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences.
Uncertainties regarding the viability of the EU have impacted and may continue to impact markets in the United States and around the world. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly
known as “Brexit”). An agreement between the UK and the EU governing their future trade relationship became effective January 1, 2021, but that agreement does not include an agreement on financial services, and it is unlikely that such agreement will
be concluded. Moreover, the UK government has started a program of financial services law reform with the ultimate aim of repealing many EU financial services laws that were
assimilated into UK law from January 1, 2021, and replacing them with legislation or rules made by the UK government or financial services regulators. Accordingly, uncertainty
remains in certain areas as to the future relationship between the UK and the EU. Brexit has already had a significant impact on the UK, Europe, and global economies, and could continue to result in volatility and illiquidity, legal, political,
economic and regulatory uncertainties and lower economic growth for these economies that could in turn have an adverse effect on the value of a Fund's investments. Any further exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, or the
abandonment of the euro, may cause additional market disruption globally and introduce new legal and regulatory
uncertainties.
MARKET TURBULENCE RESULTING FROM INFECTIOUS ILLNESS
A widespread outbreak of an infectious illness, such as COVID-19, may lead to governments and businesses world-wide taking
aggressive measures, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations. As occurred in the
wake of COVID-19, the spread of such an illness may result in the disruption of and delays in the delivery of healthcare services and processes, the cancellation of organized
events and educational institutions, the disruption of production and supply chains, a decline in consumer demand for certain goods and services, and general concern and uncertainty, all of which may contribute to increased volatility in
global markets. COVID-19, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations, the global economy, individual companies, sectors and industries, and capital markets in ways
that cannot be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the impact of infectious diseases in developing or emerging market countries may be greater due to limited health care
resources. Political, economic and social stresses caused by infectious illness also may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries.
The duration of such an illness and its effects cannot be determined at this time, but the effects could be present for an extended period of time.
RUSSIA SANCTIONS RISK
Sanctions threatened or imposed by a number of jurisdictions, including the United States, the European Union and the United
Kingdom, and other intergovernmental actions that have been or may be undertaken in the future, against Russia, Russian entities or Russian individuals, may result in the
devaluation of Russian currency, a downgrade in the country's credit rating, an immediate freeze of Russian assets, a decline in the value and liquidity of Russian securities,
property or interests, and/or other adverse consequences to the Russian economy or a Fund. The scope and scale of sanctions in place at a particular time may be expanded or otherwise modified in a way that have negative effects on a Fund. Sanctions,
or the threat of new or modified sanctions, could impair the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, hold, receive, deliver or otherwise transact in certain affected securities or other
investment instruments. Sanctions could also result in Russia taking counter measures or other actions in response, which may further impair the value and liquidity of Russian
securities. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in
other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of a Fund, even if a Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.
26
A reduction in liquidity of certain Fund holdings
as a result of sanctions and related actions may cause a Fund to experience increased premiums or discounts to its NAV and/or wider bid-ask spreads. Additionally, if it becomes
impracticable or unlawful for a Fund to hold securities subject to, or otherwise affected by, sanctions, or if deemed appropriate by the Fund's investment adviser, the Fund may prohibit in-kind deposits of the affected securities in
connection with creation transactions and instead require a cash deposit, which may also increase the Fund's transaction costs.
TAX RISKS
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares of a Fund will be taxed. The tax information in
the Prospectus and this SAI is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in Shares of a Fund.
Unless your investment in Shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-advantaged retirement account, such as an
individual retirement account, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when a Fund makes distributions or you sell Shares.
Investment Restrictions
The Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies with respect to each Fund. These
restrictions cannot be changed with respect to a Fund without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities. For purposes of the 1940 Act, a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund means
the vote, at an annual or a special meeting of the security holders of the Trust, of the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund present at such meeting, if
the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund. Except with the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, a Fund may not:
1.
Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is
defined under the 1940 Act, the Rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time;(1)
2.
Make loans to another
person except as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Funds;
3.
Issue senior
securities or borrow money except as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the
Funds;
4.
Invest directly in real estate unless the real estate is acquired as a result of ownership of
securities or other instruments. This restriction shall not preclude the Funds from investing in companies that deal in real estate or in instruments that are backed or secured by real estate;
5.
Act as an underwriter of another issuer's securities, except to the extent the Funds may be
deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the Funds' purchase and sale of portfolio securities; or
6.
Invest in commodities except as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the
Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Funds.
In addition
to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, the Funds observe the following restrictions, which may be changed by the Board without a
shareholder vote. The Funds will not:
1.
Invest in the
securities of a company for the purpose of exercising management or control, provided that the Trust may vote the investment securities owned by the Funds in accordance with its
views;
(1)
The SEC Staff considers concentration to involve more than 25% of a fund's assets to be invested
in an industry or group of industries.
27
2.
Under normal
circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in corporate bonds rated below investment grade. Prior to any change
in this 80% investment policy, the Funds will provide shareholders with 60 days' notice.
If a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment or contract, a later
increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or total or net assets will not result in a violation of such restriction, except that the percentage limitations with respect to the borrowing of money will be observed continuously. With respect to the limitation
on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Funds to exceed its limitation, the Funds will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three
days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).
The 1940 Act currently permits the Funds to loan up to 33 1/3% of its total assets. With respect to borrowing, the 1940 Act
presently allows the Funds to: (1) borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets, (2) borrow money for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value
of the Funds' total assets at the time of the loan, and (3) enter into reverse repurchase agreements. However, under normal circumstances any borrowings by the Funds will not
exceed 10% of the Funds' total assets. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities,
such as certain borrowings, with appropriate asset coverage. With respect to investments in commodities, the 1940 Act presently permits the Funds to invest in commodities in accordance with investment policies contained in its prospectus and
SAI. Any such investment shall also comply with the CEA and the rules and regulations thereunder. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company's ability to invest
in real estate, but does require that every investment company have the fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Funds will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Funds may invest in companies that deal in real estate (including REITs) or in instruments that are
backed or secured by real estate.
Exchange Listing and Trading
A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in a Fund is contained in the Prospectus
under “PURCHASE AND SALE
INFORMATION” and “ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION.” The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, such sections of the
Prospectus.
The Shares of each Fund are approved for listing and
trading on the Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. Shares trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to some degree from their net asset value. There can be no assurance
that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of Shares of a Fund will continue to be met.
The Exchange may consider the suspension of trading in, and may initiate delisting
proceedings of, the Shares of a Fund under any of the following circumstances: (i) if the Exchange becomes aware that the Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act; (ii) if the Fund no longer complies with the applicable listing requirements
set forth in the Exchange's rules; (iii) if, following the initial twelve-month period after commencement of trading on the Exchange of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Fund; or (iv) if such other event shall occur or
condition exists which, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. The
Exchange will remove the Shares from listing and trading upon termination of a Fund.
The Trust reserves the right to adjust the Share price 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 the Fund or an investor's equity interest in the Fund.
As in the case of other publicly traded securities, brokers' commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.
The base and trading currencies of each Fund is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which a Fund's net
asset value per Share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which Shares of a Fund are listed and traded on the Exchange.
Management of the Trust
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled
“MANAGEMENT.”
28
BOARD
RESPONSIBILITIES
The management and affairs of the Trust and its series,
including the Funds described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described in this SAI, under which certain companies provide essential
management services to the Trust.
Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of
risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, Distributor, Administrator, and Sub-Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust's service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk
management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that
could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Funds. The Funds and their service providers
employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for
one or more discrete aspects of the Trust's business and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Funds' service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk
management.
The Trustees' role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a Fund, at which time the
Fund's Adviser presents the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the Fund, as well as proposed investment limitations for the Fund. Additionally, the Fund's Adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other
things, their investment philosophies, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructures. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the
Adviser and other service providers, such as the Fund's independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee
efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which a Fund may be exposed.
The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services
provided to the Funds by the Adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, the Board meets
with the Adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser's adherence to each Fund's investment restrictions and compliance with
various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about each Fund's investments.
The Trust's Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues. At least annually, the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of
the Trust's policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the Adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and
each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material
changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.
The Board receives reports from the Funds' service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. Regular reports are made to the Board concerning investments for which market
quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of each Fund's financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Fund and noting
any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Fund's internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees Fund management's
implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are
recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust's internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of the Trust's financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust's financial statements.
From their review of these reports and discussions with the Adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent
registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the Funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and
mitigate those risks.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect a Fund can be identified and/or
quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve a Fund's goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address
29
certain risks may be limited in their
effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the Funds' investment
management and business affairs are carried out by or through a Fund's Adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried
out may differ from the Funds' and each other's in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and
other factors, the Board's ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
There are eight members of the Board of Trustees, seven of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is
defined in the 1940 Act
(“Independent Trustees”). Dwight D. Churchill, an Independent Trustee, serves as Chairman of the Board. The Board has determined its leadership
structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Board made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that
the Independent Trustees constitute a super-majority (87.5%) of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an Independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds overseen
by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from fund
management.
The Board of Trustees has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and Trustee Committee. The Audit Committee and
Trustee Committee are each chaired by an Independent Trustee and composed of all of the Independent Trustees.
Set forth below are the names, year of birth, position with the Trust, length of term of
office, and the principal occupations during the last five years and other directorships held of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee or Officer of the Trust.
TRUSTEES
| Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) With Funds |
Term
of Office and Length of Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past
Five Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex
Overseen by Trustee† |
Other
Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five
Years |
| INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES | |||||
| DWIGHT D. CHURCHILL c/o SSGA Active Trust One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1953 |
Independent Trustee, Chairman; Trustee Committee, Chairman |
Term: Unlimited Served: since April 2010 |
Self-employed consultant since 2010. |
[153] |
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (Director) (2010 - present). |
| CARL G. VERBONCOEUR c/o SSGA Active Trust One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1952 |
Independent Trustee |
Term: Unlimited Served: since April 2010 |
Self-employed consultant since 2009. |
[153] |
None. |
| CLARE S. RICHER
c/o SSGA Active Trust
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1958 |
Independent Trustee |
Term: Unlimited Served: since July 2018 |
Retired. |
[153] |
Principal Financial Group (Director and Financial Committee Chair) (2020 – present); Bain Capital Specialty Finance (Director) (2019 – present); Bain Capital Private Credit (Director) (2022 – present); University of Notre Dame (Trustee) (2015 – present). |
| SANDRA G. SPONEM
c/o SSGA Active Trust
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1958 |
Independent Trustee, Audit Committee Chair |
Term: Unlimited Served: since July 2018 |
Retired. |
[153] |
Rydex Series Funds (52 portfolios), Rydex
Dynamic Funds (8 portfolios) and Rydex Variable Trust (49 |
30
| Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) With Funds |
Term
of Office and Length of Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five
Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex
Overseen by Trustee† |
Other
Directorships Held by Trustee
During Past Five Years |
| |
|
|
|
|
portfolios) (Trustee) (2016 – present); Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust (3
portfolios), Guggenheim
Funds Trust (18 portfolios), Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust, Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund, Guggenheim
Variable Funds Trust (14
portfolios), and Transparent Value Trust (5 portfolios) (Trustee) (2019-present);
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund
(Trustee) (2021-present);
Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund (Trustee)
(2019-2022); Guggenheim Enhanced Equity Income Fund and Guggenheim Credit
Allocation Fund (Trustee) (2019-2021); and Guggenheim
Energy & Income Fund
(Trustee) (2015 - 2023). |
| CAROLYN M. CLANCY
c/o SSGA Active Trust
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1960 |
Independent Trustee |
Term Unlimited Served: since October 2022 |
Retired. Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy, Analytics and Market Readiness, Fidelity Investments (April 2020 – June 2021); Executive Vice President, Head of Broker Dealer Business, Fidelity Investments (July 2017 – March 2020). |
[153] |
Assumption University (Trustee) (2011 – 2021) and (2022 – present); Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
(Director) (2016 – 2023). |
| KRISTI L. ROWSELL
c/o SSGA Active Trust
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1966 |
Independent Trustee |
Term Unlimited Served: since October 2022 |
Partner and President, Harris Associates (2010 – 2021). |
[153] |
Harris Oakmark ETF
Trust (1 portfolio) (Trustee) 2024-present); Harris Associates
Investment Trust (8 portfolios) (Trustee) (2010 – present); Board of Governors,
Investment Company Institute (Member) (2018 – present); Habitat for Humanity Chicago
(Director) (2015 –
present). |
| JAMES E. ROSS*
c/o SSGA Active Trust
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1965 |
Independent Trustee |
Term: Unlimited Served: since April 2010 |
President, Winnisquam Capital LLC (December 2022 – present); Non-Executive Chairman, Fusion Acquisition Corp II |
[175] |
Investment Managers Series Trust (50
Portfolios) (2022 –
present); The Select Sector SPDR Trust (11 portfolios) (2005 – |
31
| Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) With Funds |
Term
of Office and Length of Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five
Years |
Number
of Portfolios in Fund Complex
Overseen by Trustee† |
Other
Directorships Held by Trustee
During Past Five Years |
| |
|
|
(February 2020 – present); Non-Executive Chairman, Fusion Acquisition Corp. (June 2020 – September 2021); Retired Chairman and Director, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2005 – March 2020); Retired Executive Vice President, State Street Investment Management (2012 – March 2020); Retired Chief Executive Officer and Manager, State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (May 2017 – March 2020). |
|
present); SSGA SPDR ETFs Europe I plc
(Director) (2016 – 2020);
SSGA SPDR ETFs Europe II plc (Director) (2016 – 2020); State Street Navigator
Securities Lending Trust
(2016 – 2020); SSGA
Funds (2014 – 2020);
State Street Institutional
Investment Trust (2007
–2020); State Street
Master Funds (2007 –2020). |
| INTERESTED TRUSTEE | |||||
| JEANNE LAPORTA**
c/o SSGA Active Trust
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1965 |
Interested Trustee |
Term Unlimited Served: since November 2024 |
Chair and Director, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (October 2024 – Present); Senior Managing Director, State Street Investment Management (August 2024 – Present); Chief Administrative Officer at ClearAlpha Technologies LP (FinTech startup) (January 2021 – August 2024); Senior Managing Director at State Street Investment Management (July 2016 – 2021); Manager of State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (May 2017 – 2021); Director of SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (March 2020 - 2021); President of State Street Institutional Funds and State Street Variable Insurance Series Funds, Inc. (April 2014 – March 2020). |
[233] |
Interested Trustee, Select Sector SPDR
Trust (November 2024-present).
Interested Trustee/ Director of Elfun
Diversified Fund, Elfun
Government Money Market Fund, Elfun
Income Fund, Elfun International Equity Fund, Elfun Tax-Exempt Income Fund, Elfun
Trusts, State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust, SSGA Funds, State Street Variable Insurance
Series Funds, Inc., State
Street Master Funds, and State Street
Institutional Investment
Trust (January 2025 –
present). Interested Trustee, Elfun Government Money
Market Fund, Elfun Tax-Exempt Income
Fund, Elfun Income Fund, Elfun Diversified Fund, Elfun International Equity Fund, and Elfun Trusts (2016 – 2021). |
†
For the purpose of determining the number of portfolios overseen by the Trustees, “Fund Complex” comprises registered investment
companies for which SSGA Funds Management, Inc. serves as investment adviser, which includes series of SPDR Series Trust, SSGA Active Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds.
*
Mr. Ross previously served as an Interested Trustee from November 2005 to December 2009 and from April 2010 to May 2024. He became an Independent Trustee on May 16, 2024.
**
Ms. LaPorta is an Interested Trustee because of her positions with the Adviser.
32
OFFICERS
| Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) With Funds |
Term
of Office and Length of Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
| ANN M. CARPENTER
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1966 |
President and Principal Executive Officer; Deputy Treasurer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since May 2023 (with respect to President and Principal Executive Officer);
Term: Unlimited
Served: since
February 2016
(with respect to
Deputy
Treasurer) |
Chief Operating Officer, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (April 2005 - present)*; Managing Director, State Street Investment Management (April 2005 - present).* |
| BRUCE S. ROSENBERG
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1961 |
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since February 2016 |
Managing Director, State Street Investment Management and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (July 2015 - present). |
| CHAD C. HALLETT
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1969 |
Deputy Treasurer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since February 2016 |
Vice President, State Street Investment Management and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (November 2014 - present). |
| ANDREW J. DELORME
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1975 |
Chief Legal Officer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since February 2024 |
Managing Director and Managing Counsel, State Street Investment Management (March 2023 - present); Counsel, K&L Gates (February 2021 - March 2023); Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street Investment Management (August 2014 - February 2021). |
| DAVID URMAN SSGA
Funds Management, Inc. One Congress Street
Boston, MA 02114 1985 |
Secretary |
Term: Unlimited Served: since August 2019 |
Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street Investment Management (April 2019 - present). |
| DAVID BARR SSGA
Funds Management, Inc. One Congress Street
Boston, MA 02114 1974 |
Assistant Secretary |
Term: Unlimited Served: since November 2020 |
Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street Investment Management (October 2019 - present). |
| E. GERARD MAIORANA, JR. SSGA Funds Management, Inc. One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1971 |
Assistant Secretary |
Term: Unlimited Served: since May 2023 |
Assistant Vice President, State Street Investment Management (July 2014 - present). |
| DARLENE ANDERSON-VASQUEZ SSGA Funds Management, Inc. One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1968 |
Deputy Treasurer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since November 2016 |
Managing Director, State Street Investment Management and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (May 2016 - present). |
| ARTHUR A. JENSEN
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
1600 Summer Street Stamford, CT 06905
1966 |
Deputy Treasurer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since August 2017 |
Vice President, State Street Investment Management and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (July 2016 - present). |
| DAVID LANCASTER
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1971 |
Assistant Treasurer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since November 2020 |
Vice President, State Street Investment Management and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (July 2017 - present).* |
33
| Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) With Funds |
Term
of Office and Length of Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
| JOHN BETTENCOURT
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1976 |
Assistant Treasurer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since May 2022 |
Vice President, State Street Investment Management and SSGA Funds Management Inc. (March 2020 – present). |
| VEDRAN VUKOVIC
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1985 |
Assistant Treasurer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since February 2024 |
Vice President, State Street Investment Management (2023 – present); Assistant Vice President, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (2011 – 2023). |
| BRIAN HARRIS
SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
One Congress Street Boston, MA 02114
1973 |
Chief Compliance Officer; Anti-Money Laundering Officer; Code of Ethics Compliance Officer |
Term: Unlimited Served: since November 2013 |
Managing Director, State Street Investment Management and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (June 2013 - present); Chief Compliance Officer, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (June 2023 – Present).* |
*
Served in various capacities and/or with various affiliated entities during the noted time period.
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.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Churchill should serve as Trustee because of the
experience he gained serving as the Head of the Fixed Income Division of one of the nation's leading mutual fund companies and provider of financial services, his knowledge of the financial services industry and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of SPDR Index
Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust since April 2010.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Verboncoeur should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a large financial services and investment management company, his knowledge of the financial
services industry and his experience serving on the boards of other investment companies, including SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust since April 2010.
The Board has concluded that Ms. Richer should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as the Chief
Financial Officer of a large financial services and investment management company, her knowledge of the financial services industry and her experience serving on the board of a
major educational institution. Ms. Richer was appointed to serve as Trustee of the Trust in July 2018 and elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in October 2022.
The Board has concluded that Ms. Sponem should serve as Trustee because of the
experience she gained serving as the Chief Financial Officer of a large financial services company, her knowledge of the financial services industry and her experience serving on the boards of other investment companies. Ms. Sponem was appointed to serve as Trustee of the Trust in
July 2018 and elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in October 2022.
The Board has concluded that Ms. Clancy should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as an Executive Vice President of a large financial services company, her knowledge of the financial services industry and her
experience serving on the boards of a major educational institution and a charitable foundation. Ms. Clancy was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in October 2022.
The Board has concluded that Ms. Rowsell should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as the
President and Chief Financial Officer of a large financial services company, her knowledge of the financial services industry and her experience serving on the boards of a financial services company, a leading association representing
regulated investment funds and a charitable foundation. Ms. Clancy was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in October 2022.
34
The Board has concluded that Mr. Ross should serve
as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with the Adviser, his knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving
as Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust since 2005 (Mr. Ross did not serve as Trustee of SPDR
Index Shares Funds or SPDR Series Trust from December 2009 until April 2010).
The Board has concluded that Ms. LaPorta should serve as Trustee because of the experience
she has gained in her various roles with the Adviser and her knowledge of the financial services industry. Ms. LaPorta was appointed to serve as Trustee of the Trust in November 2024.
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.
REMUNERATION OF THE TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trust, SPDR Series Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds (together with the Trust, the “Trusts”) pay, in the aggregate, each Trustee (other than Ms. LaPorta) an annual fee of $300,000 plus $15,000 per in-person meeting attended and $2,500 for
each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $115,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an
additional annual fee of $40,000. The Trusts also reimburse each Trustee (other than Ms. LaPorta) for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him/her in connection with attending such meetings and in connection with attending industry seminars and meetings. Trustee fees
are allocated between the Trusts and each of their respective series in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration the relative net assets of the series. During
the fiscal year ended [August 31, 2025], no officer of the Trust received compensation in excess of $60,000 from the Trust. Additionally, no Trustee or officer of the Trust is
entitled to any pension or retirement benefits from the Trust.
The table below shows the compensation that the Trustees received during the Funds' fiscal year ended [August 31,
2025].
| Name of Trustee |
Aggregate Compensation from the
Trust |
Pension or Retirement Benefits
Accrued as Part of Trust Expenses
|
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon
Retirement |
Total Compensation from the Trust
and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees (1) |
| Independent Trustees: | ||||
| Carl G. Verboncoeur |
$[ ]
|
$0
|
$0
|
$[ ]
|
| Dwight D. Churchill |
$[ ]
|
$0
|
$0
|
$[ ]
|
| Clare S. Richer |
$[ ]
|
$0
|
$0
|
$[ ]
|
| Sandra G. Sponem |
$[ ]
|
$0
|
$0
|
$[ ]
|
| Carolyn M. Clancy |
$[ ]
|
$0
|
$0
|
$[ ]
|
| Kristi L. Roswell |
$[ ]
|
$0
|
$0
|
$[ ]
|
| James E. Ross |
$[ ]
|
$0
|
$0
|
$[ ]
|
| Interested Trustee: | ||||
| Jeanne LaPorta(2) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
(1)
The Fund Complex includes SPDR Series Trust, SSGA Active Trust and SPDR Index Shares
Funds.
(2)
Not compensated by the Trust due to Ms. LaPorta's position with the Adviser. Ms. LaPorta was
appointed to serve as an Interested Trustee on November 7, 2024.
STANDING COMMITTEES
Audit Committee: The Board has an Audit Committee consisting of all the Independent Trustees. Ms.
Sponem serves as Chair. The Audit Committee meets with the Trust's independent auditors to review and approve the scope and results of their professional services; to review the procedures for evaluating the adequacy of the Trust's accounting controls; to
consider the range of audit fees; and to make recommendations to the Board regarding the engagement of the Trust's independent auditors. The Audit Committee met [four (4) times] during the fiscal year ended [August 31,
2025].
35
Trustee
Committee: The Board has established a Trustee Committee consisting of all the Independent Trustees. Mr.
Churchill serves as Chairman. The responsibilities of the Trustee Committee are to: 1) nominate Independent Trustees; 2) review on a periodic basis the governance structures and procedures of the Funds; 3) review proposed resolutions and
conflicts of interest that may arise in the business of the Funds and may have an impact on the investors of the Funds; 4) select any independent counsel of the Independent Trustees as well as make determinations as to that counsel's independence;
5) review matters that are referred to the Committee by the Chief Legal Officer or other counsel to the Trust; and 6) provide general oversight of the Funds on behalf of the
investors of the Funds. The Trustee Committee does not have specific procedures in place with respect to the consideration of nominees recommended by security holders, but may consider such nominees in the event that one is recommended. The Trustee Committee met [four (4) times] during the
fiscal year ended [August 31, 2025].
OWNERSHIP OF FUND
SHARES
As of December 31, 2024, neither the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record
any securities in the Adviser, Principal Underwriter or any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or Principal
Underwriter.
The following table shows, as of December 31, 2024, the amount of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in
the Trust.
| Name of Trustee |
Fund |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Trust |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All
Funds Overseen by Trustee in Family of
Investment Companies(1) |
| Independent Trustees: |
|
| |
| Dwight D. Churchill |
SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF |
Over $100,000 |
Over $100,000 |
| Carl G. Verboncoeur |
None |
None |
$50,001-$100,000 |
| Clare S. Richer |
SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF |
$50,001 - $100,000 |
Over $100,000 |
| Sandra G. Sponem |
SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF |
$50,001 - $100,000 |
Over $100,000 |
| Carolyn M. Clancy |
SPDR Blackstone High Income ETF |
$10,001 - $50,000 |
Over $100,000 |
| |
SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF |
$10,001 - $50,000 |
|
| Kristi L. Rowsell |
SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF |
$50,001 - $100,000 |
Over $100,000 |
| James E. Ross |
None |
None |
Over $100,000 |
| Interested Trustee: |
|
|
|
| Jeanne LaPorta |
None |
None |
None |
(1) The family of investment companies includes series of SSGA Active Trust, SPDR Series Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds.
CODES OF ETHICS
The Trust, the Adviser (which includes applicable reporting personnel of the Distributor)
each have adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, which is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor from engaging in deceptive, manipulative or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be
acquired by the Funds (which may also be held by persons subject to the Codes of Ethics). Each Code of Ethics permits personnel, subject to that Code of Ethics, to invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, subject to certain
limitations, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds.
There can be no assurance that the Codes of Ethics will be effective in preventing
such activities. Each Code of Ethics, filed as exhibits to this registration statement, may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C. or on the Internet at the SEC's website at
https://www.sec.gov.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
The Board has delegated the responsibility to vote proxies on securities held by the
Funds to the Adviser for all Funds, subject to certain exceptions. The Board has retained authority to vote proxies for certain bank and bank holding company
securities (“Bank Securities”) that may be held by one or more Funds from time to time. The Board has adopted the Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.'s
(“ISS”) benchmark proxy voting policy with respect to voting such Bank Securities' proxies. The Board has retained this authority
in order to permit the Adviser to utilize exemptions from limitations arising under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, that might otherwise prevent the Adviser
from acquiring Bank Securities on behalf of a Fund. Each of the Trust's and the Adviser's proxy voting policies, as well as
36
ISS' benchmark proxy voting policy, are attached
as an appendix to this SAI. Information regarding how a Fund voted proxies relating to its portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is
available: (1) without charge by calling 1-866-787-2257; (2) on the Funds' website at www.statestreet.com/im; and (3) on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS POLICY
The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Trust's portfolio holdings. The Board must
approve all material amendments to this policy. 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 web sites. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities to deliver in exchange for
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”). The basket represents one Creation Unit
of a Fund. The Trust, the Adviser or State Street will not disseminate non-public information concerning the Trust, except information may be made available prior to its public availability: (i) to a party for a legitimate business purpose related to the day-to-day operations of the Funds, including (a) a service provider, (b) the stock exchanges upon which an ETF is listed, (c) the
NSCC, (d) the Depository Trust Company, and (e) financial data/research companies such as Morningstar, Bloomberg L.P., and Reuters, or (ii) to any other party for a legitimate business or regulatory purpose, upon waiver or exception, with the
consent of an applicable Trust officer.
Investment Advisory and Other
Services
THE INVESTMENT ADVISER
SSGA FM acts as investment adviser to the Trust and, subject to the oversight of the Board,
is responsible for the investment management of each Fund. As of [ ], 2025, the Adviser managed approximately $[ ] trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal address is One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114. The Adviser, a Massachusetts corporation,
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Global Advisors, Inc., which itself is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held financial holding
company. State Street Investment Management, consisting of the Adviser and other investment advisory affiliates of State Street Corporation, is the investment management arm of
State Street Corporation.
The Adviser serves as investment adviser to each Fund pursuant to an investment advisory
agreement (“Investment Advisory
Agreement”) between the Trust and the Adviser. The Investment Advisory Agreement, with respect to each
Fund, continues in effect for two years from its effective date, and thereafter is subject to annual approval by (1) the Board or (2) vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, provided that in either
event such continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The
Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund is terminable without penalty, on 60 days' notice, by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of a Fund's outstanding voting securities. The
Investment Advisory Agreement is also terminable upon 90 days' notice by the Adviser and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, subject to the oversight of the Board
and in conformity with the stated investment policies of each Fund, manages the investment of each Fund's assets. The Adviser is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of each Fund. Pursuant to
the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is not liable for certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the federal securities laws, unless such loss or
liability results from (a) willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties; (b) the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties; or (c) a
loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services.
For the services provided to the Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreement, each Fund pays the Adviser monthly fees based on a percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets as set forth in each Fund's Prospectus. With respect to
each Fund, the management fee is reduced by any acquired fund fees and expenses attributable to the Funds' investments in other investment companies (except acquired fund fees and
expenses associated with holdings of acquired funds for cash management purposes). The Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, acquired fund fees and expenses associated with holdings of acquired funds for cash management purposes, brokerage
37
expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of
the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee's counsel fees), litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses. The Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a portion of
its fee. The Adviser has agreed to pay all costs associated with the organization of the Trust and each Fund.
A summary of the factors considered by the Board in connection with the initial approval of
the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Funds will be available in the Fund's Form N-CSR filing with the SEC after the Funds commence operations.
The
Funds had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI and therefore did not pay fees to the Adviser for the past three fiscal years.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The Adviser manages the Funds using a team of investment professionals. The professionals
primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of each Fund are John Mele and Kyle Kelly. The following table lists the number and types of accounts managed by each of the key professionals involved in the day-to-day portfolio management for the Funds and
assets under management in those accounts. The total number of accounts and assets have been allocated to each respective manager. Therefore, some accounts and assets have been
counted twice.
Other Accounts Managed as of [
], 2025
| Portfolio Manager |
Registered Investment Company
Accounts |
Assets Managed (billions)*
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicle
Accounts |
Assets Managed (billions)*
|
Other Accounts |
Assets Managed (billions)*
|
Total Assets Managed
(billions) |
| John Mele |
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
| Kyle Kelly |
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
[ ] |
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
*
There are no performance-based fees associated with these accounts.
The Funds had not commenced
operations prior to the date of this SAI and therefore the portfolio managers did not beneficially own any Shares.
Conflicts of Interest. A portfolio manager that has responsibility for managing more than one account may be subject to
potential conflicts of interest because he or she is responsible for other accounts in addition to the Funds. Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of: (a) the portfolio manager's execution of
different investment strategies for various accounts; or (b) the allocation of resources or of investment opportunities.
Portfolio managers may manage numerous accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include registered investment
companies, other types of pooled accounts (e.g., collective investment funds), and separate accounts (i.e., accounts managed on behalf of individuals or public or private
institutions). Portfolio managers make investment decisions for each account based on the investment objectives and policies and other relevant investment considerations applicable
to that portfolio. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of a portfolio manager's responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than
one of the portfolio manager's accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally allocate to the
opportunity. Similar conflicts may arise when multiple accounts seek to dispose of the same investment. The portfolio managers may also manage accounts whose objectives and policies differ from that of the Funds. These differences may be such that under certain circumstances, trading activity
appropriate for one account managed by the portfolio manager may have adverse consequences for another account managed by the portfolio manager. For example, an account may sell a
significant position in a security, which could cause the market price of that security to decrease, while a Fund maintained its position in that security.
A potential conflict may arise when the portfolio managers are responsible for accounts that have different advisory fees—the difference in fees could create an incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another, for example, in
terms of access to investment opportunities. This conflict may be heightened if an account is subject to a performance-based fee, as applicable. Another potential conflict may arise when the portfolio manager has a personal investment in one or
more accounts that participate in transactions with other accounts. His or her personal investment(s) may create an incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over
another. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to address these potential material conflicts. For instance, portfolio managers are normally responsible for all accounts within a certain investment discipline and do not, absent special circumstances, differentiate
among the various accounts when allocating resources. Additionally, the Adviser and its advisory affiliates have processes
38
and procedures for allocating investment
opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation. With respect to conflicts arising from personal investments, all employees, including
portfolio managers, must comply with personal trading controls established by each of the Adviser's and Trust's Code of Ethics.
Compensation. State Street Investment Management's culture is complemented and reinforced by a
total rewards strategy that is based on a pay for performance philosophy which seeks to offer a competitive pay mix of base salary, benefits, cash incentives and deferred compensation.
Salary is based on a number of factors, including external benchmarking data and market
trends, and performance both at the business and individual level. State Street Investment Management's Global Human Resources department regularly participates in compensation surveys in order to provide State Street Investment Management with market-based
compensation information that helps support individual pay decisions.
Additionally, subject to State Street and State Street Investment Management business results, an incentive pool is allocated to State Street Investment Management to reward its employees. The size of the incentive pool for most business
units is based on the firm's overall profitability and other factors, including performance against risk-related goals. For most State Street Investment Management investment
teams, State Street Investment Management recognizes and rewards performance by linking annual incentive decisions for investment teams to the firm's or business unit's profitability and business unit investment performance over a multi-year period.
Incentive pool funding for most active investment teams is driven in part by the post-tax
investment performance of fund(s) managed by the team versus the return levels of the benchmark index(es) of the fund(s) on a one-, three- and, in some cases, five-year basis. For most active investment teams, a material portion of incentive compensation for senior staff is
deferred over a four-year period into the State Street Investment Management Long-Term Incentive
(“State Street Investment Management
LTI”) program. For these teams, the State Street Investment Management LTI program indexes the performance of these deferred awards against the post-tax investment performance of fund(s) managed by the team. This is
intended to align our investment team's compensation with client interests, both through annual incentive compensation awards and through the long-term value of deferred awards in
the State Street Investment Management LTI program.
The discretionary allocation of the incentive pool to the business units within State Street
Investment Management is influenced by market-based compensation data, as well as the overall performance of each business unit. Individual compensation decisions are made by the employee's manager, in conjunction with the senior management of the employee's
business unit. These decisions are based on the overall performance of the employee and, as mentioned above, on the performance of the firm and business unit. Depending on the job
level, a portion of the annual incentive may be awarded in deferred compensation, which may include cash and/or Deferred Stock Awards (State Street stock), which typically vest over a four-year period. This helps to retain staff and further aligns State Street Investment
Management employees' interests with State Street Investment Management clients' and shareholders' long-term
interests.
State Street Investment Management recognizes and rewards outstanding performance by:
•Promoting employee ownership to connect employees directly to the
company's success.
•Using rewards to reinforce mission, vision, values and business
strategy.
•Seeking to recognize and preserve the firm's unique culture and team
orientation.
•Providing all employees the opportunity to share in the success of State
Street Investment Management.
THE ADMINISTRATOR,
SUB-ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
Administrator: SSGA FM serves as the administrator to each
series of the Trust, pursuant to an Administration Agreement dated June 1, 2015 (the “SSGA FM Administration Agreement”). Pursuant to
the SSGA FM Administration Agreement, SSGA FM is obligated to continuously provide business management services to the Trust and its series and will generally, subject to the general oversight of the Trustees and except as otherwise provided in the SSGA FM Administration
Agreement, manage all of the business and affairs of the Trust.
Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent: State Street
serves as the sub-administrator to each series of the Trust, pursuant to a Sub-Administration Agreement dated June 1, 2015 (the “Sub-Administration Agreement”). Under the Sub-Administration Agreement, State Street is obligated to provide certain administrative services to the Trust
and its series. State Street is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held financial holding company, and is affiliated with the Adviser. State Street's mailing address is One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
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State Street also serves as Custodian for the
Trust's series pursuant to a custodian agreement (“Custodian Agreement”). As Custodian, State Street holds Fund assets,
calculates the net asset value of the Shares and calculates net income and realized capital gains or losses. State Street and the Trust will comply with the self-custodian
provisions of Rule 17f-2 under the 1940 Act.
State Street also serves as Transfer Agent for each series of the Trust pursuant to a transfer agency agreement
(“Transfer Agency Agreement”).
Compensation: As compensation for its services provided under the SSGA Administration Agreement, SSGA FM shall receive fees for the
services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust, which are accrued daily and paid monthly out of its management fee.
As compensation for its services under the Sub-Administration Agreement, Custodian Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement,
State Street shall receive an annual fixed fee per Fund. In addition, State Street shall receive global safekeeping and transaction fees, which are calculated on a per-country
basis, in-kind creation (purchase) and redemption transaction fees (as described below) and revenue on certain cash balances. State Street may be reimbursed by the series of the Trust for its out-of-pocket expenses. The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser will pay
certain operating expenses of the Trust, including the fees due to State Street under the Custodian Agreement and the Transfer Agency Agreement.
Additional Sub-Administration Services: Also under the Sub-Administration Agreement, State Street receives: (i) an annual per Fund fee for certain services
required in the preparation (including preparing a schedule of quarterly portfolio investments) and filing of Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN with the SEC (“N-PORT Related Services”); (ii) an annual per Fund fee for services regarding certain liquidity analytics (“Liquidity Risk Measurement
Services”) under the
Sub-Administration Agreement; and (iii) an annual per Fund fee for certain services related to the preparation of tailored shareholder reports (“Tailored Shareholder Report
Services”). N-PORT Related Services, Liquidity Risk Measurement Services, and Tailored Shareholder Report Services fees are paid by the Adviser from its management fee.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC serves as the principal underwriter and Distributor of Shares. Its
principal address is One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114. Investor information can be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257. The Distributor has entered into a distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”) with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes Shares of each Fund. The Distribution Agreement will continue for two years from its
effective date and is renewable annually thereafter. Shares will be continuously offered for sale by the Trust through the Distributor only in Creation Units, as described in the Prospectus and below under “PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION
UNITS.” Shares in less than Creation Units are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will
deliver the Prospectus to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The Distributor has no role in determining the investment policies of the Trust or which securities are to be purchased
or sold by the Trust. An affiliate of the Distributor may assist Authorized Participants (as defined below) in assembling shares to purchase Creation Units or upon redemption, for which it may receive commissions or other fees from such Authorized Participants. An
affiliate of the Distributor also receives compensation from State Street for providing on-line creation and redemption functionality to Authorized Participants through its Fund
Connect application.
The Adviser or Distributor, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor, may directly or indirectly make cash payments to
certain broker-dealers for participating in activities that are designed to make registered representatives and other professionals more knowledgeable about exchange-traded products, including the SPDR funds, or for other activities, such as
participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems.
In addition, as of the date of this SAI, the Adviser and/or Distributor had arrangements whereby they may make payments,
other than for the educational programs and marketing activities described above, to Pershing LLC
(“Pershing”), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”), LPL Financial, LLC (“LPL”), and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, LLC. These amounts, which may be significant, are paid by the Adviser and/or
Distributor from their own resources and not from Fund
40
assets. Pursuant to these arrangements, Pershing,
RBC and LPL have agreed to offer certain SPDR funds to their customers and not to charge certain of their customers any commissions when those customers purchase or sell shares
of certain SPDR funds. Payments to a broker-dealer or intermediary may create potential conflicts of interest between the broker dealer or intermediary and its clients.
In addition, the Adviser or Distributor, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor, may
reimburse expenses or make payments from their own assets to other persons in consideration of services, provision of data, or other activities that they believe may benefit the SPDR business or facilitate investment in SPDR funds.
The Distribution Agreement provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, as to a Fund: (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on at least 60 days' written notice to the Distributor. The Distribution Agreement
is also terminable upon 60 days' notice by the Distributor and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The continuation of the Distribution Agreement and any other related agreements is subject to
annual approval of the Board, including by a majority of the Independent Trustees, as described above.
The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases
of Creation Unit aggregations of Shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Participating Parties (as defined in the “Book Entry Only System” section below) and/or DTC Participants (as defined below).
Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Trust has agreed to indemnify the Distributor, and may indemnify Soliciting Dealers and Authorized Participants (as described below) entering into agreements with the Distributor, for certain
liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the federal securities laws, unless such loss or liability results from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations and
duties under the Distribution Agreement or other agreement, as applicable.
Brokerage Transactions
All portfolio transactions are placed on behalf of the Funds by the Adviser. Purchases
and sales of securities on a securities exchange are affected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. Ordinarily commissions are not charged on over-the-counter orders (e.g., fixed income securities) because the Funds pay a spread which is included in
the cost of the security and represents the difference between the dealer's quoted price at which it is willing to sell the security and the dealer's quoted price at which it is
willing to buy the security. When a Fund executes an over-the-counter order with an electronic communications network or an alternative trading system, a commission is charged by
such electronic communications networks and alternative trading systems as they execute such orders on an agency basis. Securities may be purchased from underwriters at prices that include underwriting fees.
In placing a portfolio transaction, the Adviser seeks to achieve best execution. The Adviser's duty to seek best execution requires the Adviser to take reasonable steps to obtain for the client as favorable an overall result as possible for Fund
portfolio transactions under the circumstances, taking into account various factors that are relevant to the particular transaction.
The
Adviser refers to and selects from the list of approved trading counterparties maintained by the Adviser's Credit Risk Management team. In selecting a trading counterparty for a
particular trade, the Adviser seeks to weigh relevant factors including, but not limited to the following:
•Prompt and reliable execution;
•The competitiveness of commission rates and spreads, if
applicable;
•The financial strength, stability and/or reputation of the trading counterparty;
•The willingness and ability of the executing trading counterparty to execute transactions (and commit capital) of size in liquid and illiquid markets without disrupting the market for the security;
•Local laws, regulations or
restrictions;
•The ability of the trading counterparty to maintain confidentiality;
•The availability
and capability of execution venues, including electronic communications networks for trading and execution management systems made available to Adviser;
•Market share;
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•Liquidity;
•Price;
•Execution related costs;
•History of execution of orders;
•Likelihood of execution and settlement;
•Order size and nature;
•Clearance and settlement capabilities, especially in high volatility
market environments;
•Availability of lendable
securities;
•Sophistication of the trading counterparty's trading capabilities and infrastructure/facilities;
•The operational efficiency with which transactions are processed and cleared, taking into account the order size and complexity;
•Speed and responsiveness to the Adviser;
•Access to secondary markets;
•Counterparty exposure; and
•Depending upon the circumstances, the Adviser may take other relevant factors into account if the Adviser believes that these are important in taking all sufficient steps to obtain the best possible result for execution of the order.
In selecting a trading counterparty, the price of the transaction and costs related to the
execution of the transaction typically merit a high relative importance, depending on the circumstances. The Adviser does not necessarily select a trading counterparty based upon price and costs but may take other relevant factors into account if it believes that these
are important in taking reasonable steps to obtain the best possible result for a Fund under the circumstances.
Consequently, the Adviser may cause a client to pay a trading counterparty more than another trading counterparty might have charged for the same transaction in recognition of the value and quality of the brokerage services provided. The
following matters may influence the relative importance that the Adviser places upon the relevant factors:
(i)
The nature and characteristics of the order or transaction. For example, size of order, market
impact of order, limits, or other instructions relating to the order;
(ii)
The characteristics of the financial instrument(s) or other assets which are the subject of
that order. For example, whether the order pertains to an equity, fixed income, derivative or convertible instrument;
(iii)
The characteristics
of the execution venues to which that order can be directed, if relevant. For example, availability and capabilities of electronic trading systems;
(iv)
Whether the
transaction is a ‘delivery versus payment' or ‘over-the-counter' transaction. The creditworthiness of the trading counterparty, the amount of existing exposure to a
trading counterparty and trading counterparty settlement capabilities may be given a higher relative importance in the case of ‘over-the-counter' transactions; and/or
(v)
Any other circumstances that the Adviser believes are relevant at the time.
The process by which trading
counterparties are selected to effect transactions is designed to exclude consideration of the sales efforts conducted by broker-dealers in relation to the Funds.
The Adviser does not currently use the Funds' assets in connection with third-party
soft dollar arrangements. While the Adviser does not currently use “soft” or commission dollars paid by the Funds for
the purchase of third-party research, the Adviser reserves the right to do so in the future.
The Funds had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI and therefore did not pay brokerage commissions during the past three fiscal years.
Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers”: The Trust is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) which it may hold at the close of its most recent fiscal year.
“Regular brokers or dealers” of the Trust are the ten brokers or dealers that, during the most recent fiscal year: (i) received the greatest
dollar amounts of brokerage commissions from the Trust's portfolio transactions; (ii) engaged as principal in the largest dollar amounts of portfolio transactions of the Trust; or (iii) sold the largest dollar amounts of the Trust's shares.
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The Funds had not commenced operations as of the
date of this SAI and therefore did not have any holdings in Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers as of [August 31, 2025].
Portfolio Turnover: Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover rates are likely to result in
comparatively greater brokerage expenses or transaction costs. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions and transaction costs is evaluated by the Adviser based upon its
knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions and transaction costs paid by other institutional investors for comparable services.
Book Entry Only System
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled
“ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION.”
The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) acts as securities depositary for the
Shares. Shares of each Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Except in the limited circumstance provided below, certificates will not be issued for Shares.
DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC 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 New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and 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 (the “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, either directly or through a third party service, 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, either directly or through
a third party service, 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 and/or third party service a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and
regulatory requirements.
Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all Shares. 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 aspects 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.
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DTC may determine to discontinue providing its
service with respect to Shares 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 either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such a replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of Shares, unless the Trust
makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities
The Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI and therefore did not
have any beneficial owners that owned greater than 5% of the outstanding voting securities as of the date of this SAI.
An Authorized Participant (as defined below) may hold of record more than 25% of the
outstanding Shares of a Fund. From time to time, Authorized Participants may be a beneficial and/or legal owner of the Funds, may be deemed to have control of the Fund and may be able to affect the outcome of matters presented for a vote of the shareholders of the Funds.
Authorized Participants may execute an irrevocable proxy granting the Distributor, State Street or an affiliate (the “Agent”) power to vote or abstain from voting such
Authorized Participant's beneficially or legally owned Shares of the applicable Fund. In such cases, the Agent shall mirror vote (or abstain from voting) such Shares in the same
proportion as all other beneficial owners of the Fund.
The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as a group, owned less than 1% of the Trust's voting securities as of the date of
this SAI.
Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units
Each Fund issues and redeems its Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value, only in a large specified number of Shares called a “Creation Unit.” The value of each Fund is determined once each business day as described under “Determination of Net Asset Value.” The Creation Unit size for a Fund may change. Authorized Participants (as defined below) will be notified of such change.
The principal consideration for creations and redemptions for each Fund is in-kind, although this may be revised at any time without notice.
PURCHASE (CREATION)
The Trust issues and sells Shares of each Fund only: in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Principal
Underwriter, without a sales load (but subject to transaction fees), at their NAV per share next determined after receipt of an order, on any Business Day (as defined below), in proper form pursuant to the terms of the Authorized Participant
Agreement (“Participant
Agreement”). A “Business Day” with respect to a Fund is generally
any day on which the NYSE is open for business, although fixed income ETFs will also not be open for orders on days when the bond markets are closed.
FUND DEPOSIT
The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of a Fund generally consists of either (i) the Deposit Securities and the
Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities and the “Cash Component,” computed as described below. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, a Fund may incur additional costs
associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities that would otherwise be provided by an in-kind purchaser.
Together, the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of a Fund. The
“Cash Component,” which may include a Dividend Equivalent Payment, is an amount equal to the difference between the net asset value of the Shares (per Creation Unit) and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable.
The “Dividend Equivalent
Payment” enables a Fund to make a complete distribution of dividends on the day preceding the next dividend payment date, and is an amount equal, on a per Creation Unit basis, to the dividends on all the
portfolio securities of the Fund (“Dividend Securities”) 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 Dividend Securities had been held by the Fund for the entire Accumulation Period. The Accumulation Period begins on the ex-dividend date for
each Fund and ends on the day preceding the next ex-dividend date. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the net asset value per Creation Unit exceeds the market value
of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable),
44
the Cash Component shall be such positive amount.
If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the net asset value per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the
Cash Component shall be such negative amount and the creator will be entitled to receive cash in an amount equal to the Cash Component. The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the net asset value per
Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. 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, if applicable, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant (as defined
below).
The Custodian, through NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange
(currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, to be included in the current standard Fund Deposit (based on
information at the end of the previous Business Day) for a Fund. Such standard Fund Deposit is subject to any applicable 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 or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, is made available.
The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities or the amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, required for a Fund Deposit for each Fund may be changed from time to time with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. Information
regarding the Fund Deposit necessary for the purchase of a Creation Unit is made available to Authorized Participants and other market participants seeking to transact in Creation
Unit aggregations.
As noted above, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Cash to replace any Deposit
Security, which shall be added to the Cash Component, including, without limitation, in situations where the Deposit Security: (i) may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery, (ii) may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC for corporate securities and municipal securities; (iii) may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant
(as defined below) or the investor for which it is acting; (iv) would be restricted under the securities laws or where the delivery of the Deposit Security to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of the Deposit Security by the
Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws, or (v) in certain other situations (collectively, “non-standard orders”). The Trust also reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash. The adjustments described above will reflect changes, known to the Adviser on the date of announcement to be
in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit, resulting from certain corporate actions.
PROCEDURES FOR PURCHASE OF CREATION UNITS
To be eligible to place orders with the Principal Underwriter, as facilitated via the
Transfer Agent, to purchase 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 DTC Participant (see “Book Entry Only System”). In addition, each Participating Party or DTC Participant (each, an “Authorized Participant”) must execute a Participant Agreement that has been agreed to by the Principal Underwriter and the Transfer Agent, and that
has been accepted by the Trust, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units. Each Authorized Participant will agree, pursuant to the terms of a Participant
Agreement, on behalf of itself or any investor on whose behalf it will act, to certain conditions, including that it will pay to the Trust, an amount of cash sufficient to pay the Cash Component together with the creation transaction fee (described below) and any
other applicable fees, taxes and additional variable charge.
All orders to purchase Shares directly from a Fund, including non-standard orders, must be placed for one or more Creation Units and in the manner and by the time set forth in the Participant Agreement and/or the applicable order form.
The date on which an order to purchase Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as set forth below) is received and accepted is referred to as the
“Order Placement Date.”
An Authorized Participant may require an investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to
the order (e.g., to provide for payments of cash, when required). Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and that,
therefore, orders to purchase Shares directly from a Fund in Creation Units have to be placed by the investor's broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a
Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants
may have international capabilities.
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On days when the Exchange or the bond markets
close earlier than normal, a Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. In addition, if a market or markets on which a Fund's investments are
primarily traded is closed, the Fund will also generally not accept orders on such day(s). Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the
Participant Agreement and in accordance with the applicable order form. Those placing orders through an Authorized Participant should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the purchase order by the cut-off time. Economic or
market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.
Fund Deposits must be delivered by an Authorized Participant through the Federal Reserve
System (for cash and U.S. government securities), or through DTC (for corporate securities and municipal securities), through a subcustody agent (for foreign securities) and/or through such other arrangements allowed by the Trust or its agents. With respect to foreign
Deposit Securities, the Custodian shall cause the subcustodian of a Fund to maintain an account into which the
Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, such Deposit Securities. Foreign Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local subcustodian. The Fund Deposit
transfer must be ordered by the Authorized Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as
applicable, to the account of a Fund or its agents by no later than the Settlement Date. The “Settlement Date” with respect to a creation order
for a Fund is generally the first Business Day (“T+1”) after the Order Placement
Date.
All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities or Deposit
Cash to be delivered, as applicable, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities or cash, as applicable, will be
determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The amount of cash represented by the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely
manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than the Settlement Date. If the Cash Component and the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, are not received in
a timely manner by the Settlement Date, the creation order may be cancelled. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of the Fund. The delivery
of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the first Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the
Distributor.
The order shall be deemed to be received on the Business Day
on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to the applicable cut-off time and the federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited by
2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time (per applicable instructions), with the Custodian on the Settlement Date. If the order is not placed in proper form as required, or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m.
Eastern time (per applicable instructions) on the Settlement Date, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for
losses, if any, resulting therefrom. A creation request is considered to be in “proper form” if all procedures set forth in the
Participant Agreement, order form and this SAI are properly followed.
Shortened settlement cycles are expected to be available, through which creation transactions
can be settled on the trade date in accordance with instructions provided by the Trust and/or Distributor.
ISSUANCE OF A CREATION UNIT
Except as provided herein, Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title
to the Trust of the Deposit Securities or payment of Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the payment of the Cash Component 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 or subcustodians, the Principal Underwriter and the Adviser shall be notified of such delivery, and the Trust will issue
and cause the delivery of the Creation Units.
In instances where the Trust accepts Deposit Securities for the purchase of a Creation Unit, the Creation Unit may be
purchased in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the net asset value of the Shares on the date the
order is placed in proper form since in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) an additional amount of cash equal to a percentage of the market value as
set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”), which shall be maintained in a general non-interest bearing collateral account. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be
deposited with the Trust, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the
46
Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an
amount at least equal to the applicable percentage, as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. The Trust may
use such Additional Cash Deposit to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for all costs, expenses, dividends, income and taxes associated with missing Deposit Securities, including the costs
incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the day the
purchase order was deemed received by the Principal Underwriter plus the brokerage and related transaction costs
associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the
Trust. In addition, a transaction fee as set forth below under “Creation Transaction Fees” will be charged in all
cases and an additional variable charge may also be applied. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.
ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS OF CREATION UNITS
The Trust reserves the right to reject an order for Creation Units transmitted in respect of a Fund at its discretion, including, without limitation, if (a) the order is not in proper form or the Deposit Securities delivered do not consist of the securities that the Custodian specified; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the
Authorized Participant are not as disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by the Custodian; (c) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding Shares of the Fund; (d)
the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (e) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to
the Trust, be unlawful; or (f) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor and/or the Adviser make it for
all practical purposes not feasible to process orders for Creation Units. Examples of such circumstances include acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in
telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Principal Underwriter, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent,
DTC, NSCC, Federal Reserve System, or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Trust or its agents shall communicate to the Authorized Participant its rejection of an order. The Trust, the Transfer
Agent, the Custodian and the Principal Underwriter are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall either of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such
notification. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian and the Principal Underwriter shall not be liable for the rejection of any purchase order for Creation Units. Given the importance of the ongoing issuance of Creation Units to maintaining a
market price that is at or close to the underlying net asset value of a Fund, the Trust does not intend to suspend acceptance of orders for Creation Units.
All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and
acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust's determination shall be final and binding.
REDEMPTION
Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their net asset value next determined after
receipt of a redemption request in proper form by a Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a Business Day. EXCEPT UPON LIQUIDATION OF A FUND, THE TRUST WILL NOT REDEEM SHARES IN AMOUNTS LESS THAN CREATION UNITS. Investors 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. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of Shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.
With respect to each Fund, the Custodian, 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 list of the names and share quantities of securities designated by the Fund that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption
requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Redemption Securities”). Redemption Securities
received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities. The identity and number of shares of the Redemption Securities or the Cash Redemption Amount (defined below) may be changed from time to time with a view to the investment
objective of a Fund.
47
Redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit are paid
either in-kind or in cash, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Trust. With respect to in-kind redemptions of a Fund, redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist
of Redemption Securities plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the net asset value of the Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Redemption Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less a fixed redemption transaction fee and any applicable additional variable charge as set forth below. In the event
that the Redemption Securities have a value greater than the net asset value of the Shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the differential is required to be made by or
through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Trust's discretion, an Authorized Participant may receive the corresponding cash value of the securities in lieu of the in-kind securities value representing one or more Redemption
Securities.
PROCEDURES FOR REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS
After the Trust has deemed an order for redemption received, the Trust will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Redemption Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to the Authorized Participant by the Settlement Date. The
“Settlement Date” with respect to a redemption order for the Funds is generally T+1. With respect to in-kind redemptions of a Fund, the
calculation of the value of the Redemption Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered upon redemption will be made by the Custodian according to the procedures set
forth under “Determination of Net Asset Value”, computed on the Business Day on which a
redemption order is deemed received by the Trust. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to the Principal Underwriter by a DTC Participant by the specified
time on the Order Placement Date, and the requisite number of Shares of the Funds are delivered to the Custodian prior to 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time (per applicable instructions) on the Settlement Date, then the value of the Redemption Securities
and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered will be determined by the Custodian on such Order Placement Date. If the requisite number of Shares of the Funds are not delivered by
2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time (per applicable instructions) on the Settlement Date, the Funds will not release the underlying securities for delivery unless collateral is posted in such percentage amount of missing Shares as set forth in the Participant Agreement (marked to market
daily).
With respect to in-kind redemptions of a Fund, in connection with
taking delivery of shares of Redemption Securities upon redemption of Creation Units, an Authorized Participant must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified
broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the Redemption Securities are
customarily traded (or such other arrangements as allowed by the Trust or its agents), to which account such Redemption Securities will be delivered. Delivery of redemption proceeds is generally T+1. The order form specifies the date at which
the delivery of redemption proceeds for the specific Fund is generally expected to occur.
Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than one Business Day after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. If the Authorized
Participant has not made appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Redemption 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
Redemption Securities in such jurisdiction, the Trust may, in its discretion, exercise its option to redeem such Shares in cash, and the Authorized Participant will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash.
If it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not
possible to effect deliveries of the Redemption Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such Shares in cash, and the redeeming investor will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that
a Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its Shares based on the NAV of Shares of the relevant Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper
form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Trust's brokerage and other transaction costs
associated with the disposition of Redemption Securities). A Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities
that differs from the exact composition of the Redemption Securities but does not differ in net asset value.
An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to represent to the Trust that, as of the close of the Business Day on which the redemption request was submitted, it (or its client) will own (within the meaning of Rule 200 of
Regulation SHO) or has arranged to borrow for delivery to the Trust on or prior to the Settlement Date of the redemption request, the requisite number of Shares of the relevant Fund to be redeemed as a Creation Unit. In either case, the
Authorized Participant is deemed to acknowledge that: (i) it (or its client) has full legal authority and legal right to tender for redemption the requisite number of Shares of the applicable Fund and to receive the entire proceeds of the redemption;
48
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.
Redemptions of Shares for Redemption Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and each Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation
Units for cash to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Redemption Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Redemption
Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Redemption Securities applicable to the redemption of Creation Units may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The
Authorized Participant may request the redeeming investor of the Shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment. Further, an Authorized Participant that is not a
“qualified institutional
buyer,” (“QIB”) as such term is defined under Rule 144A of
the Securities Act, will not be able to receive Redemption Securities that are restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A. An Authorized Participant may be required by the Trust to provide a written confirmation with respect to QIB status in order to receive Redemption
Securities.
The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to a
Fund (1) for any period during which the Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the Exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which
disposal of the Shares of the Fund or determination of the NAV of the Shares is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.
REQUIRED EARLY ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as described in the Participant Agreement and/or the applicable order form, certain Funds may
require orders to be placed prior to the trade date, as described in the Participant Agreement or the applicable order form, in order to receive the trade date's net asset value.
The cut-off time to receive the trade date's net asset value will not precede the calculation of the net asset value of a Fund's shares on the prior Business Day. Orders to
purchase Shares of such Funds that are submitted on the Business Day immediately preceding a holiday or a day (other than a weekend) that the equity markets in the relevant foreign market are closed may not be accepted. Authorized Participants may
be notified that the cut-off time for an order may be earlier on a particular Business Day, as described in the Participant Agreement and the applicable order form.
CREATION AND REDEMPTION TRANSACTION FEES
A transaction fee, as set forth in the table below, is imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with
the purchase or redemption of Creation Units, as applicable. Authorized Participants will be required to pay a fixed creation transaction fee and/or a fixed redemption transaction fee, as applicable, on a given day regardless of the number
of Creation Units created or redeemed on that day. A Fund may adjust the transaction fee from time to time. An additional charge or a variable charge (discussed below) will be applied to certain creation and redemption transactions, including
non-standard orders and whole or partial cash purchases or redemptions. With respect to creation orders, Authorized Participants are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust and with respect to redemption orders, Authorized Participants are responsible for the costs of transferring the
Redemption Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may also be charged a fee for such services.
Creation and Redemption Transaction Fees:
| Fund |
Transaction Fee*, ** |
Maximum Transaction Fee*, ** |
| State Street My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF |
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
49
| Fund |
Transaction Fee*, ** |
Maximum Transaction Fee*, ** |
| State Street My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF |
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
| State Street My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF |
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
| State Street My2030 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF |
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
| State Street My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF |
$[ ]
|
$[ ]
|
*
From time to time, a Fund may waive all or a portion of its applicable transaction fee(s). An additional charge of up to three (3) times the standard transaction fee may be charged to the extent a transaction is outside of the clearing process.
**
In addition to the
transaction fees listed above, the Funds may charge an additional variable fee for creations and 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 the Adviser'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 a Fund with respect to that transaction.
Determination of Net Asset Value
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the sections
in the Prospectus entitled “PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION” and “ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION.”
NAV per Share for each Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund
(i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the total number of Shares outstanding. Expenses and fees, including the management fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. The NAV of each Fund is calculated by State
Street and determined once daily as of the close of the regular trading session on the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day that such exchange is open.
Creation/redemption order cut-off times may be earlier on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (or applicable exchange or market on which a Fund's
investments are traded) announces an early closing time. Any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted into U.S. dollars at market rates on the date of valuation (generally as of 4:00 p.m. London
time) as quoted by one or more sources.
In calculating a Fund's net asset value per Share, the Fund's investments are generally valued using market valuations. A
market valuation generally means a valuation (i) obtained from an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer) or (ii) based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of value supplied by an exchange, a pricing
service, or a major market maker (or dealer). Each Fund relies on a third-party service provider for assistance with the daily calculation of the Fund's NAV. The third-party service provider, in turn, relies on other parties for certain pricing data and other inputs used in the calculation of the Fund's NAV. Therefore, each Fund is subject to certain operational risks
associated with reliance on its service provider and that service provider's sources of pricing and other data. NAV calculation may be adversely affected by operational risks arising from factors such as errors or failures in systems and
technology. Such errors or failures may result in inaccurately calculated NAVs, delays in the calculation of NAVs and/or the inability to calculate NAV over extended time periods. A Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such
failures. In the case of shares of other funds that are not traded on an exchange, a market valuation means such fund's published net asset value per share. Each Fund may use
various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service. Fixed income assets (other than U.S. fixed income assets) are generally valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed income instruments in a particular market or exchange. U.S. fixed income assets are
generally valued at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Fixed income assets are generally valued at the mean of the bid and ask prices for bank loans and inflation protected securities, and at the bid price for all other fixed income assets.
Pursuant to Board approved valuation procedures, the Board has designated the Adviser as the
valuation designee for each Fund. These procedures address, among other things, (i) determining (a) when market quotations are not readily available or reliable and (b) the methodologies to be used for determining the fair value of investments, and (ii) the use
and oversight of third-party pricing services for fair valuation. The Adviser is responsible for periodically reviewing the procedures, and the selected methodologies used, for their continuing appropriateness and accuracy, and making any changes
or adjustments to the procedures and methodologies as appropriate.
In the
event that current market valuations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, the Trust's procedures require the Adviser to determine a security's fair value. In
determining a fair value, the Adviser may consider, among other things, (i) price comparisons among multiple sources, (ii) a review of corporate actions and news events, and (iii)
a review of relevant financial indicators (e.g., movement in interest rates and market indices). In these cases, a Fund's net asset value may reflect certain portfolio securities' fair values rather than their market prices. The fair value of a portfolio
50
instrument is generally the price which a Fund
might reasonably expect to receive upon its current sale in an orderly market between market participants. Ascertaining fair value requires a determination of the amount that an
arm's-length buyer, under the circumstances, would currently pay for the portfolio instrument. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determination for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security.
Dividends and Distributions
The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled
“DISTRIBUTIONS.”
GENERAL POLICIES
Dividends from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid [monthly] by
each Fund. Distributions of net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Trust may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, in all events in a manner
consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.
Dividends and other distributions on Shares are distributed, as described below, on a pro
rata basis to Beneficial Owners of such Shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners then of record with proceeds received from the Trust.
Management of the Trust reserves the right to declare special dividends if, in its reasonable
discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve a Fund's eligibility for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes at the Fund level.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
Broker dealers, at their own discretion, may offer a dividend reinvestment service under
which Shares are purchased in the secondary market at current market prices. Investors should consult their broker dealer for further information regarding any dividend reinvestment service offered by such broker dealer.
Taxes
The following is a summary of certain federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders
that supplements the discussion in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a comprehensive explanation of the federal, state, local or foreign tax treatment of the Funds or
their shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended to be a substitute for careful tax planning.
The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the
Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect
to the transactions contemplated herein.
The following information should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION.”
TAXATION OF THE FUNDS
Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund
therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein and in the Prospectus. Losses in one series of the Trust do not offset gains in any other series of the Trust, and the requirements (other than certain
organizational requirements) for qualifying for treatment as a RIC are determined at the Fund level rather than at the Trust level. Each Fund has elected or will elect and intends to qualify each year to be treated as a separate RIC under Subchapter
M of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, each Fund should not be subject to federal income tax on its net investment income and capital gains, if any, to the extent that it timely
distributes such income and capital gains to its shareholders. In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC, a Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least the sum of 90% of its taxable net investment income (generally including the excess of net short-term capital gains over net
long-term capital losses) and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also
51
must meet several additional requirements. Among
these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of a Fund's gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain
securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in
qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Qualifying Income Requirement”); and (ii) at the
end of each quarter of a Fund's taxable year, its assets must be diversified so that (a) at least 50% of the market value of its total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such
other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the
value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, the securities (other than securities
of other RICs) of two or more issuers that it controls and that are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified
publicly traded partnerships (the
“Diversification
Requirement”).
If a Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income Requirement or the Diversification Requirement in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the Diversification Requirement where a Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. In
order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the Diversification Requirement, a Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions were not available to a Fund and it were to fail to qualify for treatment as a RIC for a taxable year, all of its taxable income would be subject to tax at the applicable corporate rate
without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and its distributions (including capital gains distributions) generally would be taxable as ordinary income dividends to its shareholders, subject to the dividends-received deduction for corporate
shareholders and the lower tax rates on qualified dividend income received by noncorporate shareholders. To requalify for treatment as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, a Fund
would be required to satisfy the RIC qualification requirements for that year and to distribute any earnings and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for
tax treatment as a RIC. If a Fund failed to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, it would generally be required to pay a Fund-level tax on certain net built-in gains recognized with respect to certain of its assets upon a
disposition of such assets within five years of qualifying as a RIC in a subsequent year. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of a Fund for treatment as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to
shareholders.
As discussed more fully below, each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its capital
gains for each taxable year. If a Fund meets the Distribution Requirement but retains some or all of its income or gains, it will be subject to federal income tax to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. A Fund may designate
certain amounts retained as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of the undistributed
amount so designated, (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the income tax paid by the Fund on that undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities and to claim refunds to the extent such credits exceed their
liabilities and (iii) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for federal income tax purposes, in their Shares by an amount equal to the excess of the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in their respective income over their respective
income tax credits. If a Fund failed to satisfy the Distribution Requirement for any taxable year, it would be taxed as a regular corporation, with consequences generally similar to those described in the preceding paragraph.
A Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year an amount at least equal to 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98.2% of its capital
gain net income for the twelve months ended October 31 of such year, subject to an increase for any shortfall in the prior year's distribution. Each Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times
necessary to avoid the application of this 4% excise tax.
A Fund may elect to treat part or all of any
“qualified late year
loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund's taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The
effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been
incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A
“qualified late year
loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly
referred to as “post-October
losses”) and certain other late-year losses.
52
Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a RIC's net investment income. Instead, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
potentially subject to certain limitations, each Fund may carry a net capital loss from any taxable year forward indefinitely to offset its capital gains, if any, in years
following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to a Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to its shareholders. Generally, the Funds may not carry
forward any losses other than net capital losses.
TAXATION OF SHAREHOLDERS – DISTRIBUTIONS
Each Fund intends to distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its investment company taxable income
(computed without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), its net tax-exempt income, if any, and any net capital gain (net recognized long-term capital gains in excess of net recognized short-term capital losses, taking into account any
capital loss carryforwards). Each Fund will report to shareholders annually the amounts of dividends paid from ordinary income, the amount of distributions of net capital gain, and the amount of exempt-interest dividends, if any. Since the
Funds primarily hold investments that do not pay dividends, it is not expected that any portion of dividends paid by those Funds will qualify either for the dividends-received deduction for corporations or for the reduced U.S. federal income tax
rates available to individual and certain other noncorporate shareholders on qualified dividend income.
Distributions from a Fund's net short-term capital gains will generally be taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions from a Fund's net capital gain will be taxable to shareholders at long-term capital gains rates, regardless of how long shareholders have held their Shares. Long-term capital gains are generally taxed to noncorporate shareholders at
reduced rates.
Although dividends generally will be treated as
distributed when paid, any dividend declared by a Fund in October, November or December and payable to shareholders of record in such a month that is paid during the following
January will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which it was declared.
If a Fund's distributions exceed its earnings and profits, all or a portion of the distributions made in the taxable year may
be treated as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable but will reduce the shareholder's cost basis and result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when the Shares on which the
distribution was received are sold. After a shareholder's basis in the Shares has been reduced to zero, distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as gain from the sale of the shareholder's Shares.
Under Section 163(j) of the Code, a taxpayer's business interest expense is generally deductible to the extent of its business interest income plus certain other amounts. If a Fund earns business interest income, it may report a portion of
its dividends as “Section 163(j)
interest dividends,” which its shareholders may be able to treat as business interest income for purposes of Section 163(j) of the Code. The Fund's “Section 163(j) interest dividend” for a tax year
will be limited to the excess of its business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. In general, a Fund's shareholders may treat a distribution reported as a
Section 163(j) interest dividend as interest income only to the extent the distribution exceeds the sum of the portions of the distribution reported as other types of tax-favored income (which would generally include exempt-interest income). To be
eligible to treat a Section 163(j) interest dividend as interest income, a shareholder may need to meet certain holding period requirements in respect of Shares and must not have
hedged its position in Shares in certain ways.
Distributions that are
reinvested in additional Shares through the means of a dividend reinvestment service, if offered by your broker- dealer, will nevertheless be taxable dividends to the same extent
as if such dividends had been received in cash.
A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax generally applies to all or a portion of the net investment income of a shareholder who is
an individual and not a nonresident alien for federal income tax purposes and who has adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) that exceeds a threshold amount ($250,000 if married filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases). This 3.8% tax also
applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, dividends, interest and certain
capital gains (generally including capital gain distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of Shares) are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder's net
investment income, but exempt-interest dividends generally are not taken into account.
Distributions of ordinary income and capital gains may also be subject to foreign, state and local taxes depending on a shareholder's circumstances.
53
TAXATION OF SHAREHOLDERS –
SALE OF SHARES
In general, a sale of Shares results in capital gain or loss,
and for individual shareholders, is taxable at a federal rate dependent upon the length of time the Shares were held. A sale of Shares held for a period of one year or less at the
time of such sale will, for tax purposes, generally result in short-term capital gains or losses, and a sale of those held for more than one year will generally result in long-term capital gains or losses. Long-term capital gains are generally taxed to
noncorporate shareholders at reduced rates.
Gain or loss on the sale of Shares is measured by the difference between the amount received and the adjusted tax basis of
the Shares. Shareholders should keep records of investments made (including Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends and distributions) so they can compute the tax basis
of their Shares.
A loss realized on a sale of Shares may be disallowed
if substantially identical Shares are acquired (whether through the reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a sixty-one (61) day period beginning thirty (30) days before and
ending thirty (30) days after the date that the Shares are disposed of. In such a case, the basis of the Shares acquired must be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss upon the sale of Shares held for six (6) months or less will be disallowed
to the extent of exempt-interest dividends paid on such Shares, and any amount of the loss that exceeds the amount disallowed will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the shareholder
of long-term capital gain (including any amounts credited to the shareholder as undistributed capital gains).
COST BASIS REPORTING
The cost basis of Shares acquired by purchase will generally be based on the amount paid for
the Shares and then may be subsequently adjusted for other applicable transactions as required by the Internal Revenue Code. The difference between the selling price and the cost basis of Shares generally determines the amount of the capital gain or loss realized
on the sale or exchange of Shares. Contact the broker through whom you purchased your Shares to obtain information with respect to the available cost basis reporting methods and elections for your account.
TAXATION OF FUND INVESTMENTS
Dividends and interest received by a Fund on foreign securities may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. No
Fund expects to satisfy the requirements for passing through to its shareholders any share of any foreign taxes paid by the Fund, with the result that shareholders will not include
such taxes in their gross incomes and will not be entitled to a tax deduction or credit for such taxes on their own returns.
Certain of the Funds' investments may be subject to complex provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code (including provisions relating to hedging transactions, straddles, integrated transactions, foreign currency contracts, forward foreign currency contracts, and notional principal contracts) that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses
realized by a Fund (e.g., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses. These rules could therefore
affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio
(i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions to its shareholders in amounts necessary to satisfy the RIC distribution requirements for avoiding income
and excise taxes. The Funds intend to monitor their transactions, intend to make appropriate tax elections, and intend to make appropriate entries in their books and records in
order to mitigate the effect of these rules and preserve the Funds' qualification for treatment as RICs.
Each Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark to market and recognize as
income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from futures and options contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will
be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. A Fund may be required to
defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts, options contracts and swaps to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. It is
anticipated that certain net gain realized from the closing out of futures or options contracts will be considered gain from the sale of securities and therefore will be qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement.
Investments by a Fund in zero coupon or other discount securities will result in income to the Fund equal to a portion of the excess face value of the securities over their issue price (the “original issue discount” or “OID”) each year that the securities are held, even though the Fund may receive no cash interest payments or may receive cash
interest payments
54
that are less than the income recognized for tax
purposes. In other circumstances, whether pursuant to the terms of a security or as a result of other factors outside the control of a Fund, the Fund may recognize income without
receiving a commensurate amount of cash. Such income is included in determining the amount of income that a Fund must distribute to maintain its eligibility for treatment as a RIC and to avoid the payment of federal income tax, including the nondeductible
4% excise tax described above.
Any market discount recognized on a market discount bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond
acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or below adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent a Fund's election to include the
market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund's disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the
accrued market discount. Where the income required to be recognized as a result of the OID and/or market discount rules is not matched by a corresponding cash receipt by a Fund, the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of other
securities to enable the Fund to make distributions to its shareholders in order to qualify for treatment as a RIC and eliminate taxes at the Fund level.
Special rules apply to any investments by a Fund in inflation-indexed bonds, such as TIPS. Generally, all stated interest on
inflation-indexed bonds is taken into income by a Fund under its regular method of accounting for interest income. The amount of any positive inflation adjustment for a taxable year, which results from an increase in the inflation-adjusted
principal amount of the bond, is treated as OID. The amount of a Fund's OID in a taxable year with respect to a bond will increase a Fund's taxable income for such year without a corresponding receipt of cash, until the bond matures. As a result,
a Fund may need to use other sources of cash to satisfy its distribution requirements for the applicable year. The amount of any negative inflation adjustments, which result from a
decrease in the inflation-adjusted principal amount of the bond, first reduces the amount of interest (including stated interest, OID, and market discount, if any) otherwise
includable in the Fund's taxable income with respect to the bond for the taxable year; any remaining negative adjustments will be either treated as ordinary loss or, in certain circumstances, carried forward to reduce the amount of interest income
taken into account with respect to the bond in future taxable years.
TAX-EXEMPT SHAREHOLDERS
Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, salary deferral
arrangements, 401(k) plans, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Under current law, a Fund generally
serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, tax-exempt shareholders could realize UBTI by virtue of their investment in a Fund where, for example, (i) the Fund invests in REITs that hold
residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or (ii) Shares constitute debt-financed
property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholders within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisers.
Certain tax-exempt educational institutions will be subject to a 1.4%
tax on net investment income. For these purposes, certain dividends and capital gain distributions (but not exempt-interest dividends), and certain gains from the disposition
of Shares (among other categories of income), are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder's net
investment income.
FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS
Dividends, other than capital gains dividends and exempt-interest dividends, “short-term capital gain dividends” and “interest-related dividends” (described below), paid by a Fund to shareholders who are nonresident aliens or foreign entities will be subject to a 30%
United States withholding tax unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is provided under applicable treaty law to the extent derived from investment income
and short-term capital gain or unless such income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on through a permanent establishment in the United States. Nonresident shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers concerning the
applicability of the United States withholding tax and the proper withholding form(s) to be submitted to a Fund. A non-U.S. shareholder who fails to provide an appropriate Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8 may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate.
Dividends reported by a Fund as (i) interest-related dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund's
“qualified net interest
income,” or (ii) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the
Fund's “qualified short-term
gain,” are generally exempt from this 30% withholding tax. “Qualified net interest income” is a Fund's net income derived from U.S.- source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and
55
limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of a Fund's net short-term capital gain for the taxable year over its net long-term capital
loss, if any. In the case of Shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if a Fund reports the payment as an interest-related dividend or as a short-
term capital gain dividend. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.
Unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold Shares comply with IRS requirements that will
generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to Fund distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) payable to such entities. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt
from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the
applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
A Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold (as “backup withholding”) on amounts (including
exempt-interest dividends) payable to any shareholder who (1) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all, (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or
dividends, (3) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (4) has not certified that such shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). The backup withholding rate is currently
24%. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax on
shareholders who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the U.S.
CREATION UNITS
An Authorized Participant who exchanges 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 and the sum of the exchanger's aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus
the amount of cash paid for such Creation Units. A person who redeems Creation Units will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger's basis
in the Creation Units and the sum of the aggregate market value of any securities received plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Units. 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.
Any gain or loss realized upon a creation of Creation Units will be treated as capital gain or loss if the Authorized
Participant holds the securities exchanged therefor as capital assets, and otherwise will be ordinary income or loss. Similarly, any gain or loss realized upon a redemption of Creation Units will be treated as capital gain or loss if the
Authorized Participant holds Shares comprising the Creation Units as capital assets, and otherwise will be ordinary income or loss. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the creation of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term
capital gain or loss if the securities exchanged for such Creation Units have been held for more than one year, and otherwise will be short-term capital gain or loss. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the redemption of Creation Units
will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares comprising the Creation Units have been held for more than one year, and otherwise, will generally be short-term capital gain or loss. Any capital loss realized upon a
redemption of Creation Units held for six (6) months or less will be disallowed to the extent of exempt-interest dividends paid with respect to the Creation Units, and to the extent not disallowed will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the
extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the applicable Authorized Participant of long-term capital gains with respect to the Creation Units (including any amounts credited to the Authorized Participant as undistributed capital gains).
A Fund has the right to reject an order for Creation Units if the purchaser (or a group of
purchasers) would, upon obtaining Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund would have a basis in any deposit securities different from the market value of such
securities on the date of deposit. A Fund also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial Share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. If a Fund does issue Creation Units to a purchaser (or a group of
purchasers) that would, upon obtaining the Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund, the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) may not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation
Units.
If a Fund redeems Creation Units in cash, it may bear additional costs and recognize more capital gains than it would if it redeems Creation Units in kind.
56
Persons purchasing or redeeming Creation Units
should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction.
STATE TAX MATTERS
The discussion of state and local tax treatment is based on the assumptions that the Funds will qualify for treatment under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code as RICs, that they will satisfy the conditions which will cause distributions to qualify as exempt-interest dividends to shareholders when distributed as intended, and that each Fund will distribute all
interest and dividends it receives to its shareholders. The tax discussion summarizes general state and local tax laws which are currently in effect, and which are subject to change by legislative, judicial or administrative action; any such
changes may be retroactive with respect to the applicable Fund's transactions. Investors should consult a tax advisor for more detailed information about state and local taxes to which they may be subject.
Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct
obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker's acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by
U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.
CERTAIN POTENTIAL TAX REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Under promulgated Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss on disposition
of a Fund's shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct
shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. A shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be
subject to adverse tax consequences, including significant penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether
the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual
circumstances.
The foregoing discussion is a summary only and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Purchasers of
Shares should consult their own tax advisers as to the tax consequences of investing in such Shares, including under state, local and other tax laws. Finally, the foregoing discussion is based on applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code, regulations, judicial authority and administrative interpretations in effect on the date hereof. Changes in applicable authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above, and such changes often occur.
Capital Stock and Other Securities
Each Fund issues Shares of beneficial interest with no par value per Share. The Board
may designate additional funds.
Each Share issued by the Trust has a pro rata interest in the assets of the corresponding series of the Trust. Shares have
no preemptive, exchange, subscription or conversion rights and are freely transferable. Each Share is entitled to
participate equally in dividends and distributions declared by the Board with respect to each Fund, and in the net distributable assets of each Fund on liquidation.
Each Share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required
consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Shares of all series of the Trust vote together as a single class except that if the matter being voted on affects only a particular fund it will be voted on only by that fund and if a matter affects a particular fund differently from other funds, that fund will vote separately on such matter. Under
Massachusetts law, the Trust is not required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. The policy of the Trust is not to hold an annual meeting of shareholders unless required to do so under the 1940
Act. All Shares of the Trust (regardless of the fund) have noncumulative voting rights for the election of Trustees. Under Massachusetts law, Trustees of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain circumstances,
be held personally liable as partners for obligations of the Trust. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust, requires that Trust obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for
indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the Trust's property for any shareholder held personally liable for
57
the obligations of the Trust. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations. Given the
above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and the nature of each Fund's assets and operations, the risk to shareholders of personal liability is believed to be remote.
Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing to the Trust, c/o the Distributor, State Street
Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC at One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, located at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20004, serves as counsel to the Trust. [ ], located at [ ], serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust. [ ]
performs annual audits of the Funds' financial statements and provides other audit, tax and related services.
Local Market Holiday Schedules
The Trust generally intends to effect deliveries of the Funds' redemption proceeds on
T+1. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind redemptions within one Business Day of receipt of a redemption request is subject, among other things, to the condition that, within the time period from the date of the request to the date of delivery of the redemption proceeds, there
are no days that are local market holidays on the relevant Business Days. For every occurrence of one or more
intervening holidays in the local market that are not holidays observed in the United States, the redemption settlement cycle may be extended by the number of such intervening local holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable market
closings due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within one Business Day.
The securities delivery cycles currently practicable for transferring portfolio securities to redeeming investors, coupled with local market holiday schedules, may require a delivery process longer than the standard settlement period. In certain
circumstances during the calendar year, the settlement period may be greater than seven calendar days.
Financial Statements
The Funds had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI and therefore do not have
financial statements.
58
APPENDIX A
Standard & Poor's, a division of S&P Global
(“S&P”), Long-Term Issue 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. |
| 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 with 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 five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of
the stated grace period or 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.
A-1
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.'s
(“Moody's”) Long-Term Obligation Ratings:
| 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.*
Note: For more information on long-term ratings assigned to
obligations in default, please see the definition “Long-Term Credit Ratings for Defaulted or Impaired
Securities” in the Other Definitions section of Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions publication.
*
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.
Fitch Ratings Ltd.'s (“Fitch”) Corporate Finance Obligations – Long-Term Ratings:
AAA: Highest Credit Quality. ‘AAA' ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit 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 credit 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 credit 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 credit 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 credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial
commitments to be met.
B: Highly Speculative. ‘B' ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.
CCC: Substantial Credit Risk. ‘CCC' ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.
CC: Very High Levels of Credit Risk. ‘CC' ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.
C: Exceptionally High Levels of Credit Risk. ‘C' indicates exceptionally high levels of
credit risk.
A-2
Appendix B
SPDR®
Series Trust
SPDR® Index Shares Funds
SSGA Active Trust
(each, a “Trust” or “Fund,” and, collectively, the “Trusts” or “Funds”)
SPDR® Index Shares Funds
SSGA Active Trust
(each, a “Trust” or “Fund,” and, collectively, the “Trusts” or “Funds”)
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
The Board of Trustees of the Trusts has adopted the following policy and procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Trusts' investment portfolios.
1.
Proxy Voting Policy
The policy of each Trust is to
delegate the responsibility for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Trusts to SSGA Funds Management, Inc., the Trusts' investment adviser (the “Adviser”), subject to the Trustees' continuing oversight.
2.
Fiduciary Duty
The right to vote proxies with
respect to portfolio securities held by each Trust is an asset of the Trusts. The Adviser acts as a fiduciary of the Trusts and must vote proxies in a manner consistent with the
best interest of the Trusts and its shareholders.
3.
Proxy Voting Procedures
A.
At least annually, the
Adviser shall present to the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) its policies, procedures and other guidelines
for voting proxies
(“Policy”) and the Policy of any Sub-adviser (defined below) to which proxy voting authority has been delegated (see Section 9
below). In addition, the Adviser shall notify the Board of material changes to its Policy or the Policy of any Sub-adviser promptly and no later than the next regular meeting
of the Board after such amendment is implemented.
B.
At least annually, the Adviser shall present to the Board its policy for managing the
conflicts of interests that may arise through the Adviser's proxy voting activities. In addition, the Adviser shall report any Policy overrides involving portfolio securities held by the Trusts to the Trustees at the next regular meeting of the Board after such
override(s) occur.
C.
At least annually, the Adviser shall inform the Trustees that a record is available for each
proxy voted with respect to portfolio securities of each Trust during the year. Also see Section 5 below.
4.
Revocation of Authority to Vote
The delegation by the Trustees of
the authority to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Trusts may be revoked by the Trustees, in whole or in part, at any time.
5.
Annual Filing of Proxy Voting Record
The Adviser shall provide the
required data for each proxy voted with respect to portfolio securities of a Trust to that respective Trust or its designated service provider in a timely manner and in a format
acceptable to be filed in the Trust's annual proxy voting report on Form N-PX for the twelve-month period ended June 30. Form N-PX is required to be filed not later than August 31 of each year.
6.
Retention and Oversight of Proxy Advisory Firms
A.
In considering whether
to retain or continue retaining a particular proxy advisory firm, the Adviser will ascertain whether the proxy advisory firm has the capacity and competency to adequately analyze
proxy issues, act as proxy voting agent as requested, and implement the Policy. In this regard, the Adviser will consider, at least annually, among other things, the adequacy and quality of the proxy advisory firm's staffing and personnel and the
robustness of its policies and procedures regarding its ability to identify and address any conflicts of interest. The Adviser shall, at least annually, report to the Board regarding the results of this review.
B-1
B.
The Adviser will
request quarterly and annual reporting from any proxy advisory firm retained by the Adviser, and hold ad hoc meetings with such proxy advisory firm, in order to determine whether
there has been any business changes that might impact the proxy advisory firm's capacity or competency to provide proxy voting advice or services or changes to the proxy advisory firm's conflicts policies or procedures. The Adviser will also take reasonable
steps to investigate any material factual error, notified to the Adviser by the proxy advisory firm or identified by the Adviser, made by the proxy advisory firm in providing proxy
voting services.
7.
Periodic Sampling
The Adviser will periodically sample proxy votes to review whether they complied with the Policy.
8.
Disclosures
A.
A Trust shall include in its registration statement:
1.
A description of this
policy and of the policies and procedures used by the Adviser to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities; and
2.
A statement disclosing
that information regarding how the Trust voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon
request, by calling the Trust's toll-free telephone number; or through a specified Internet address; or both; and on the Securities and Exchange Commission's (the
“SEC”) website.
B.
A Trust shall include in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders:
1.
A statement disclosing
that a description of the policies and procedures used by or on behalf of the Trust to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Funds is available
without charge, upon request, by calling the Trust's toll-free telephone number; through a specified Internet address, if applicable; and on the SEC's website; and
2.
A statement disclosing that information regarding how the Trust voted proxies relating to
portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Trust's toll-free telephone number; or through a specified Internet address; or both; and on the SEC's
website.
9.
Sub-Advisers
For certain Funds, the Adviser retains investment management firms (“Sub-advisers”) to provide day-to-day investment
management services to the Trusts pursuant to sub-advisory agreements. It is the policy of the Trusts that the Adviser may delegate proxy voting authority with respect to a Fund to a Sub-adviser. Pursuant to such delegation, a Sub-adviser is
authorized to vote proxies on behalf of the applicable Fund or Funds for which it serves as sub-adviser, in accordance with the Sub-adviser's proxy voting policies and procedures.
10.
Review of Policy
The Trustees shall review this
policy to determine its continued sufficiency as necessary from time to time.
| Adopted (SPDR Series Trust/SPDR Index Shares Funds): |
May 31, 2006 |
| Updated: |
August 1, 2007 |
| Amended: |
May 29, 2009 |
| Amended: |
November 19, 2010 |
| Adopted (SSGA Active Trust)/Amended: |
May 25, 2011 |
| Amended: |
February 25, 2016 |
| Amended: |
August 17, 2023 |
B-2
Appendix C
Adviser's Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
March 2025
Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Policy
State Street Global Advisors is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation, a leading provider of financial
services to institutional investors. As an asset manager, State Street Global Advisors votes its clients' proxies where the client has delegated proxy voting authority to it, and
State Street Global Advisors votes these proxies and engages with companies in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments, as described in this document.1
When engaging with and voting proxies with respect to the portfolio companies in which we
invest our clients' assets, we do so on behalf of and in the best interests of the client accounts we manage and do not seek to change or influence control of any such portfolio companies. The State Street Global Advisors Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Policy (the
“Policy”) contains certain policies that State Street Global Advisors will only apply in jurisdictions where permitted by local law
and regulations. State Street Global Advisors will not apply any policies contained herein in any jurisdictions where State Street Global Advisors believes that implementing or
following such policies would be deemed to constitute seeking to change or influence control of a portfolio company.
Introduction
At State Street Global Advisors, we take our fiduciary duties as an asset manager very
seriously. Our primary fiduciary obligation to our clients is to maximize the long-term value of their investments. State Street Global Advisors focuses on risks and opportunities that may impact long-term value creation for our clients. We rely on the elected representatives of
the companies in which we invest — the board of directors — to oversee these firms' strategies. We expect effective independent board oversight of the material risks and opportunities to a firm's business and operations. We believe that
appropriate consideration of these risks and opportunities is an essential component of a firm's long-term business strategy, and expect boards to actively oversee the management of this strategy.
Our Asset Stewardship Program
State Street Global Advisors' Asset Stewardship Team is responsible for developing and implementing this Policy, the implementation of third-party proxy voting guidelines where applicable, case-by-case voting items, issuer engagement
activities, and research and analysis of corporate governance issues and proxy voting items. The Asset Stewardship Team's activities are overseen by our internal governance body, State Street Global Advisors' Global Fiduciary and Conduct
Committee (“GFCC”). The GFCC is responsible for reviewing State Street Global Advisors' stewardship strategy, engagement priorities, the
Policy, and for monitoring the delivery of voting objectives.
In order
to facilitate the execution of our proxy votes, we retain Institutional Shareholder Services Inc.
(“ISS”). We utilize ISS to: (1) act as our proxy voting agent (providing State Street Global Advisors with vote execution and
administration services), (2) assist in applying the Policy, and (3) provide research and analysis relating to general corporate governance issues and specific proxy items. State Street Global Advisors does not follow the voting recommendations of any policy
offered by ISS or any other proxy voting policy provider in implementing the Policy.
All voting decisions and engagement activities for which State Street Global Advisors has been given voting discretion are undertaken in accordance with this Policy, ensuring that the interests of our clients remain the sole consideration when
discharging our stewardship responsibilities. Exceptions to this policy include the use of an independent third party to vote on State Street Corporation (“State Street”) stock and the stock of other State Street affiliated entities, to mitigate a
1
This Policy is applicable to SSGA Funds Management, Inc., State Street Global Advisors Trust Company, and other investment advisory affiliates of State Street Corporation.
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conflict of interest of voting on our parent
company or affiliated entities, and other situations where we believe we may be conflicted from voting (for example, stock of a public company for which a State Street director
also serves as a director, or due to an outside business interest). In such cases, delegated third parties exercise vote decisions based on their independent voting policy.
We aim to vote at all shareholder meetings where our clients have given us the authority to vote their shares and where it
is feasible to do so. However, when we deem appropriate, we may refrain from voting at meetings in cases where:
•Power of attorney documentation is required.
•Voting would have a material impact on our ability to trade the
security.
•Voting is not permissible due to sanctions affecting a company or individual.
•Issuer-specific special documentation
is required or various market or issuer certifications are required.
•Certain market limitations would prohibit voting (e.g., partial/split
voting prohibitions or residency restrictions).
•Unless a client directs otherwise in so-called
“share blocking” markets (markets where proxy voters have their securities blocked from trading during the period of the annual
meeting).
Additionally, we are unable to vote proxies when certain
custodians used by our clients do not offer proxy voting in a jurisdiction or when they charge a meeting-specific fee in excess of the typical custody service
agreement.
Voting authority attached to certain securities held by
State Street Global Advisors pooled funds may be delegated to an independent third party as required by regulatory or other requirements. Under such arrangements, voting will be
conducted by the independent third party pursuant to its proxy voting policy and not pursuant to this Policy.
The State Street Global Advisors Proxy Voting Choice
Program
In addition to the option of delegating proxy voting authority
to State Street Global Advisors pursuant to this Policy, clients may alternatively choose to participate in the State Street Global Advisors Proxy Voting Choice Program (the
“Proxy Voting Choice Program”), which empowers clients to direct the proxy voting of shares held by the eligible fund or segregated account they own. Clients that participate in the Proxy Voting Choice Program have the option of selecting a
third-party proxy voting guideline from the policies included in the Proxy Voting Choice Program to apply to the vote of the client's pro rata share of the securities held by the eligible fund or segregated account they own. This Policy does not
apply to shares voted under the Proxy Voting Choice Program.
Securities Not Voted Pursuant to the Policy
Where clients have asked State Street Global Advisors to vote the client's shares on their behalf, including where a pooled
fund fiduciary has delegated the responsibility to vote the fund's securities to State Street Global Advisors, State Street Global Advisors votes those securities in a unified manner, consistent with the principles described in this Policy.
Exceptions to this unified voting policy are: (1) where State Street Global Advisors has made its Proxy Voting Choice Program available to its separately managed account clients and investors within a fund managed by State Street Global
Advisors, in which case a pro rata portion of shares held by the fund or segregated account attributable to clients who choose to participate in the Proxy Voting Choice Program will be voted consistent with the third-party proxy voting
guidelines selected by the clients, (2) where a pooled investment vehicle managed by State Street Global Advisors utilizes a third party proxy voting guideline as set forth in that fund's organizational and/or offering documents, and (3) where
voting authority with respect to certain securities held by State Street Global Advisors pooled funds may be delegated to an independent third party as required by regulatory or other requirements. With respect to such funds and separately
managed accounts utilizing third-party proxy voting guidelines, the terms of the applicable third-party proxy voting guidelines shall apply in place of the Policy described herein and the proxy votes implemented with respect to such a fund
or account may differ from and be contrary to the votes implemented for other portfolios managed by State Street Global Advisors pursuant to this Policy.
Regional Nuances
When voting and engaging with companies, we may consider market-specific nuances that may be relevant to that company. We
expect companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets, as well as country-specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes, and
to publicly disclose their level of compliance with the applicable provisions and requirements. Except where specified, this Policy applies globally.
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Our Proxy Voting and Engagement
Principles
State Street Global Advisors' proxy voting and engagement program
focuses on three broad principles:
1.
Effective Board Oversight: We believe that well-governed companies can protect and pursue shareholder interests better and withstand the challenges of
an uncertain economic environment. Principally, a board acts on behalf of shareholders by protecting their interests and preserving their rights. In order to carry out their
primary responsibilities, directors undertake activities that include setting strategy and providing guidance on strategic matters, selecting the CEO and other senior executives, overseeing executive management, creating a succession plan for the
board and management, and providing effective oversight of material risks and opportunities relevant to their business. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the
existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.
We view board quality as a measure of director independence, director succession planning, board diversity, evaluations and refreshment, and company governance practices. We believe independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance; they help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. We believe a sufficiently independent board is key to effectively monitoring management, maintaining appropriate governance practices, and performing oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. We also believe the right mix of skills, independence, diversity, and qualifications among directors provides boards with the knowledge and experience to manage risks and operating structures that are often complex and industry-specific.
We view board quality as a measure of director independence, director succession planning, board diversity, evaluations and refreshment, and company governance practices. We believe independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance; they help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. We believe a sufficiently independent board is key to effectively monitoring management, maintaining appropriate governance practices, and performing oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. We also believe the right mix of skills, independence, diversity, and qualifications among directors provides boards with the knowledge and experience to manage risks and operating structures that are often complex and industry-specific.
2.
Disclosure: It
is important for shareholders to receive timely and accurate reporting of a company's financial performance and strategy so that they are able to assess both the value and risk of
their investment. In addition to information related to strategy and performance, companies should also provide disclosure relating to their approach to corporate governance and shareholder rights. Such information allows investors to determine whether their economic
interests have been safeguarded by the board and provides insights into the quality of the board's oversight of management. Ultimately, the board of directors is accountable for
the oversight and disclosure of the material risks and opportunities faced by the company.
3.
Shareholder Protection: State Street Global Advisors believes it is in the best interest of shareholders for companies to have appropriate
shareholder rights and accountability mechanisms in place. As a starting place for voting rights, it is necessary for ownership rights to reflect one vote for one share to ensure
that economic interests and proxy voting power are aligned. This share structure best supports the shareholders' right to exercise their proxy vote on matters that are important to the protection of their investment, such as share issuances and other dilutive events,
authorization of strategic transactions, approval of a shareholder rights plan, and changes to the corporate bylaws or charter, among others. In terms of accountability to
shareholders and appropriate checks and balances, we believe there should be annual elections of the full board of directors.
Application of
Principles
These three principles of effective board oversight,
disclosure and shareholder protection apply across all of State Street Global Advisors' proxy voting decisions. When voting at portfolio companies in different markets, State
Street Global Advisors may apply the principles in ways that are specific to a given market based on factors such as availability of data, resources, disclosure practices, and size of holdings in our clients' accounts.
Shareholder Proposals
When voting our clients' proxies, we may be presented with shareholder proposals at portfolio companies that must be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the principles set forth above. For proposals related to
commonly requested disclosure topics, we have developed the criteria found in Appendix A to assess the effectiveness of disclosure on such topics in connection with these types of proposals.
Engagement
We conduct engagements with individual issuers to communicate the principles set forth in this Policy and to learn more
about companies' strategy, board oversight and disclosure practices. We do not seek to change or influence control of any portfolio company through these engagements. In addition, we encourage issuers to increase the amount of direct
communication board members have with shareholders. We believe direct communication with executive board members
and independent non- executive directors is critical to helping companies understand shareholder concerns.
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Section I. Effective Board
Oversight
Director Independence
We believe independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance; they help
management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. We have developed criteria for determining director independence, which vary by region and/or local jurisdiction. These criteria generally follow relevant listing standards, local regulatory
requirements and/or local market practice standards. Such criteria may include:
•Participation in related-party
transactions or other material business relations with the company
•Employment history with the company
•Status as founder or member of the founding family
•Government representative
•Excessive tenure and preponderance of long-tenured directors
•Relations with significant
shareholders
•Close family ties with any of the company's advisers, directors or senior employees
•Cross-directorships
•Receipt of non-board related compensation from the issuer, its auditors or advisors
•Company's own classification of a
director as non-independent
In some cases, State Street Global
Advisors' criteria may be more rigorous than applicable local or listing requirements.
Majority Independent Board
We believe a sufficiently independent board is key to effectively monitoring management, maintaining appropriate governance
practices, and performing oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.
Separation of Chair/CEO
Our primary focus is to ensure there is strong independent leadership of the board, in accordance with the principles
discussed above. We generally believe the board is best placed to choose the governance structure that is most
appropriate for that company.
Board Committees
We believe that board committees are crucial to robust corporate governance and should be composed of a sufficient number of
independent directors. We use the same criteria for determining committee independence as we do for determining director independence, which varies by region and/or local
jurisdiction. Although we recognize that board structures may vary by jurisdiction, where a board has established an audit committee and/or compensation/remuneration committee, we generally expect the committee to be primarily, and in some cases, fully independent.
Refreshment and Tenure
We believe that average board tenure should generally align with the length of the business cycle of the respective industry
in which a company operates. In assessing excessive tenure, we consider factors such as the preponderance of long tenured directors, board refreshment practices, classified board
structures and the business cycle for the industry in which a company operates.
Director Time Commitments
We believe a company's nominating committee is best placed to determine appropriate time commitments for the company's directors. We consider if a company publicly discloses its director time commitment policy (e.g., within corporate
governance guidelines, proxy statement, annual report, company website, etc.) and if this policy or associated disclosure outlines the factors that the nominating committee
considers to assess director time commitments during the annual policy review process.
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Board Composition
We believe effective board oversight of a company's long-term business strategy
necessitates a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, which may include a range of characteristics such as skills, gender, race, ethnicity, and age. By having a critical mass of diverse perspectives, boards could experience the benefits that may lead to innovative
ideas and foster more robust conversations about a company's strategy.
We recognize that many factors may influence board composition, including board size, geographic location, and local regulations, among others. Further, we believe that a robust nominating and governance process is essential to achieving a
board composition that is designed to facilitate effective, independent oversight of a company's long-term strategy. We believe nominating committees are best placed to determine
the most effective board composition and we encourage companies to ensure that there are sufficient levels of diverse experiences and perspectives represented in the boardroom.
Board Expertise
We believe board members should have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations, and
risks, including sustainability-related issues.
Boards should also have a
regular evaluation process in place to assess the effectiveness of the board and the skills of board members to address issues, such as emerging risks, changes to corporate
strategy, and diversification of operations and geographic footprint. We believe nominating committees are best positioned to evaluate the skillset and expertise of both existing and prospective board members. However, we may take such considerations into account in certain
circumstances.
Board Accountability
Oversight of Strategy and Risk
We believe that risk management is a key function of the board, which is responsible for setting the overall risk appetite of a company and for providing oversight on the risk management process established by senior executives at a company. We allow boards to have discretion regarding the ways in which they provide oversight in this area. However, we expect companies to disclose how the board provides oversight of its risk management system and risk identification. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks that evolve in tandem with the changing political and economic landscape or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.
We believe that risk management is a key function of the board, which is responsible for setting the overall risk appetite of a company and for providing oversight on the risk management process established by senior executives at a company. We allow boards to have discretion regarding the ways in which they provide oversight in this area. However, we expect companies to disclose how the board provides oversight of its risk management system and risk identification. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks that evolve in tandem with the changing political and economic landscape or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.
As
responsible stewards, we believe in the importance of effective risk management and oversight of issues that are material to a company. To effectively manage and assess the risk of
our clients' portfolios, we expect our portfolio companies to manage risks and opportunities that are material and industry-specific and that have a demonstrated link to long-term value creation, and to provide high-quality disclosure of this process to shareholders.
When evaluating a board's oversight of risks and opportunities, we assess the following factors, based on disclosures by, and engagements with, portfolio companies:
1.
Oversees Long-term Strategy
–Articulates the material risks and
opportunities and how those risks and opportunities fit into the firm's long-term business strategy
–Regularly assesses the effectiveness of the company's long-term strategy, and management's execution of this strategy
2.
Demonstrates an
Effective Oversight Process
–Describes which committee(s) have oversight over specific risks and
opportunities, as well as which topics are overseen and/or discussed at the full-board level
–Includes risks and opportunities in board and/or committee agendas, and articulates how often specific topics are discussed at the committee and/or full- board level
–Utilizes KPIs or metrics to assess the effectiveness of risk management
processes
–Engages with key stakeholders including employees and investors
3.
Ensures Effective Leadership
–Holds management accountable for progress on
relevant metrics and targets
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–Integrates
necessary skills and perspectives into the board nominating and executive hiring processes, and provides training to directors and executives on topics material to the company's
business or operations
–Conducts a periodic effectiveness review
4.
Ensures Disclosures of Material Information
–Ensures publication of relevant disclosures, including those regarding material topics
Compliance with Corporate Governance Principles
Our minimum expectation is that companies will comply with their respective market governance codes and/or stewardship principles. Issuers are encouraged to provide explanations of their level of compliance with their local market code and why their preferred governance structure (if not compliant with the code) serves shareholders' long-term interests.
Our minimum expectation is that companies will comply with their respective market governance codes and/or stewardship principles. Issuers are encouraged to provide explanations of their level of compliance with their local market code and why their preferred governance structure (if not compliant with the code) serves shareholders' long-term interests.
We will review governance practices at companies in selected indexes for their
adherence to market governance codes and/or stewardship principles.
Proxy Contests
We believe nominating committees that are comprised of independent directors are best placed to assess which individuals are adequately equipped with the skills and expertise to fulfill the duties of board members, and to act as effective fiduciaries.
We believe nominating committees that are comprised of independent directors are best placed to assess which individuals are adequately equipped with the skills and expertise to fulfill the duties of board members, and to act as effective fiduciaries.
While our default position is to support the committees' judgement, we consider the following factors when evaluating
dissident nominees:
•Strategy presented by dissident nominees versus that of current
management, as overseen by the incumbent board
•Effectiveness, quality, and experience
of the management slate
•Material governance failures and the level of
responsiveness to shareholder concerns and market signals by the incumbent board
•Quality of disclosure and engagement practices to support changes to shareholder rights, capital allocation and/or governance structure
•Company performance and, if applicable, the merit of a recovery
plan
•Expertise of board members with respect to company industry and strategy
Board Oversight of Geopolitical Risk
As stewards of our clients' assets, we are aware of the financial risks associated with geopolitical risk, including risks arising from unexpected conflict between or among nations. We expect portfolio companies that may be impacted by geopolitical risk to:
As stewards of our clients' assets, we are aware of the financial risks associated with geopolitical risk, including risks arising from unexpected conflict between or among nations. We expect portfolio companies that may be impacted by geopolitical risk to:
•Manage and
mitigate risks related to operating in impacted markets, which may include financial, sanctions-related, regulatory, and/or reputational risks, among others;
•Strengthen board oversight of these efforts; and
•Describe these efforts in public disclosures.
Compensation and Remuneration
We consider it the board's responsibility to determine the appropriate level of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the possible types of plans and awards, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides our analysis of executive compensation: we believe that there should be a direct relationship between executive compensation and company performance over the long term.
We consider it the board's responsibility to determine the appropriate level of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the possible types of plans and awards, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides our analysis of executive compensation: we believe that there should be a direct relationship between executive compensation and company performance over the long term.
Shareholders should have the opportunity to assess whether pay structures and levels are aligned with business performance.
When assessing remuneration reports, we consider factors such as adequate disclosure of various remuneration elements, absolute and relative pay levels, peer selection and
benchmarking, the mix of long-term and short-term incentives, alignment of pay structures with shareholder interests, as well as with corporate strategy and performance.
For
example, criteria we may consider include the following:
•Overall quantum relative to company performance
•Vesting periods and length of performance targets
•Mix of performance, time and options-based stock units
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•Use of special grants and one-time awards
•Retesting and repricing features
•Disclosure and transparency
Board Meeting Attendance
We expect directors to attend at least 75 percent of board meetings in the last financial year or provide an appropriate explanation for why they were unable to meet this attendance threshold.
We expect directors to attend at least 75 percent of board meetings in the last financial year or provide an appropriate explanation for why they were unable to meet this attendance threshold.
Section II. Disclosure
It is important for shareholders to receive timely and accurate reporting of a company's
financial performance and strategy so that they are able to assess both the value and risk of their investment. In addition to information related to strategy and performance, companies should provide disclosure relating to their approach to corporate governance and shareholder
rights. Such information allows investors to determine whether their financial interests have been protected by the board and provides insights into the board's oversight of
management. Ultimately, the board of directors is accountable for the oversight and disclosure of the material risks and opportunities faced by the company.
Reporting
Financial Statements
We believe the disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for investment analysis. We expect external auditors to provide assurance of a company's financial condition.
We believe the disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for investment analysis. We expect external auditors to provide assurance of a company's financial condition.
Sustainability-related Disclosures
We believe in the importance of effective risk management and governance of issues that are material to a company. This may include sustainability-related risks and opportunities where a company has identified such risks and opportunities as material to its business. Such disclosure allows shareholders to effectively assess companies' oversight, strategy, and business practices related to these sustainability issues identified as material.
We believe in the importance of effective risk management and governance of issues that are material to a company. This may include sustainability-related risks and opportunities where a company has identified such risks and opportunities as material to its business. Such disclosure allows shareholders to effectively assess companies' oversight, strategy, and business practices related to these sustainability issues identified as material.
We look to companies to provide disclosure on sustainability-related risks and opportunities relevant to their businesses in line with applicable local regulatory requirements and any voluntary standards and frameworks adopted by the company.
Climate-related Disclosures
We believe that managing climate-related risks and opportunities is a key element in maximizing long-term risk-adjusted returns for our clients. As a result, we have a longstanding commitment to enhancing investor-useful disclosure related to this topic.
We believe that managing climate-related risks and opportunities is a key element in maximizing long-term risk-adjusted returns for our clients. As a result, we have a longstanding commitment to enhancing investor-useful disclosure related to this topic.
For
companies that have identified climate risk as material to their business, we expect the company to provide disclosure on climate-related risks and opportunities relevant to their
businesses in line with applicable local regulatory requirements and any voluntary standards and frameworks adopted by the company.
•We encourage the disclosure of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and related targets. However, State Street Global Advisors is not prescriptive in how a company sets its targets. We expect companies that have adopted net zero ambitions to
disclose interim climate targets. In each case, if a company chooses not to disclose any climate targets, we expect the company to provide an explanation of how the company
measures and monitors progress on managing climate-related risks and opportunities.
•We do not expect any company to set Scope 3 targets. We encourage companies to identify and disclose the most
relevant categories of Scope 3 emissions. However, we recognize that Scope 3 emissions estimates have a high
degree of uncertainty. Therefore, if a company determines that categories of Scope 3 emissions are impracticable to estimate, we encourage the company to explain the relevant limitations. We also encourage companies to explain any efforts
to address Scope 3 emissions, such as engagement with suppliers, customers, or other stakeholders across the value chain, where relevant.
Say-on-Climate Proposals
While we generally believe in the importance of effective disclosure of climate-related risks a company has deemed material to its business, we do not endorse annual advisory climate votes. Where management chooses to include a Say-on-Climate vote, we assess the company's climate-related disclosure in accordance with the criteria listed in Appendix A.
While we generally believe in the importance of effective disclosure of climate-related risks a company has deemed material to its business, we do not endorse annual advisory climate votes. Where management chooses to include a Say-on-Climate vote, we assess the company's climate-related disclosure in accordance with the criteria listed in Appendix A.
Board
and Workforce Demographics
We expect disclosure on the composition of both the board and workforce.
We expect disclosure on the composition of both the board and workforce.
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Section III. Shareholder
Protection
Capital
Share Capital Structure
The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, to grow, and to achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to a shareholder's ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. Altering the capital structure of a company is a critical decision for boards. When making such a decision, we believe the company should disclose a comprehensive business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and not overly dilutive to its shareholders.
The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, to grow, and to achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to a shareholder's ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. Altering the capital structure of a company is a critical decision for boards. When making such a decision, we believe the company should disclose a comprehensive business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and not overly dilutive to its shareholders.
Our approach to share capital structure matters may vary by local market and jurisdiction, due to regional nuances. Such proposals may include:
•Increase in Authorized Common Shares
•Increase in Authorized Preferred Shares
•Unequal Voting Rights
•Share Repurchase Programs
Dividend Payouts (Japan Only)
For Japanese issuers, we are generally supportive of dividend payouts that constitute 30 percent or more of net income; however we consider whether the payment may damage the company's long-term financial health.
For Japanese issuers, we are generally supportive of dividend payouts that constitute 30 percent or more of net income; however we consider whether the payment may damage the company's long-term financial health.
Reorganization, Mergers
and Acquisitions
The reorganization of the structure of a company or mergers often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.
The reorganization of the structure of a company or mergers often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.
We expect proposals to be in the best interests of shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the
effectiveness of the company's operations.
We evaluate mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis and expect transactions to maximize shareholder
value. Some of the considerations include the following:
•Offer premium
•Strategic rationale
•Board oversight of the process for the recommended
transaction, including director and/or management conflicts of interest
•Offers made at a premium and where
there are no other higher bidders
•Offers in which the secondary market
price is substantially lower than the net asset value
We also consider
the following:
•Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock
•Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders
•The current market price of the
security exceeds the bid price at the time of voting
Related-Party Transactions
Some companies have a controlled ownership structure and complex cross- shareholdings between subsidiaries and parent companies (“related companies”). Such structures may result in the prevalence of related-party transactions between the company and its various stakeholders, such as directors and management, subsidiaries and shareholders. In markets where shareholders are required to approve such transactions, we expect companies to disclose details of the transaction, such as the nature, the value and the purpose of such a transaction. We also believe independent directors should ratify such transactions. Further, we believe companies should describe the level of independent board oversight and the approval process, including details of any independent valuations provided by financial advisors on related-party transactions.
Some companies have a controlled ownership structure and complex cross- shareholdings between subsidiaries and parent companies (“related companies”). Such structures may result in the prevalence of related-party transactions between the company and its various stakeholders, such as directors and management, subsidiaries and shareholders. In markets where shareholders are required to approve such transactions, we expect companies to disclose details of the transaction, such as the nature, the value and the purpose of such a transaction. We also believe independent directors should ratify such transactions. Further, we believe companies should describe the level of independent board oversight and the approval process, including details of any independent valuations provided by financial advisors on related-party transactions.
Cross-Shareholdings (Japan Only)
“Cross-shareholdings” are a long-standing feature of the balance sheets of many Japanese companies, but, in our view, can be detrimental for corporate governance practices and ultimately shareholder returns.
“Cross-shareholdings” are a long-standing feature of the balance sheets of many Japanese companies, but, in our view, can be detrimental for corporate governance practices and ultimately shareholder returns.
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Shareholder Rights
Proxy Access
In general, we believe that proxy access is a fundamental right and an accountability mechanism for all long-term shareholders. We consider proposals relating to proxy access on a case-by-case basis and consider a balance between providing long-term shareholders accountability while preserving flexibility for management to design a process that is appropriate for the company's circumstances.
In general, we believe that proxy access is a fundamental right and an accountability mechanism for all long-term shareholders. We consider proposals relating to proxy access on a case-by-case basis and consider a balance between providing long-term shareholders accountability while preserving flexibility for management to design a process that is appropriate for the company's circumstances.
Vote Standards
•Annual Elections: We believe the establishment of annual elections of the board of directors is appropriate. We also consider the overall
level of board independence and the independence of the key committees, as well as the existence of a shareholder rights plan.
•Majority Voting: We believe a majority vote standard based on votes cast for the election
of directors is appropriate.
Shareholder
Meetings
•Special Meetings and Written
Consent: We believe the ability for shareholders to call special meetings, as well as act by written consent is
appropriate. We believe an appropriate threshold for both calling a special meeting and acting by written consent can be 25% of outstanding shares or less.
•Notice Period to Convene a General Meeting: We expect companies to give as much notice as
is practicable when calling a general meeting, generally at least 14 days.
•Virtual/Hybrid Shareholder Meetings: We believe the right to hold shareholder meetings in
a virtual or hybrid format is appropriate with the following best practices:
–Afford virtual attendee shareholders the same rights as would normally be granted to in-person attendee
shareholders
–Commit to time-bound renewal (five years or less) of meeting format
authorization by shareholders
–Provide a written record of all questions
posed during the meeting, and
–Comply with local market laws and regulations
relating to virtual and hybrid shareholder meeting practices
In
evaluating these proposals we also consider the operating environment of the company, including local regulatory developments and specific market circumstances impacting virtual
meeting practices.
Governance Documents &
Miscellaneous Items
Article Amendments
We believe amendments to company bylaws that may negatively impact shareholder rights (such as fee-shifting, forum selection, and exclusion service bylaws) should be put to a shareholder vote.
We believe amendments to company bylaws that may negatively impact shareholder rights (such as fee-shifting, forum selection, and exclusion service bylaws) should be put to a shareholder vote.
We believe a majority voting standard is generally appropriate.
We generally believe companies should have a fixed board size, or designate a range for the board size.
Anti-Takeover Issues
Occasionally, companies add anti-takeover provisions that reduce the chances of a potential acquirer to make an offer, or to reduce the likelihood of a successful offer. We generally believe shareholders should have the right to vote on reasonable offers. Our approach to anti-takeover issues may vary by local market and jurisdiction, due to regional nuances.
Occasionally, companies add anti-takeover provisions that reduce the chances of a potential acquirer to make an offer, or to reduce the likelihood of a successful offer. We generally believe shareholders should have the right to vote on reasonable offers. Our approach to anti-takeover issues may vary by local market and jurisdiction, due to regional nuances.
Accounting and Audit-Related Issues
Companies should have robust internal audit and internal control systems designed for effective management of any potential and emerging risks to company operations and strategy. The responsibility of setting out an internal audit function lies with the audit committee, which should have independent non-executive directors designated as members.
Companies should have robust internal audit and internal control systems designed for effective management of any potential and emerging risks to company operations and strategy. The responsibility of setting out an internal audit function lies with the audit committee, which should have independent non-executive directors designated as members.
We believe the disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely
manner is imperative for investment analysis. As a result, board oversight of the internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely upon financial statements. It is important for the audit committee to appoint external auditors who are
independent from management as we expect auditors to provide assurance of a company's financial condition.
C-9
State Street Global Advisors believes that a
company's external auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external independent assurance. Shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on
their (re-)appointment at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, we will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures.
In circumstances where “other” fees include fees related to initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergence, and spin-offs, and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees which are determined to be an exception to
the standard “non-audit
fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit/audit-related fees/tax compliance and preparation for purposes of determining
whether non-audit fees are excessive.
We believe a company should be able to discharge its auditors in the absence of pending litigation, governmental
investigation, charges or fraud or other indication of significant concern. Further, we believe that auditors should attend the annual meeting of shareholders.
Indemnification and Liability
Generally, we believe directors should be able to limit their liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection if a director has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Generally, we believe directors should be able to limit their liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection if a director has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Section IV. Shareholder Proposals
We believe that company boards do right by investors and are responsible for overseeing strategy and company management.
Towards that end, we generally do not support shareholder proposals that appear to impose changes to business strategy or operations, such as increasing or decreasing investment in
certain products or businesses or phasing out a product or business line or if it is not a topic that the company has deemed to be material in their public disclosure documents.
When
assessing shareholder proposals, we fundamentally consider whether the adoption of the resolution would promote long-term shareholder value in the context of our core governance
principles:
1.
Effective board oversight
2.
Quality disclosure
3.
Shareholder protection
We will consider supporting a shareholder proposal if:
•the request is focused on enhanced
disclosure of the company's governance and/or risk oversight
•the adoption of the request would protect our clients' interests as
minority shareholders; or
•for common proposal topics for which we have
developed assessment criteria, the extent to which the request satisfies the criteria found in Appendix A.
Section V. Engagement
As a fiduciary, State Street Global Advisors takes a comprehensive approach to engaging
with portfolio companies. Our stewardship prioritization process allows us to proactively identify companies for engagement and voting in order to mitigate risks in our client's portfolios. Through engagement, we aim to build long-term relationships with the issuers in
which we invest on behalf of our clients and to address a broad range of topics relating to the promotion of long-term shareholder value creation. We do not seek to change or influence control of any portfolio company through engagement.
Equity Engagements
In general, there are three types of engagements that State Street Global Advisors may hold
on behalf of equity holders:
1.
Engagements with Portfolio Companies in Connection with a Ballot Item or
Other Topic In our Policy: Engagements held with portfolio companies to discuss a ballot item,
event or other established topic found in our Policy. Such engagements generally, but not necessarily, occur during “proxy season.” They may be held at the request of State Street Global Advisors or the portfolio company.
C-10
2.
Off-Season Engagement at the Request of a Portfolio Company: From time- to-time, portfolio companies may seek to engage with State Street Global Advisors in the ‘off-season' to
discuss a particular topic.
3.
Off-Season Proactive Engagement Campaigns: Each year, State Street Global Advisors will identify thematic
engagement campaigns on important topics for which we are seeking more information to potentially inform our
future voting positions.
Fixed Income Engagements
From time-to-time, certain corporate action election events, reclassifications or other changes to the investment terms of debt holdings may occur or an issuer may seek to engage with State Street Global Advisors to discuss matters pertaining to
the debt instruments that State Street Global Advisors holds on behalf of its clients. In such instances, State Street Global Advisors may engage with the issuer to obtain further
information about the matter for purposes of its investment decision making. Such engagements are the responsibility of the Fixed Income portfolio management team, but may be
supported by State Street Global Advisors' Asset Stewardship Team. All election decisions are the responsibility of the relevant portfolio management team.
In addition, State Street Global Advisors may identify themes for engagement campaigns with issuers on topics that it
believes may affect value of its clients' debt investments. State Street Global Advisors may proactively engage with portfolio companies and other issuers on these topics to help inform our views on the subject.
Where such themes align with those relating to equities, such engagements may be carried out jointly on behalf of both equity and fixed income holdings where there is mutual benefit for both asset classes. Such engagements are led by the State
Street Global Advisors Asset Stewardship Team, but may also be attended by the relevant portfolio management teams.
Engaging with Other Investors Soliciting State Street Global Advisors'
Votes in Connection with Contested Shareholder Meetings, Vote-No Campaigns, or Shareholder Proposals
While it may be helpful to speak to other investors that are running proxy contests,
putting forth vote-no campaigns, or proposing shareholder proposals at investee companies, we limit such discussions to investors who have filed necessary documentation with regulators and engage in these discussions at our own discretion.
Our primary purpose of engaging with investors is:
1.
To gain a better understanding of their position or concerns at investee companies.
2.
In proxy contest situations:
–To assess possible director candidates where investors are seeking board representation in proxy contest
situations
–To understand the investor's proposed strategy for the company and investment
time horizon to assess their alignment with State Street Global Advisors' views and interests as a long-term shareholder
Any information about our vote decisions are available in this document and on our website.
All requests for engagement should be sent to [email protected].
Section VI. Other Matters
Securities on Loan
As a responsible investor and fiduciary, we recognize the importance of balancing the benefits of voting shares and the
incremental lending revenue for the pooled funds that participate in State Street Global Advisors' securities lending program (the “Funds”). Our objective is to recall securities on loan and restrict future lending until after the record date for the respective vote in instances where we believe that a particular vote could have a material impact on the Funds'
long-term financial performance and the benefit of voting shares will outweigh the forgone lending income.
Accordingly, we have set systematic recall and lending restriction criteria for shareholder
meetings involving situations with the highest potential financial implications (such as proxy contests and strategic transactions including mergers and acquisitions, going dark transactions, change of corporate form, or bankruptcy and liquidation). Generally, these criteria for
recall and restriction for lending only apply to certain large cap indices in developed markets.
C-11
State Street Global Advisors monitors the forgone
lending revenue associated with each recall to determine if the impact on the Funds' long-term financial performance and the benefit of voting shares will outweigh the forgone
lending income.
Although our objective is to systematically recall securities
based on the aforementioned criteria, we must receive notice of the vote in sufficient time to recall the shares on or before the record date. When we do not receive timely notice,
we may be unable to recall the shares on or before the record date.
Reporting
We provide transparency for our stewardship activities through our regular client reports and relevant information reported
online. We publish an annual stewardship report that provides details of our stewardship approach, engagement and
voting policies, and activities during the year. The annual stewardship report is complemented by quarterly stewardship activity reports as well as the publication of thought leadership on governance and sustainability on our website. Our
voting record information is available on Vote View, an interactive platform that provides relevant company details, proposal types, resolution descriptions, and records of our votes cast.
Appendix A: Assessment Criteria for Common Disclosure Topics
As outlined above, the pillars of our Asset Stewardship Program rest on effective board oversight, quality disclosure and shareholder protection. We are frequently asked to evaluate proposals on various topics, including requests for enhanced
disclosure.
Where a company receives a proposal on a topic that the company has determined is material to its business, we will assess
the proposal in accordance with the below criteria that we believe represent quality disclosure on commonly requested disclosure topics. In each case, in assessing the proposal
against the applicable criteria, we may review the company's relevant disclosures against industry and market practice (e.g., peer disclosure, relevant frameworks, relevant industry guidance).
Climate Disclosure Criteria
For companies that have identified climate-related risks or opportunities as material to their business, we expect the
company to provide disclosure on climate-related risks and opportunities relevant to their businesses in line with applicable local regulatory requirements and any voluntary standards and frameworks adopted by the company, as described in
the section related to Climate-Related Disclosures above.
Additionally,
where a company is among the highest emitters, we consider whether the company discloses:
•Scenario-planning on relevant risk assessment and strategic planning
processes;
•The company's plans to achieve stated climate-related
targets, if any, including information on timelines and expected emissions reductions; and
•Incorporation of relevant climate
considerations in financial planning and/or capital allocation decisions.
Climate Transition Plan Disclosure Criteria for Companies that have Adopted a Climate Transition Plan
We do not expect or require companies to adopt net zero ambitions or join relevant industry
initiatives. For companies that have adopted a net zero ambition and/or climate transition plan and that receive a related proposal, we assess the proposal against the disclosure criteria set out below. Given that climate related risks present differently across industries, our assessment of the below criteria may vary to account for best practices in specific industries.
General Climate-related Disclosures
•Description of approach to identifying
and assessing climate-related risks and opportunities
•Disclosure of resilience of the company's strategy taking into
consideration a range of climate-related scenarios
•Disclosure of Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant categories of Scope 3
emissions and any assurance
Ambition
•Disclosure of long-term climate ambitions
Targets
•Disclosure of short- and/or medium-term interim climate
targets
C-12
•Disclosure of alignment of climate targets with
relevant jurisdictional commitments, specific temperature pathways, and/or sectoral decarbonization approaches
Decarbonization Strategy
•Disclosure of plans and actions to support stated climate targets and ambitions
•Disclosure of emissions management efforts within the company's operations and, as applicable, across the value chain
•Disclosure of carbon offsets utilization, if any
•Disclosure of the role of climate solutions (e.g., carbon capture and storage)
•Disclosure of potential social risks
and opportunities related to climate transition plan, if any
Capital Allocation
•Disclosure integration of relevant climate considerations in financial
planning
•Disclosure of total actual and planned capital deployed toward climate transition plan
•Disclosure of approach to assessing and prioritizing investments toward climate transition plan (e.g. marginal abatement cost curves, internal carbon pricing, if any)
Climate Policy Engagement
•Disclosure of position on climate-related topics relevant to the company's
decarbonization strategy
•Disclosure of assessment of stated positions on
relevant climate-related topics versus those of associations and other relevant policy-influencing entities, such as trade associations, industry bodies, or coalitions, to which
the company belongs, and any efforts taken as a result of this review to address potential misalignment.
Climate Governance
•Disclosure of the board's role in overseeing climate transition plan
•Disclosure of management's role in
overseeing climate transition plan
Physical
Risk
•Disclosure of assessment of climate-related physical risks
•Disclosure of approach to managing identified climate-related physical
risks
Stakeholder Engagement
•Disclosure of engagement with relevant internal stakeholders related to climate transition plan (e.g., workforce training, cross-functional collaboration)
•Disclosure of engagement with relevant external
stakeholders related to climate transition plan (e.g., industry collaboration, customer engagement)
Methane Disclosure Criteria
Where a company has determined that methane emissions-related risks or opportunities are
material to its business and has received a related shareholder proposal, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure criteria:
•Disclosure of methane emissions detection and monitoring
efforts
•An explanation of efforts to enhance measurement, reporting, and verification
•A description of the company's strategy
to manage methane emissions
•Disclosure of any methane-related metrics and targets utilized
C-13
Nature-Related Disclosures:
Biodiversity, Deforestation and other Land-Use, Water Management, Pollution and Waste
Where a company has determined that one or more nature-related risks and opportunities are
material to its business and has received a related shareholder proposal, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure criteria:
•Governance: Board oversight of the material nature-related risks and opportunities
•Risk
Management: Approach to identifying, assessing, monitoring, and mitigating the material nature-related risks
and opportunities
•Strategy: Consideration of material nature-related risks and opportunities in business strategy, resiliency, and
planning
•Metrics and Targets (when
relevant): Metrics used to assess, monitor, and manage nature-related risks and opportunities
Human Capital Management Disclosure Criteria
Where a company has determined that human capital management-related risks or opportunities
are material to its business and has received a related shareholder proposal, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure criteria:
•Board Oversight: Methods outlining how the board oversees human capital- related risks and opportunities;
•Strategy: Approaches to human capital management and how these advance the long-term business strategy;
•Compensation: Strategies throughout the organization that aim to attract and retain
employees, and incentivize contribution to an effective human capital strategy;
•Voice: Channels to ensure the concerns and ideas from workers are solicited and acted
upon, and how the workforce is engaged and empowered in the organization; and
•Workforce
Demographics: Role of the board in overseeing workforce demographics efforts
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Disclosure Criteria
Where a company has determined that diversity, equity and inclusion-related risks or opportunities are material to its business and has received a related shareholder proposal, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following
disclosure criteria:
•Board Oversight: Describe how the board executes its oversight role in risks and opportunities related to diversity, equity and
inclusion
•Strategy: Articulate the role that diversity, equity, and inclusion plays in the company's broader human capital management practices
and long-term strategy, as well as how the company intends to implement that strategy
•Metrics: Provide disclosure on the company's global employee base and board demographics, where permitted
•Board Composition: Articulate the role of diversity of skills, backgrounds, experiences,
and perspectives in the board's nominating process
Pay Equity Disclosure Criteria (United States and United Kingdom Only)
Where a company has determined that pay equity-related risks or opportunities are material to its business and has received a related shareholder proposal, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure criteria:
•Disclosure of adjusted pay gaps related to race and gender within the company (disclosure of the unadjusted pay gap is also encouraged, but not expected outside of the United Kingdom market at this time);
•Disclosure of strategy to achieve and
maintain pay equity; and
•Disclosure of the role of the board in overseeing pay strategies as well as diversity-related efforts
C-14
Civil Rights Disclosure Criteria
(United States Only)
Where a company has determined that civil rights-related
risks or opportunities are material to its business and has received a related shareholder proposal, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure
criteria:
•Disclosure of risk related to civil rights, including risks associated with products, practices, and services;
•Disclosure of plans to manage and mitigate these risks; and
•Disclosure of
processes at the board for overseeing such risks (e.g., committee responsible, frequency of discussions, etc.).
Human Rights Disclosure Criteria
Where a company has determined that human rights-related risks or opportunities are
material to its business and has received a related shareholder proposal, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure criteria:
•Human rights-related risks the company considers more relevant;
•Plans to manage and mitigate these
risks;
•Board oversight of these risks; and
•Assessment of the effectiveness of the human rights risk management
program.
Political Contributions Disclosure Criteria
(United States Only)
For all companies that receive a shareholder
proposal related to political contributions, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure criteria:
•Disclosure of all contributions, no matter the dollar value, made by the company, its subsidiaries, and/ or affiliated Political Action Committees (PACs) to individual candidates, PACs, and other political organizations at the state and
federal levels in the US; and
•Disclosure of the role of the board in oversight of political
contributions.
Lobbying Disclosure Criteria (United
States Only)
For all companies that receive a shareholder proposal
related to lobbying disclosure, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure criteria:
•Disclosure of membership in United States trade associations (to which payments are above $50,000 per year) and
•Disclosure of the role of the board in overseeing lobbying activities.
Trade Association Alignment Disclosure Criteria
For all companies that receive a shareholder proposal related to trade association alignment, we will assess the proposal in accordance with the following disclosure criteria:
•Disclosure of the board's role in overseeing the
company's participation in the political process, including membership in trade associations or other policy- influencing entities; and
•Whether the company regularly performs a gap analysis of its stated positions on relevant issues versus those of the trade associations or other policy-influencing organizations of which it is a member, and
•Whether the company disclosed a list of
its trade association memberships
Note: We believe that management is
best suited to take positions on the matters related to their company and therefore we do not recommend any specific position. Our support of these types of shareholder proposals,
if any, solely reflect our support for enhanced disclosure on assessing alignment between stated company positions and the positions of associations and other relevant policy-influencing entities to which the company belongs in line with market expectations
and effective risk management.
C-15
About State Street Investment
Management
For over four decades, State Street Investment Management has served
the world's governments, institutions, and financial advisors. With a rigorous, risk-aware approach built on research, analysis, and market-tested experience, and as pioneers in index and ETF investing, we are always inventing new ways to invest. As a result, we have become the world's
fourth-largest asset manager* with US $5.12 trillion† under our care.
*
Pensions & Investments Research Center, as of December 31, 2023.
†
This figure is presented as of December 31, 2024 and includes ETF AUM of $1,577.74 billion USD
of which approximately $82.19 billion USD in gold assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the
marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Investment Management are affiliated. Please note all AUM is unaudited.
statestreet.com/im
© 2025 State Street Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
ID2658960
Exp. Date: 03/31/2026
All Rights Reserved.
ID2658960
Exp. Date: 03/31/2026
C-16
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28.
Exhibits
| (a)(i) |
|
| (a)(ii) |
|
| (a)(iii) |
|
| (b) |
|
| (c) |
Not applicable. |
| (d)(i)(1) |
|
| (d)(i)(2) |
|
| (d)(i)(3) |
Revised Exhibit A (Schedule of Series) to the Advisory Agreement, reflecting the addition of the State Street My2027
High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State
Street My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2030 High Yield
Corporate Bond ETF and State Street My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, to
be filed by subsequent amendment. |
| (d)(ii) |
|
| (d)(iii) |
|
| (d)(iv) |
|
| (d)(v) |
|
| (d)(vi) |
|
| (d)(vii) |
|
| (e)(i)(1) |
|
| (e)(i)(2) |
1
| (e)(i)(3) |
Amended Annex I (Schedule of Series) to the Distribution Agreement, reflecting the addition of the State Street
My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF,
State Street My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2030 High
Yield Corporate Bond ETF and State Street My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond
ETF, to be filed by subsequent amendment. |
| (e)(ii) |
|
| (f) |
Not applicable. |
| (g)(i)(1) |
|
| (g)(i)(2) |
|
| (g)(i)(3) |
|
| (g)(i)(4) |
Amended Appendix A (Schedule of Series) to the Custodian Agreement, reflecting the addition of the State Street
My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF,
State Street My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2030 High
Yield Corporate Bond ETF and State Street My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond
ETF, to be filed by subsequent amendment. |
| (h)(i)(1) |
|
| (h)(i)(2) |
|
| (h)(i)(3) |
Amended Schedule A (Schedule of Series) to the Administration Agreement, reflecting the addition of the State Street
My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF,
State Street My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2030 High
Yield Corporate Bond ETF and State Street My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond
ETF, to be filed by subsequent amendment. |
| (h)(ii)(1) |
|
| (h)(ii)(2) |
|
| (h)(ii)(3) |
|
| (h)(ii)(4) |
|
| (h)(ii)(5) |
Amended Schedule A (Schedule of Series) to the Sub-Administration Agreement, reflecting the addition of the State
Street My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond
ETF, State Street My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2030
High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and State Street My2031 High Yield Corporate
Bond ETF, to be filed by subsequent amendment. |
| (h)(iii)(1) |
|
| (h)(iii)(2) |
|
| (h)(iii)(3) |
Amended Schedule A (Schedule of Series) to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, reflecting the addition of
the State Street My2027 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2028 High Yield
Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2029 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State
Street My2030 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and State Street My2031 High
Yield Corporate Bond ETF, to be filed by subsequent amendment. |
2
| (h)(iv)(1) |
|
| (h)(iv)(2) |
|
| (h)(iv)(3) |
|
| (h)(iv)(4) |
|
| (h)(iv)(5) |
|
| (h)(iv)(6) |
|
| (h)(iv)(7) |
|
| (h)(iv)(8) |
|
| (h)(iv)(9) |
|
| (h)(iv)(10) |
|
| (h)(v) |
|
| (h)(vi) |
|
| (h)(vii) |
|
| (i)(i) |
|
| (i)(ii) |
|
| (i)(iii) |
|
| (i)(iv) |
|
3
| (i)(v) |
|
| (i)(vi) |
|
| (i)(vii) |
|
| (i)(viii) |
|
| (i)(ix) |
|
| (i)(x) |
|
| (i)(xi) |
|
| (i)(xii) |
|
| (i)(xiii) |
|
| (i)(xiv) |
|
| (i)(xv) |
|
| (i)(xvi) |
|
| (i)(xvii) |
Opinion and consent of counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the State Street My2027 High Yield
Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2028 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2029
High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, State Street My2030 High Yield Corporate Bond
ETF and State Street My2031 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, to be filed by
subsequent amendment. |
| (j) |
Not applicable. |
| (k) |
Not applicable. |
| (l) |
|
| (m) |
Not applicable. |
| (n) |
Not applicable. |
| (o) |
Not applicable. |
| (p)(i) |
4
| (p)(ii) |
|
| (p)(iii) |
|
| (p)(iv) |
|
| (p)(v) |
|
| (p)(vi) |
|
| (p)(vii) |
|
| (p)(viii) |
|
| (p)(ix) |
|
| (q)(i) |
|
| (q)(ii) |
Item 29.
Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control With
Registrant
The Board of Trustees of the Trust is the same as the Boards of Trustees of SPDR
Series Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds. In addition, the officers of the Trust are substantially identical to the officers of SPDR Series Trust and SPDR Index Shares
Funds. Additionally, the Trust’s investment adviser, SSGA FM, also serves as investment adviser to each series of SPDR Series Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds. Nonetheless, the Trust takes the position that it is not under common control with other trusts because the power residing in the respective boards and officers arises as the result of an official position with the respective trusts.
Additionally, see the “Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities” section of the Statement of Additional Information for a list of shareholders who own more than 5% of a specific fund’s outstanding shares and such information is incorporated by reference to this Item.
Item 30.
Indemnification
Pursuant to Section
V.3 of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust, the Trust will indemnify any person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust against
all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him/her in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he/she becomes involved as a party or otherwise by
virtue of his/her being or having been a Trustee, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him/her in the settlement thereof, if he/she acted in
good faith and in a manner he/she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his/her conduct was unlawful. In addition, indemnification is permitted only if it is determined that the actions in question did not render him/her liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of his/her duties or by reason of reckless disregard of his/her obligations and duties to the Registrant. The Registrant may also advance money for litigation expenses provided that Trustees, officers, employees and/or agents give their undertakings to repay the Registrant unless their conduct is later determined to permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section V.2 of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust, no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant shall be liable
for any action or failure to act, except in the case of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties to the Registrant. Pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Registrant’s Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser shall not be liable for any action or failure to act, except in the case of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties to the Registrant.
5
Insofar as indemnification for liability
arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the
provisions of Rule 484 under the Act, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the indemnification provision
of its By-Laws in a manner consistent with Release 11330 of the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), so long as the
interpretation of Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remains in effect.
The Registrant maintains insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, or who is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another trust or corporation, against any liability asserted against him/her and incurred by him/her or arising out of his/her position. However, in no event will the Registrant maintain insurance to indemnify any such person for any act for which the Registrant itself is not permitted to indemnify him/her.
Item
31.
Business and Other Connections of Investment
Adviser
Any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each director or principal officer of each investment adviser is or has been, at any time during the last two fiscal years, engaged for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee are as follows:
SSGA FUNDS MANAGEMENT, INC.:
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser for each series of the Trust. SSGA FM is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Global Advisors, Inc., which itself is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. SSGA FM and other advisory
affiliates of State Street Corporation make up State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), the investment management arm of State Street Corporation. The principal address of SSGA FM is One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114. SSGA FM is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Below is a list of the directors and principal executive officers of SSGA FM and
their principal occupation(s). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
| Name |
Principal Occupation |
| Jeanne LaPorta |
Chairperson, Director and President; Executive Vice President of SSGA |
| Sean Driscoll |
Director of SSGA FM; Managing Director of SSGA |
| Apea Amoa |
Director of SSGA FM; Chief Financial Officer of SSGA |
| Brian Harris |
Chief Compliance Officer of SSGA FM; Managing Director of SSGA |
| Steven Hamm |
Treasurer of SSGA FM; Vice President of SSGA |
| Sean O’Malley, Esq. |
Chief Legal Officer of SSGA FM; General Counsel of SSGA |
| Ann M. Carpenter |
Chief Operating Officer of SSGA FM; Managing Director of SSGA |
| Tim Corbett |
Chief Risk Officer of SSGA FM; Senior Vice President/Senior Managing Director of SSGA |
| Christyann Weltens |
Derivates Risk Manager; Vice President of SSGA |
| David Ireland |
CTA Chief Marketing Officer; Senior Vice President/Senior Managing Director of SSGA |
| David Urman, Esq. |
Clerk of SSGA FM; Vice President and Senior Counsel of SSGA |
BLACKSTONE LIQUID CREDIT STRATEGIES LLC:
Blackstone Liquid Credit Strategies LLC (“Blackstone”) serves as the investment sub-adviser to the Registrant’s SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF and SPDR Blackstone High Income ETF. Blackstone is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Blackstone Inc. (collectively with its affiliates, “Blackstone Inc.”). Blackstone Inc. is a leading manager of private capital and provider of financial advisory services. It is one of the largest independent managers of private capital in the world. The principal business address of Blackstone is 345 Park Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, New York 10154. Blackstone is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
6
Below is a list of the directors and
principal executive officers of Blackstone and their principal occupation(s). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is 345 Park Avenue, 31st Floor,
New York, New York 10154.
| Name |
Position with and Name of Other Company |
| BLACKSTONE ALTERNATIVE CREDIT ADVISORS LP |
MANAGING MEMBER |
| ZABLE, ROBERT, DANIEL |
HEAD OF BLACKSTONE CREDIT’S LIQUID CREDIT STRATEGIES UNIT |
| SMITH, DANIEL, HARLAN |
CHAIRMAN OF BLACKSTONE CREDIT’S LIQUID CREDIT STRATEGIES UNIT |
| BEENEY, MARISA, JANEL |
GENERAL COUNSEL OF BLACKSTONE CREDIT |
| BOUGIAMAS, PANAYIOTA |
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER OF BLACKSTONE LIQUID CREDIT STRATEGIES LLC |
| IANNARONE, THOMAS, LAWRENCE |
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF BLACKSTONE LIQUID CREDIT STRATEGIES LLC |
| SCOTT, DONALD, DWIGHT |
PRESIDENT OF BLACKSTONE CREDIT |
| VONZUBEN, HEATHER, CAREY |
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF BLACKSTONE
CREDIT |
| KRESGE, KEVIN, MICHAEL |
HEAD OF FINANCE FOR BLACKSTONE CREDIT |
DOUBLELINE CAPITAL LP:
DoubleLine serves as investment sub-adviser to the
Registrant’s SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF, SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income
ETF. The principal business address of DoubleLine is 2002 N. Tampa Street, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33602. DoubleLine is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Below is a list of the directors and principal executive officers of DoubleLine
and their principal occupation(s). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is 2002 N. Tampa Street, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33602.
| Name |
Position with and Name of Other Company |
| GUNDLACH, JEFFREY, EDWARD |
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER; DIRECTOR; LIMITED PARTNER;EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER |
| DOUBLELINE CAPITAL GP LLC |
GENERAL PARTNER |
| OAKTREE FUND GP II, L.P. |
LIMITED PARTNER |
| CHASE, HENRY, VANN |
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER; LIMITED PARTNER;EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER |
| LARISCY, EARL, ALLAN |
GENERAL COUNSEL; LIMITED PARTNER;EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER |
| REDELL, RONALD, ROBERT |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER; LIMITED PARTNER |
| SANTA ANA III, CRIS |
CHIEF RISK OFFICER, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER, LIMITED PARTNER |
| VAN EVERY, BARBARA, RUTH |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER; CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER; LIMITED PARTNER |
| MOORE, CASEY, LEE |
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER; EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER; LIMITED PARTNER |
| SHERMAN, JEFFREY, JOHN |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER; DEPUTY CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER; LIMITED PARTNER |
| GUIA, YOUSE, ENRIQUE |
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER; EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER |
| ELAM, JOAN, LYNEA |
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER; EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER; LIMITED PARTNER |
| TOWNZEN, PATRICK, AARON |
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER; EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER; LIMITED PARTNER |
7
NUVEEN ASSET
MANAGEMENT, LLC:
Nuveen Asset Management serves as the investment sub-adviser to the Registrant’s SPDR Nuveen Municipal Bond ETF and SPDR Nuveen Municipal Bond ESG ETF. The principal business address of Nuveen Asset Management is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Asset Management is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Below is a list of the directors and principal executive officers of Nuveen Asset Management and their principal occupation(s). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
| Name |
Position with and Name of Other Company |
| William T. Huffman |
President |
| Stuart J. Cohen |
Managing Director and Head of Legal |
| Travis M. Pauley |
Chief Compliance Officer |
| Jon Stevens |
Senior Managing Director |
| Megan Sendlak |
Controller |
| Saira Malik |
Executive Vice President |
LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, L.P.:
Loomis serves as the investment sub-adviser to the Registrant’s SPDR Loomis Sayles Opportunistic Bond ETF. The principal business address of Loomis is One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Loomis is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Below is a list of the directors and principal executive officers of Loomis and
their principal occupation(s). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
| Name and Position with Loomis |
Name and Principal Business Address of Other Company |
Connection with Other Company |
| Kevin P. Charleston Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director |
Loomis Sayles Funds I 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Loomis Sayles Funds II 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee |
| |
Natixis Funds Trust I 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee |
| |
Natixis Funds Trust II 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee |
| |
Natixis Funds Trust IV 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee |
| |
Natixis ETF Trust 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee |
| |
Natixis ETF Trust II 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee |
| |
Gateway Trust 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee |
| |
Loomis Sayles Distributors, Inc. One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Director |
| |
Loomis Sayles Investments Limited The Economist Plaza, 25 St. James’s
Street, London, England SW1A 1 HA |
Representative of Loomis Sayles as a corporate Director |
| |
Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager and President |
| |
Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Ltd. 10 Collyer Quay #14-06, Ocean Financial
Centre, Singapore 049315 |
Director |
| |
Loomis Sayles Operating Services, LLC
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111
(dissolved 12/20/22) |
Director, Chairman and President (2020 – 2022) |
8
| Name and Position with Loomis |
Name and Principal Business Address of Other Company |
Connection with Other Company |
| |
NIM-os, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager |
| Matthew J. Eagan Co-Head and Portfolio Manager, Full Discretion, and Director |
None. |
None. |
| Daniel J. Fuss
Vice Chairman and Director |
Loomis Sayles Funds I 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Executive Vice President (2003 - 2021) |
| |
Loomis Sayles Funds II 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Executive Vice President (2003 - 2021) |
| John R. Gidman Chief Operating Officer and Director |
Loomis Sayles Operating Services, LLC
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111
(dissolved 12/20/22) |
Director and Chief Executive Officer (2020 – 2022) |
| |
NIM-os, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager |
| David L. Giunta Director |
Natixis Investment Managers 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, US |
| |
Natixis Advisors, LLC 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Compliance, Risk and Internal Control
Committee (formerly known as Natixis Distribution Corporation) 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Natixis Distribution, LLC 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Loomis Sayles Funds I 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee and Executive Vice President |
| |
Loomis Sayles Funds II 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Natixis Funds Trust I 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Natixis Funds Trust II 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Natixis Funds Trust IV 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Natixis ETF Trust 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Natixis ETF Trust II 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
Gateway Trust
888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
NIM-os, LLC
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager |
| Aziz V. Hamzaogullari Chief Investment Officer of the Growth Equity Strategies, Portfolio Manager and Director |
None. |
None. |
| Kinji Kato
Director |
Natixis Investment Managers Japan Ark Hills South Tower 8F, 4-5, Roppongi 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 Japan |
Honorary Chairman |
| Maurice Leger Head of Global Distribution and Director |
Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager |
| Richard G. Raczkowski Co-Head and Portfolio Manager, Relative Return, and Director |
None. |
None. |
9
| Name and Position with Loomis |
Name and Principal Business Address of Other Company |
Connection with Other Company |
| Rebecca O’Brien Radford
General Counsel, Secretary and Director
(1/1/23 to present); Deputy General
Counsel (2021 – 2023) |
Loomis Sayles Distributors, Inc.
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Director |
| |
Loomis Sayles Investments Limited
The Economist Plaza, 25 St. James’s
Street, London, England SW1A 1 HA |
General Counsel and Secretary |
| |
Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager and Secretary |
| |
Loomis Sayles Operating Services, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 (dissolved 12/20/22) |
Director and Secretary (2020 – 2022) |
| |
NIM-os, LLC
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager and General Counsel |
| John F. Russell Head of Human Resources and Director |
None. |
None. |
| Timothy F. Ryan Director |
Natixis Investment Managers 888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199 |
Chief Executive Officer and Head of Asset & Wealth Management |
| Susan L. Sieker Chief Financial Officer and Director |
Loomis Sayles Investments Limited The Economist Plaza, 25 St. James’s
Street, London, England SW1A 1 HA |
Chief Financial Officer |
| |
Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager and Chief Financial Officer |
| |
NIM-os, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 |
Manager and Chief Financial Officer |
| Elaine M. Stokes Co-Head and Portfolio Manager, Full Discretion, and Director |
None. |
None. |
| David L. Waldman Deputy Chief Investment Officer (2013 - 2021), Chief Investment Officer (2021 to present) and Director |
None. |
None. |
GALAXY DIGITAL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP:
Galaxy serves as the investment sub-adviser to the Registrant’s SPDR
Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF, SPDR Galaxy Transformative Tech Accelerators ETF and SPDR Galaxy Hedged Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF. The principal business address of
Galaxy is 300 Vesey Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10282. Galaxy is an investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.
Below is a list of the directors and principal executive officers of Galaxy and
their principal occupation(s). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is 300 Vesey Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10282.
| Name |
Position with and Name of Other Company |
| GALAXY DIGITAL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GP LLC |
GENERAL PARTNER |
| GALAXY DIGITAL LP |
LIMITED PARTNER |
| Siegel, Andrew, Neal |
GENERAL COUNSEL AND AUTHORIZED PERSON |
| Kurz, Stephen, Janus |
HEAD, ASSET MANAGEMENT DIVISION, AND AUTHORIZED PERSON |
| Ferraro, Christopher |
PRESIDENT |
| Paquette, Anthony Philip |
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER |
| Srivastava, Lagan |
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER |
10
BRIDGEWATER ASSOCIATES,
LP:
Bridgewater serves as the investment sub-adviser to the Registrant’s SPDR Bridgewater All Weather ETF. The principal business address of Bridgewater is One Nyala Farms Road, Westport, Connecticut 06880. Bridgewater is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Below is a list of the directors and principal executive officers of Bridgewater and their principal occupation(s). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is One Nyala Farms Road, Westport, Connecticut 06880.
| Name |
Position with and Name of Other Company |
| Nir Bar Dea |
Chief Executive Officer |
| Greg Jensen |
Co-Chief Investment Officer |
| Bob Prince |
Co-Chief Investment Officer |
| Karen Karniol-Tambour |
Co-Chief Investment Officer |
Item 32.
Principal Underwriters
(a)
SSGA FD, One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, serves as the
Trust’s principal underwriter and also serves as the principal underwriter for the following investment companies: SPDR Series Trust, SPDR Index Shares Funds, State
Street Institutional Investment Trust, SSGA Funds, State Street Institutional Funds, State Street Variable Insurance Series Funds, Inc., Elfun Diversified Fund, Elfun Tax-Exempt Income Fund, Elfun Income Fund, Elfun International Equity Fund, Elfun Government Money Market Fund and Elfun Trusts.
(b)
To the best of the Trust’s knowledge, the managers and executive officers of
SSGA FD are as follows:
| Name and Principal Business Address* |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with the Trust |
| Jeanne LaPorta |
Chairperson and Manager |
Interested Trustee |
| Allison Bonds Mazza |
President and Manager |
None |
| Editha V. Tenorio |
Chief Financial Officer |
None |
| Sean O’Malley |
Chief Legal Officer |
None |
| Mark Trabucco |
Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer |
None |
| Jessica Cross |
Secretary |
None |
| Sean Driscoll |
Manager |
None |
| David Maxham |
Manager |
None |
| Christine Stokes |
Manager |
None |
| John Tucker |
Manager |
None |
*
The principal business address for each of the above managers and executive officers is One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
(c)
Not applicable.
Item 33.
Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the Rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of SSGA FM and/or State Street Bank and Trust Company, with offices located at One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
Item 34.
Management Services
Not applicable.
Item
35.
Undertakings
Not applicable.
11
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, SSGA Active Trust has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 26th day of September, 2025.
| |
SSGA ACTIVE TRUST |
| |
|
| By: |
/s/ Ann M. Carpenter |
| |
Ann M. Carpenter |
| |
President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this 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/ Carolyn M. Clancy* |
Trustee |
September 26, 2025 |
| Carolyn M. Clancy |
|
|
| /s/ Dwight D. Churchill* |
Trustee |
September 26, 2025 |
| Dwight D. Churchill |
|
|
| /s/ Clare S. Richer* |
Trustee |
September 26, 2025 |
| Clare S. Richer |
|
|
| /s/ Kristi L. Rowsell* |
Trustee |
September 26, 2025 |
| Kristi L. Rowsell |
|
|
| /s/ Sandra G. Sponem* |
Trustee |
September 26, 2025 |
| Sandra G. Sponem |
|
|
| /s/ Carl G. Verboncoeur* |
Trustee |
September 26, 2025 |
| Carl G. Verboncoeur |
|
|
| /s/ Jeanne LaPorta* |
Trustee |
September 26, 2025 |
| Jeanne LaPorta |
|
|
| /s/ James E. Ross* |
Trustee |
September 26, 2025 |
| James E. Ross |
|
|
| /s/ Ann M. Carpenter |
President and Principal Executive Officer |
September 26, 2025 |
| Ann M. Carpenter |
|
|
| /s/ Bruce S. Rosenberg |
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
September 26, 2025 |
| Bruce S. Rosenberg |
|
| *By: |
/s/ Edmund Gerard Maiorana, Jr. |
| |
Edmund Gerard Maiorana, Jr. As Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to Powers of Attorney |
12
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