Form 497 DEUTSCHE DWS ASSET ALLOC

August 18, 2022 2:13 PM EDT

SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund
DWS Capital Growth Fund
DWS Communications Fund
DWS Core Equity Fund
DWS CROCI® Equity Dividend Fund
DWS CROCI®International Fund
DWS CROCI® U.S. Fund
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund
DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund
DWS Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund
DWS Equity 500 Index Fund
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund
DWS ESG Core Equity Fund
DWS ESG Global Bond Fund
DWS ESG International Core Equity Fund
DWS Floating Rate Fund
DWS Global High Income Fund
DWS Global Income Builder Fund
DWS Global Macro Fund
DWS Global Small Cap Fund
DWS GNMA Fund
DWS Health and Wellness Fund
DWS High Income Fund
DWS Intermediate Tax-Free Fund
DWS International Growth Fund
DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund
DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund
DWS Multi-Asset Conservative Allocation Fund
DWS Multi-Asset Moderate Allocation Fund
DWS New York Tax-Free Income Fund
DWS RREEF Global Infrastructure Fund
DWS RREEF Global Real Estate Securities Fund
DWS RREEF Real Assets Fund
DWS RREEF Real Estate Securities Fund
DWS S&P 500 Index Fund
DWS Science and Technology Fund
DWS Short Duration Fund
DWS Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund
DWS Small Cap Core Fund
DWS Small Cap Growth Fund
DWS Strategic High Yield Tax-Free Fund
DWS Total Return Bond Fund
Deutsche DWS Variable Series I:
DWS Capital Growth VIP
DWS Core Equity VIP
DWS CROCI®International VIP
DWS Global Small Cap VIP
Deutsche DWS Variable Series II:
DWS Alternative Asset Allocation VIP
DWS CROCI® U.S. VIP
DWS Global Income Builder VIP
DWS High Income VIP
DWS International Growth VIP
DWS Small Mid Cap Growth VIP
DWS Small Mid Cap Value VIP
Deutsche DWS Investments VIT Funds:
DWS Equity 500 Index VIP
DWS Small Cap Index VIP
On August 19, 2022, the following changes to the funds’ Statements of Additional Information are effective.
All references to “Asset Segregation” in the funds’ Statements of Additional Information (other than those under the “Other Investment Policies” heading of the “INVESTMENTS RESTRICTIONS” section, as applicable) are deleted.
The following replaces similar existing disclosure under the “PART II: APPENDIX II-G — INVESTMENTS, PRACTICES AND TECHNIQUES, AND RISKS” section of the funds’ Statements of Additional Information.
Derivatives. A fund may use instruments referred to as derivatives. Derivatives are financial instruments the value of which is derived from another security, a commodity (such as gold or oil), a currency or an index (a measure of value or rates, such as the S&P 500 Index or the prime lending rate). Derivatives often allow a fund to increase or decrease the level of risk to which a fund is exposed more quickly and efficiently than direct investments in the underlying asset or instruments.
A fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment objective and policies, purchase and sell (write) exchange-listed and over-the-counter (OTC) put and call options on securities, equity and fixed-income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors, collars and contracts for difference, and may enter into currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies, or various other currency transactions. In addition, a fund may invest in structured notes. The types of derivatives identified above are not intended to be exhaustive and a fund may use types of derivatives and/or employ derivatives strategies not otherwise described in this Statement of Additional Information or a fund’s prospectuses.
OTC derivatives are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (Counterparties) pursuant to a bilateral agreement with the Counterparty. As a result, a significant risk of OTC derivatives is counterparty risk. The Advisor monitors the creditworthiness of OTC derivative counterparties.
A fund may use derivatives subject to certain limits imposed by a fund’s investment objective and policies (see Investment Restrictions) and the 1940 Act, or by the requirements for a fund to qualify as a regulated investment company for tax purposes (see Taxes) (i) to seek to achieve returns, (ii) to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
 
of securities held in or to be purchased for a fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) to protect a fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, (iv) to facilitate the sale of portfolio securities for investment purposes, (v) to manage the effective maturity or duration of a fund’s portfolio, (vi) to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a substitute for purchasing or selling (including selling short) particular securities, (vii) for funds that invest in foreign securities, to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one currency to another (not necessarily the US dollar), or (viii) for any other purposes permitted by law.
A fund may decide not to employ any of the strategies described below, and no assurance can be given that any strategy used will succeed. If the Advisor incorrectly forecasts interest rates, market values or other economic factors in using a derivatives strategy for a fund, a fund might have been in a better position if it had not entered into the transaction at all. Also, suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances. The use of these strategies involves certain special risks, including a possible imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of derivatives and price movements of related investments. While some strategies involving derivatives can reduce risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in related investments or otherwise, due to the possible inability of a fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that otherwise would be favorable or the possible need to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time, and the possible inability of a fund to close out or liquidate its derivatives positions.
Pursuant to regulations adopted by the SEC in October 2020, registered investment companies that invest in derivatives instruments must comply with new Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 requires funds that invest in derivatives instruments beyond a specified limited amount to implement a value-at-risk based limit to their use of certain derivative instruments, maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program, and appoint a derivatives risk manager. A fund that limits its use of derivatives instruments is not subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4 and qualifies as a “limited derivatives user.” This new regulatory framework eliminated and replaced the asset segregation and coverage framework established by prior SEC guidance and regulations. Following the compliance date on August 19, 2022, funds will comply with Rule 18f-4 as one of three types: funds that are not derivatives users, funds that are “limited derivatives users” and funds that are derivatives users that must adopt a derivatives risk management program in compliance with Rule 18f-4. Rule 18f-4 also governs a fund's use of certain other transactions that create future payment and/or delivery obligations by the fund, such as short sale borrowings and reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, and certain transactions entered into on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward-commitment basis. The requirements of Rule 18f-4 may limit a fund's ability to engage in derivatives transactions and certain other transactions noted above as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the performance of a fund.
General Characteristics of Options. A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. For instance, a fund’s purchase of a put option on a security might be designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving a fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. A fund’s purchase of a call option on a security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument might be intended to protect a fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase such instrument. If a fund sells or “writes” a call option, the premium that it receives may partially offset, to the extent of the option premium, a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or may increase a fund’s income. The sale of put options can also provide income and might be used to protect a fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument or provide, in the opinion of portfolio management, an acceptable entry point with regard to the underlying instrument.
A fund may write covered call options. A written call option is covered if a fund owns the security or instrument underlying the call or has an absolute right to acquire that security or instrument without additional cash consideration. A call option is covered if a fund holds a call on the same security, index or instrument as the written call option where the exercise price of the purchased call (long position) is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written. Exchange listed options are
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
2
 
issued and cleared by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). The OCC ensures that the obligations of each option it clears are fulfilled. The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other financial intermediaries. OCC issued and exchange listed options generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, or cash delivery for the net amount, if any, by which the option is “in-the-money” (i.e., where the value of the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in ownership of the new option.
As noted above, OTC options are purchased from or sold to Counterparties through direct bilateral agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with a fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, a fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction.
There are a number of risks associated with transactions in options. Options on particular securities or instruments may be more volatile than a direct investment in the underlying security or instrument. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. Additionally, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given options transaction not to achieve its objective. Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying options purchased or sold by a fund could result in losses on the options. If trading is interrupted in an underlying security, the trading of options on that security is normally halted as well. As a result, a fund as purchaser or writer of an option will be unable to close out its positions until options trading resumes, and it may be faced with losses if trading in the security reopens at a substantially different price. In addition, the OCC or other options markets may impose exercise restrictions. If a prohibition on exercise is imposed at a time when trading in the option has also been halted, a fund as purchaser or writer of an option will be locked into its position until one of the two restrictions has been lifted. If a prohibition on exercise remains in effect until an option owned by a fund has expired, a fund could lose the entire value of its option.
During the option period, the covered call writer, in return for the premium on the option, gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying security or instrument above the sum of the option premium received and the option's exercise price, but as long as its obligations as a writer continue, retains the risk of loss, minus the option premium received, should the price of the underlying security or instrument decline. In writing options, a fund has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligations as the writer of the option. Once a fund receives an exercise notice for its option, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price. Thus, the use of covered call options may require the fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, will limit the amount of appreciation the fund can realize above the exercise price of an option on a security, and may cause the fund to hold a security that it might otherwise sell.
In writing put options, there is a risk that a fund may be required to buy the underlying security or instrument at a disadvantageous price if the put option is exercised against a fund. If a put or call option purchased by a fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security or instrument remains, in the case of a put, equal to or greater than the exercise price, or in the case of a call, less than or equal to the exercise price, a fund will lose the premium that it paid for the option. Also, where a put or call option is purchased as a hedge against price movements in the underlying security or instrument, the price of the put or call option may move more or less than the price of the underlying security or instrument.
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
3
 
The value of options may be adversely affected if the market for such options becomes less liquid or smaller. A fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OTC option or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the option market. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a fund seeks to close out an option position either, in the case of a written call option, by buying the option, or, in the case of a purchased put option, by selling the option. The possible reasons for the absence of a liquid options market on an exchange include, but are not limited to the following: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities, including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities the OCC or an exchange to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. A fund’s ability to terminate OTC options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. If a fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise.
Special risks are presented by internationally traded options. Because of the differences in trading hours between the US and various foreign countries, and because different holidays are observed in different countries, foreign options markets may be open for trading during hours or on days when US markets are closed. As a result, option premiums may not reflect the current prices of the underlying interests in the US.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. Call options are marked-to-market daily and their value will be affected by changes in the value of and dividend rates of the underlying securities, an increase in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and the underlying securities and the remaining time to the options’ expiration. Additionally, the exercise price of an option may be adjusted downward before the option’s expiration as a result of the occurrence of certain corporate events affecting the underlying security, such as extraordinary dividends, stock splits, merger or other extraordinary distributions or events. A reduction in the exercise price of an option would reduce a fund’s capital appreciation potential on the underlying security.
The number of call options a fund can write is limited by the number of shares of underlying securities that the fund holds. Furthermore, a fund’s options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class that may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options that a fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Advisor. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.
General Characteristics of Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy or sell a financial instrument or commodity for a set price on a future date. Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. A futures contract generally obligates the purchaser to take delivery from the seller of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity underlying the contract at a specific future time for a set price. The purchase of a futures contract enables a fund, during the term of the contract, to lock in the price at which it may purchase a security, currency or commodity and protect against a rise in prices pending the purchase of portfolio securities. A futures contract generally obligates the seller to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument underlying the contract at a specific future time for a set price. The sale of a futures contract enables a fund to lock in a price at which it may sell a security, currency or commodity
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
4
 
and protect against declines in the value of portfolio securities. Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
Although most futures contracts call for actual delivery or acceptance of the underlying financial instrument or commodity, the contracts are usually closed out before the settlement date without making, or taking, actual delivery. Futures contracts on financial indices, currency exchange instruments and certain other instruments provide for the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the underlying instruments value (i.e., the index) at the open or close of the last trading day of the contract and futures contract price. A futures contract sale is closed out by effecting a futures contract purchase for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of underlying financial instrument and the same delivery date. If the sale price exceeds the offsetting purchase price, the seller would be paid the difference and would realize a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the seller would pay the difference and would realize a loss. Similarly, a futures contract purchase is closed out by effecting a futures contract sale for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of underlying financial instrument or commodity and the same delivery date. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser would realize a gain, whereas if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the purchaser would realize a loss. There can be no assurance that a fund will be able to enter into a closing transaction.
When a purchase or sale of a futures contract is made, a fund may be subject to initial margin deposit requirements set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, requiring the fund to deposit initial margin consisting of cash, US Government Securities or other liquid assets with the financial intermediary as security for its obligations under the contract. In addition, brokers may establish initial margin deposit requirements in excess of those required by the exchange. The margin deposits made are marked to market daily and a fund may be required to make subsequent deposits of cash, US Government securities or other liquid assets, called “variation margin” or “maintenance margin,” which reflects the price fluctuations of the futures contract. The purchase of an option on a futures contract involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of a fund. The sale of an option on a futures contract involves receipt of a premium for the option and the obligation to deliver (by physical or cash settlement) the underlying futures contract. If a fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position just as it would for any position.
There are several risks associated with futures contracts and options on futures contracts. The prices of financial instruments or commodities subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures contract prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash price of a fund’s securities or other assets (and the currencies in which they are denominated). Also, prices of futures contracts may not move in tandem with the changes in prevailing interest rates, market movements and/or currency exchange rates against which a fund seeks a hedge. Additionally, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for futures contracts and related options in which a fund may invest. In the event a liquid market does not exist, it may not be possible to close out a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, a fund would continue to be required to make daily payments of variation margin. The absence of a liquid market in futures contracts might cause a fund to make or take delivery of the instruments or commodities underlying futures contracts at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close out positions and futures positions could also have an adverse impact on a fund’s ability to effectively hedge its positions.
The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be substantial, due both to the relatively low margin deposits required, and the extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the investor. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the contract.
Futures contracts and options thereon which are purchased or sold on non-US commodities exchanges may have greater price volatility than their US counterparts. Furthermore, non-US commodities exchanges may be less regulated and under less governmental scrutiny than US exchanges. Brokerage commissions, clearing costs and other transaction costs may be higher on non-US exchanges.
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
5
 
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which a fund engages in transactions in futures or options thereon, a fund could experience delays and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker and/or incur a loss on all or part of its margin deposits with the broker.
Currency Transactions. A fund may engage in currency transactions for any purpose consistent with its investment strategy, policies and restrictions, including, without limitation, for hedging purposes or to seek to enhance returns. Certain currency transactions may expose a fund to the effects of leverage. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency futures, exchange listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are generally traded in an interbank market directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. The parties to a forward contract may agree to offset or terminate the contract before its maturity, or may hold the contract to maturity and complete the contemplated currency exchange. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is described below.
A fund may engage in currency derivative transactions to seek to enhance returns by taking a net long or net short position in one or more currencies, in which case the fund may have currency exposure that is different (in some cases, significantly different) from the currency exposure of its other portfolio investments or the currency exposure of its performance index. These overweight or underweight currency positions may increase the fund's exposure to the effects of leverage, which may cause the fund to be more volatile. A fund may realize a loss on a currency derivative in an amount that exceeds the capital invested in such derivative, regardless of whether the fund entered into the transaction to enhance returns or for hedging purposes.
“Transaction hedging” is entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or liabilities of a fund, which will generally arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income therefrom. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of an amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction may “lock in” the US dollar price of the security. Forward contracts may also be used in anticipation of future purchases and sales of securities, even if specific securities have not yet been selected. “Position hedging” is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency. Position hedging may protect against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in the foreign currency. While such a transaction would generally offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, such currency transactions would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors.
A fund may also “cross-hedge” currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to other currencies to which a fund has or to which a fund expects to have portfolio exposure. This type of investment technique will generally reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase the exposure to the currency that is purchased. As a result, a fund will assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency purchased at the same time that it is protected against losses from a decline in the hedged currency.
To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities, a fund may also engage in “proxy hedging.” Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which a fund is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a commitment or option to sell a currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be correlated to a currency or currencies in which some or all of a fund’s securities are or are expected to be denominated. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.
Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to a fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that a fund is engaging in proxy hedging.
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
6
 
Currency transactions are subject to additional special risks that may not apply to other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to a fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Currency exchange rates, bid/ask spreads and liquidity may fluctuate based on factors that may, or may not be, related to that country’s economy.
Swap Agreements and Options on Swap Agreements. A fund may engage in swap transactions, including, but not limited to, swap agreements on interest rates, currencies, indices, credit and event linked swaps, total return and other swaps and related caps, floors and collars. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on a predetermined financial instrument or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross return to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties is generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount” which is generally equal to the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate in such financial instrument or instruments.
“Interest rate swaps” involve the exchange by a fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of principal). A “currency swap” is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them. An “index swap” is an agreement to swap cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the values of the reference indices. The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates or values.
A “credit default swap” is a contract between a buyer and a seller of protection against a pre-defined credit event. The buyer of protection pays the seller a fixed regular fee provided that no event of default on an underlying reference obligation, which can be a single debt instrument or an index of debt instruments, has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller typically pays the buyer the full notional value, or “par value,” of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation upon settlement. Credit default swaps are used as a means of “buying” credit protection, i.e., attempting to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in some portion of a fund’s holdings, or “selling” credit protection, i.e., attempting to gain exposure to an underlying issuer’s or group of issuers’ credit quality characteristics without directly investing in that issuer or group of issuers. When a fund is a seller of credit protection, it effectively adds leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its net assets, a fund would typically be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. A fund will only sell credit protection with respect to securities in which it would be authorized to invest directly.
If a fund is a buyer of a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, a fund will lose its investment and recover nothing. However, if a fund is a buyer and a credit event occurs, a fund will typically receive the full notional value of the reference obligation, whose value may have deteriorated at the time the transaction settles. As a seller, a fund receives a fixed rate of income through the term of the contract (typically between six months and three years), provided that there is no default event. If a credit event occurs, the seller typically pays the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation.
Credit default swaps involve greater risks than if a fund had invested in the reference obligation directly. In addition to the risks applicable to derivatives generally, credit default swaps involve special risks because they may be difficult to value, may be highly susceptible to liquidity and credit risk, and may pay a return to the party that has paid the premium only in the event of an actual default by the issuer or issuers of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial difficulty).
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
7
 
A fund may use credit default swaps to gain exposure to particular issuers or particular markets through investments in portfolios of credit default swaps, such as Markit’s North American High Yield CDX Index, the CDX.NA.HY Index, or Markit’s North American Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities CMBX Index, the CMBX.NA Index. A fund can be a buyer or seller of protection based on these, or similar indexes. Contracts on these indexes are generally the same as contracts on single debt instruments, although there may be some differences, including that the contracts may be structured as pay as you go contracts.
“Total return” swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specific security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return of other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Total return swaps may add leverage to a fund because, in addition to its net assets, a fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
Swaps typically involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of risks assumed. As a result, swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on a fund’s performance. Depending on how they are used, swaps may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a fund’s investments and its share price and yield. A fund will usually enter into swaps on a net basis, i.e., the two payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with a fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.
A fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a Counterparty. In addition, if the Counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap may decline, potentially resulting in losses for a fund. A fund may also suffer losses if it is unable to terminate outstanding swaps (either by assignment or other disposition) or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions (i.e., by entering into an offsetting swap with the same party or similarly creditworthy party).
A fund may also enter into swap options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some future time on specified terms. Depending on the terms, a fund will generally incur greater risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When a fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) and related regulatory developments have imposed several new requirements on swap market participants, including registration and new business conduct requirements on dealers that enter into swaps or non-deliverable forward currency contracts with certain clients and the imposition of central clearing and a corresponding exchange-trading execution requirement for certain swap contracts. Central clearing and a corresponding exchange-trading execution requirement are currently only required for limited swap transactions, including some interest rate swaps and credit default index swaps. Compliance with the central clearing requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act is expected to occur over time as regulators, such as the SEC and the CFTC, adopt new regulations requiring central clearing of additional types of derivative transactions. In a cleared transaction, a fund will enter into the transaction with a counterparty, and performance of the transaction will be effected by a central clearinghouse. A clearing arrangement reduces a fund's exposure to the credit risk of the counterparty, but subjects the fund to the credit risk of the clearinghouse and a member of the clearinghouse through which the fund holds its cleared position. A fund will be required to post specific levels of margin which may be greater than the margin a fund would have been required to post in the OTC market. In addition, uncleared OTC swap transactions will be subject to regulatory collateral requirements that could render entering into swaps in the OTC market prohibitively expensive. These regulations (or choice to no longer use a particular derivative instrument that triggers additional regulations) could cause a fund to change the derivative investments that it utilizes or to incur additional expenses.
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
8
 
In the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, a fund’s ability to exercise remedies, such as the termination of transactions, netting of obligations and realization on collateral, could be stayed or eliminated under special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes generally provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty. In the European Union, the regulatory authorities could reduce, eliminate or convert to equity the liabilities to a fund of a counterparty subject to such proceedings (sometimes referred to as a “bail in”).
Contracts for Difference. A contract for difference offers exposure to price changes in an underlying security without ownership of such security, typically by providing investors the ability to trade on margin. A fund may purchase contracts for difference (CFD). A CFD is a privately negotiated contract between two parties, buyer and seller, stipulating that the seller will pay to or receive from the buyer the difference between the notional value of the underlying instrument at the opening of the contract and that instrument’s notional value at the end of the contract. The underlying instrument may be a single security, stock basket or index. A CFD can be set up to take either a short or long position on the underlying instrument. The buyer and seller are typically both required to post margin, which is adjusted daily. The buyer will also pay to the seller a financing rate on the notional amount of the capital employed by the seller less the margin deposit. A CFD is usually terminated at the buyer’s initiative. The seller of the CFD will simply match the exposure of the underlying instrument in the open market and the parties will exchange whatever payment is due.
As is the case with owning any financial instrument, there is the risk of loss associated with buying a CFD. For example, if a fund buys a long CFD and the underlying security is worth less at the end of the contract, the fund would be required to make a payment to the seller and would suffer a loss. Also, there may be liquidity risk if the underlying instrument is illiquid because the liquidity of a CFD is based on the liquidity of the underlying instrument. A further risk is that adverse movements in the underlying security will require the buyer to post additional margin. CFDs also carry counterparty risk, i.e., the risk that the counterparty to the CFD transaction may be unable or unwilling to make payments or to otherwise honor its financial obligations under the terms of the contract. If the counterparty were to do so, the value of the contract, and of a fund’s shares, may be reduced. CFDs are regulated as swaps by the CFTC.
Structured Notes. Structured notes are derivative debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by reference to changes in value of a specific security or securities, reference rate, or index. Indexed securities, similar to structured notes, are typically, but not always, debt securities whose value at maturity or coupon rate is determined by reference to other securities. The performance of a structured note or indexed security is based upon the performance of the underlying instrument.
The terms of a structured note may provide that, in certain circumstances, no principal is due on maturity and, therefore, may result in loss of investment. Structured notes may be indexed positively or negatively to the performance of the underlying instrument such that the appreciation or deprecation of the underlying instrument will have a similar effect to the value of the structured note at maturity at the time of any coupon payment. In addition, changes in the interest rate and value of the principal at maturity may be fixed at a specific multiple of the change in value of the underlying instrument, making the value of the structured note more volatile than the underlying instrument. In addition, structured notes may be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities or traditional debt securities.
Participatory Notes or Participation Notes. Participatory notes or participation notes are issued by banks or broker-dealers (often associated with non-US-based brokerage firms) and are designed to replicate the performance of certain securities or markets. Typically, purchasers of participatory notes are entitled to a return measured by the change in value of an identified underlying security or basket of securities. The price, performance, and liquidity of the participatory note are all linked directly to the underlying security. The holder of a participatory note may be entitled to receive any dividends paid in connection with the underlying security, which may increase the return of a participatory note, but typically does not receive voting or other rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security. A fund’s ability to redeem or exercise a participatory note generally is dependent on the liquidity in the local trading market for the security underlying the note. Participatory notes are commonly used when a direct investment in the underlying security is restricted due to country-specific regulations.
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
9
 
Participatory notes are a type of equity-linked derivative, which are generally traded over-the-counter and, therefore, will be subject to the same risks as other over-the-counter derivatives. The performance results of participatory notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the securities or markets that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Investments in participatory notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the shares of the companies the notes seek to replicate. Participatory notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them. Consequently, a purchaser of a participatory note is relying on the creditworthiness of such banks or broker-dealers and has no rights under the note against the issuer of the security underlying the note. In addition, there is no guarantee that a liquid market for a participatory note will exist or that the issuer of the note will be willing to repurchase the note when a fund wishes to sell it. Because a participatory note is an obligation of the issuer of the note, rather than a direct investment in shares of the underlying security, a fund may suffer losses potentially equal to the full value of the participatory note if the issuer of the note fails to perform its obligations.
Commodity-Linked Derivatives. A fund may invest in instruments with principal and/or coupon payments linked to the value of commodities, commodity futures contracts, or the performance of commodity indices such as “commodity-linked” or “index-linked” notes. These instruments are sometimes referred to as “structured notes” because the terms of the instrument may be structured by the issuer of the note and the purchaser of the note, such as a fund.
The values of commodity-linked notes will rise and fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index or investment. These notes expose a fund economically to movements in commodity prices, but a particular note has many features of a debt obligation. These notes also are subject to credit and interest rate risks that in general affect the value of debt securities. Therefore, at the maturity of the note, a fund may receive more or less principal than it originally invested. A fund might receive interest payments on the note that are more or less than the stated coupon interest rate payments.
Commodity-linked notes may involve leverage, meaning that the value of the instrument will be calculated as a multiple of the upward or downward price movement of the underlying commodity future or index. The prices of commodity-linked instruments may move in different directions than investments in traditional equity and debt securities in periods of rising inflation. Of course, there can be no guarantee that a fund’s commodity-linked investments would not be correlated with traditional financial assets under any particular market conditions.
Commodity-linked notes may be wholly principal protected, partially principal protected or offer no principal protection. With a wholly principal protected instrument, a fund will receive at maturity the greater of the par value of the note or the increase in value of the underlying index. Partially protected instruments may suffer some loss of principal up to a specified limit if the underlying index declines in value during the term of the instrument. For instruments without principal protection, there is a risk that the instrument could lose all of its value if the index declines sufficiently. The Advisor’s decision on whether and to what extent to use principal protection depends in part on the cost of the protection. In addition, the ability of a fund to take advantage of any protection feature depends on the creditworthiness of the issuer of the instrument.
Commodity-linked notes are generally hybrid instruments which are excluded from regulation under the CEA and the rules thereunder. Additionally, from time to time a fund may invest in other hybrid instruments that do not qualify for exemption from regulation under the CEA.
In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, a fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its income from certain specified sources (qualifying income). Income from certain commodity-linked derivatives does not constitute qualifying income to a fund. The tax treatment of commodity-linked notes and certain other derivative instruments in which a fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income and gains from such instruments constitutes qualifying income. If the fund treats income from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income is later determined not to constitute qualifying income, and, together with any other nonqualifying income, causes the fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, a fund will fail to qualify as a regulated investment company unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the fund level.
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
10
 
Certain funds (including DWS Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund and DWS RREEF Real Assets Fund) have obtained private letter rulings from the IRS confirming that the income and gain earned through a wholly-owned Subsidiary that invests in certain types of commodity-linked derivatives constitute qualifying income under the Code. See “Taxes”in Appendix II-H of this SAI.
Combined Transactions. A fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (component transactions), instead of a single derivative, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Advisor, it is in the best interests of a fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Advisor’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. A fund may enter into “reverse repurchase agreements,” which are repurchase agreements in which a fund, as the seller of the securities, agrees to repurchase such securities at an agreed time and price. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, a fund continues to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. A fund’s obligations under reverse repurchase agreements are treated either as: (i) borrowings requiring the necessary asset coverage under Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act; or (ii) derivatives transactions subject to the requirements of Rule 18f4. For DWS money market funds, a fund’s obligations under reverse repurchase agreements are treated as borrowings requiring the necessary asset coverage under Section 18(f) of the 40 Ac. Such transactions may increase fluctuations in the market value of fund assets and its yield.
Short Sales. When a fund takes a long position, it purchases a stock outright. When a fund takes a short position, it sells at the current market price a stock it does not own but has borrowed in anticipation that the market price of the stock will decline. To complete, or close out, the short sale transaction, a fund buys the same stock in the market and returns it to the lender. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by a fund. Until the security is replaced, a fund is required to pay the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest, which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, a fund may also be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet the margin requirements, until the short position is closed out. A fund may also be required to deposit additional collateral with the broker (in addition to the short sale proceeds held by the broker), which may be as much as 50% of the value of the securities sold short, to meet short sale margin requirements. A fund makes money when the market price of the borrowed stock goes down and a fund is able to replace it for less than it earned by selling it short. Alternatively, if the price of the stock goes up after the short sale and before the short position is closed, a fund will lose money because it will have to pay more to replace the borrowed stock than it received when it sold the stock short.
A fund may not always be able to close out a short position at a particular time or at an acceptable price. A lender may request that the borrowed securities be returned to it on short notice, and a fund may have to buy the borrowed securities at an unfavorable price. If this occurs at a time that other short sellers of the same security also want to close out their positions, a “short squeeze” can occur. A short squeeze occurs when demand is greater than supply for the stock sold short. A short squeeze makes it more likely that a fund will have to cover its short sale at an unfavorable price. If that happens, a fund will lose some or all of the potential profit from, or even incur a loss as a result of, the short sale.
Until a fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, a fund’s short positions will count towards its derivatives exposure for purposes of Rule 18f-4. Depending on the arrangements made with the broker or custodian, a fund may or may not receive any payments (including interest) on collateral it has deposited with the broker.
Short sales involve the risk that a fund will incur a loss by subsequently buying a security at a higher price than the price at which a fund previously sold the security short. Any loss will be increased by the amount of compensation, interest or dividends, and transaction costs a fund must pay to a lender of the security. In addition, because a fund’s loss on a short sale
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
11
 
stems from increases in the value of the security sold short, the extent of such loss, like the price of the security sold short, is theoretically unlimited. By contrast, a fund’s loss on a long position arises from decreases in the value of the security held by a fund and therefore is limited by the fact that a security’s value cannot drop below zero.
The use of short sales, in effect, leverages a fund’s portfolio, which could increase a fund’s exposure to the market, magnify losses and increase the volatility of returns.
Although a fund’s share price may increase if the securities in its long portfolio increase in value more than the securities underlying its short positions, a fund’s share price may decrease if the securities underlying its short positions increase in value more than the securities in its long portfolio.
In addition, a fund’s short selling strategies may limit its ability to fully benefit from increases in the equity markets. Also, there is the risk that the counterparty to a short sale may fail to honor its contractual terms, causing a loss to a fund. The SEC and other (including non-US) regulatory authorities have imposed, and may in the future impose, restrictions on short selling, either on a temporary or permanent basis, which may include placing limitations on specific companies and/or industries with respect to which a fund may enter into short positions. Any such restrictions may hinder a fund in, or prevent it from, fully implementing its investment strategies, and may negatively affect performance.
Short Sales Against the Box. A fund may make short sales of common stocks if, at all times when a short position is open, a fund owns the stock or owns preferred stocks or debt securities convertible or exchangeable, without payment of further consideration, into the shares of common stock sold short. Short sales of this kind are referred to as short sales “against the box.” The broker/dealer that executes a short sale generally invests cash proceeds of the sale until they are paid to a fund. Arrangements may be made with the broker/dealer to obtain a portion of the interest earned by the broker on the investment of short sale proceeds. A fund’s short positions “against the box” will count towards its derivatives exposure for purposes of Rule 18f-4. Uncertainty regarding the tax effects of short sales of appreciated investments may limit the extent to which a fund may enter into short sales against the box. A fund will incur transaction costs in connection with short sales against the box.
Subsidiary Companies. A fund may gain exposure to the commodity markets in part by investing a portion of a fund’s assets in a wholly-owned subsidiary (Subsidiary). Investments in a Subsidiary are expected to provide exposure to the commodity markets within the limitations of the Code and IRS rulings (see “Taxes” in Appendix II-H of this SAI). The Subsidiaries are companies organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and each is overseen by its own board of directors.
Among other investments, the Subsidiaries are expected to invest in commodity-linked derivative instruments, such as swaps and futures. The Subsidiaries will also invest in fixed income instruments, cash, cash equivalents and affiliated money market funds. In monitoring compliance with its investment restrictions, including derivatives exposures for purposes of Rule 18f-4, a fund will consider the assets of its Subsidiary to be assets of the fund.
To the extent that a fund invests in its Subsidiary, a fund may be subject to the risks associated with those derivative instruments and other securities, which are discussed elsewhere in a fund’s prospectus(es) and this SAI. While the Subsidiaries may be considered similar to investment companies, they are not registered under the 1940 Act and are not directly subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act and other US regulations. Changes in the laws of the US or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of a fund or a Subsidiary to operate as intended or may subject the fund or its advisor to new or additional regulatory requirements and could negatively affect a fund and its shareholders.
In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, a fund must, among other things, satisfy several diversification requirements, including the requirement that not more than 25% of the value of the fund's total assets may be invested in the securities (other than those of the US government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses. Therefore, so long as a fund is subject to this limit, the fund may not invest any more than 25% of the value of its total assets in a Subsidiary. Absent this diversification requirement, a fund would be permitted to invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in a Subsidiary.
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
12
 
In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, a fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its gross income from certain specified sources (qualifying income). Income from certain commodity-linked derivatives does not constitute qualifying income to a fund. The tax treatment of commodity-linked notes and certain other derivative instruments in which a fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income and gains from such instruments constitutes qualifying income. If the Fund treats income from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income is later determined not to constitute qualifying income, and, together with any other nonqualifying income, causes the fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, a fund will fail to qualify as a regulated investment company unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the fund level. Certain funds (including DWS Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund and DWS RREEF Real Assets Fund) have obtained private letter rulings from the IRS confirming that the income and gain earned through a wholly-owned Subsidiary that invests in certain types of commodity-linked derivatives constitute qualifying income under the Code.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities. A fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Delivery of and payment for these securities can take place a month or more after the date of the purchase commitment. The payment obligation and the interest rate that will be received on when-issued and delayed-delivery securities are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. Due to fluctuations in the value of securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the yields obtained on such securities may be higher or lower than the yields available in the market on the dates when the investments are actually delivered to the buyers. When-issued securities may include securities purchased on a “when, as and if issued” basis, under which the issuance of the security depends on the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt restructuring. The value of such securities is subject to market fluctuation during this period and no interest or income, as applicable, accrues to a fund until settlement takes place.
At the time a fund makes the commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it will record the transaction, reflect the value each day of such securities in determining its net asset value and, if applicable, calculate the maturity for the purposes of average maturity from that date. At the time of settlement a when-issued security may be valued at less than the purchase price. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act permits a fund to invest in a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis and the transaction will be deemed not to involve a senior security, provided that the fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If a fund chooses to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition, it could, as with the disposition of any other portfolio obligation, incur a gain or loss due to market fluctuation. When a fund engages in when-issued or delayed-delivery transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade and is, therefore, exposed to counterparty risk. Failure of the seller to do so may result in a fund’s incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price considered to be advantageous.
Please Retain This Supplement for Future Reference
August 18, 2022
SAISTKR22-20
13
 

FREE Breaking News Alerts from StreetInsider.com!

E-mail Address

StreetInsider.com Top Tickers, 7/23/2026

1. USO
2. DHR
3. NVDA
4. SPY
5. AMD
6. GOOGL
7. TSLA
8. NOW
9. GM
10. SMCI


Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

You May Also Be Interested In





Related Categories

SEC Filings