485BPOS 1 d258279d485bpos.htm SPDR SERIES TRUST SPDR SERIES TRUST
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2016

Securities Act File No. 333-57793

Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-08839

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  
  Post-Effective Amendment No. 197  

And

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

  THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940  
  Amendment No. 199  

 

 

SPDR® SERIES TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

One Lincoln Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number: (617) 664-7037

Joshua A. Weinberg, Esq.

Vice President and Managing Counsel

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

One Lincoln Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

W. John McGuire, Esq.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

 

immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 485, paragraph (b)
on October 31, 2016 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)

 

this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

 

 


Table of Contents
Prospectus
October 31, 2016
SPDR® Series Trust    
SPDR Russell 3000® ETF (THRK)
SPDR Russell 1000® ETF (ONEK)
SPDR Russell 2000® ETF (TWOK)
SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF (ONEY)
SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF (ONEO)
SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF (ONEV)
SPDR S&P® 500 Buyback ETF (SPYB)
SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG)
SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF (SPYV)
SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD)
SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (formerly, SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free ETF) (SPYX)
SPDR S&P 1000 ETF (formerly, SPDR Russell Small Cap Completeness® ETF) (SMD)
SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF (MDYG)
SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF (MDYV)
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SLY)
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG)
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (SLYV)
SPDR Global Dow ETF (DGT)
SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR)
SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE)
SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF (KCE)
SPDR S&P Insurance ETF (KIE)
SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE)
SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF (MTK)
SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY)
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR)
SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI)
SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF (XHE)
SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF (XHS)
SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB)
SPDR S&P Internet ETF (XWEB)
SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME)
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES)
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP)
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH)
SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT)
SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD)
SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF (XSW)
SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF (XTH)
SPDR S&P Telecom ETF (XTL)
SPDR S&P Transportation ETF (XTN)
SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactorsSM ETF (formerly, SPDR MSCI USA Quality Mix ETF) (QUS)
SPDR Wells Fargo® Preferred Stock ETF (PSK)
SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF (XITK)
 
 
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
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.

 

Table of Contents
Fund Summaries  
SPDR Russell 3000 ETF 1
SPDR Russell 1000 ETF 5
SPDR Russell 2000 ETF 9
SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF 14
SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF 18
SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF 23
SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF 28
SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF 32
SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF 37
SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF 41
SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF 45
SPDR S&P 1000 ETF 50
SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF 55
SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF 60
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF 65
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF 70
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF 75
SPDR Global Dow ETF 80
SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF 86
SPDR S&P Bank ETF 90
SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF 94
SPDR S&P Insurance ETF 98
SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF 102
SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF 106
SPDR S&P Dividend ETF 110
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF 114
SPDR S&P Biotech ETF 118
SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF 122
SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF 126
SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF 130
SPDR S&P Internet ETF 134
SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF 138
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF 142
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF 146
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF 150
SPDR S&P Retail ETF 154
SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF 158
SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF 162
SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF 166
SPDR S&P Telecom ETF 170
SPDR S&P Transportation ETF 174
SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactorsSM ETF 178
SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF 183
SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF 188
Additional Strategies Information 193
Additional Risk Information 194
Management 225
Index/Trademark Licenses/Disclaimers 228
Additional Purchase and Sale Information 232
Distribution and Service Plan 233

 


 

Fund Summaries
SPDR® Russell 3000® ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Russell 3000 ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks a broad universe of exchange traded U.S. equity securities.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.10%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees None
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.10%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$10 $32 $56 $128
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Russell 3000 Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
1

 

The Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies, representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. The Russell 3000 Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive, unbiased, and stable barometer of the broad market and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure new and growing equities are reflected. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the technology and financial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 2,979 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by Frank Russell Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
2

 

Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 16.30% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -22.49% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 8.24%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to July 9, 2013, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the Russell 3000 Index. Performance of the Fund prior to July 9, 2013 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 0.48% 12.03% 7.31%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.00% 11.57% 6.93%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.62% 9.58% 5.89%
Russell 3000 Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.48% 12.18% 7.36%
Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.44% 12.15% 7.48%
3

 

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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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.
4

 

SPDR® Russell 1000® ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Russell 1000 ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of large capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.10%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.10%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$10 $32 $56 $128
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Russell 1000 Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the large-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. It is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index and includes approximately 1,000 of the largest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Russell 1000 Index represents approximately 90% of the U.S. market. The Russell 1000 Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the large-cap segment and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure new and growing equities are reflected. As of August 31, 2016, a
5

 

significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the technology and financial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 1,000 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by Frank Russell Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
6

 

Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 15.57% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -22.14% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 7.90%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to July 9, 2013, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the Russell 1000 Index . Performance of the Fund prior to July 9, 2013 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 0.86% 12.28% 7.33%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.29% 11.75% 6.87%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.78% 9.71% 5.85%
Russell 1000 Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.92% 12.45% 7.41%
Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Total Stock Market Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.08% 12.42% 7.44%
7

 

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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® Russell 2000® ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Russell 2000 ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of small capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees1 0.10%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses1 0.10%
1 The Fund's “Management fees” and “Total annual Fund operating expenses” have been restated to reflect a reduction in the Fund's “Management fees.”
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$10 $32 $56 $128
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 18% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Russell 2000® Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity market. The Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index. The Index includes approximately 2000 of the smallest securities, based on a combination of their market cap and current
9

 

index membership. The Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased small-cap barometer and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the true small-cap opportunity set. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 1,979 securities.
The Index is sponsored by Frank Russell Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of smaller issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may have significant volatility. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. Returns on investments in securities of small-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 9.68% (Q4, 2014)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -11.81% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 11.65%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(7/8/13)
Return Before Taxes -4.34% 6.31%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -5.17% 5.55%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -2.33% 4.58%
Russell 2000 Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-4.41% 6.29%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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.
13

 

SPDR® Russell 1000® Yield Focus ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.20%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.20%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$20 $64 $113 $255
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on December 3, 2015 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 44% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index (including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts and shares of other investment companies), cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to reflect the performance of a segment of large-capitalization U.S. equity securities demonstrating a combination of core factors (high value, high quality, and low size characteristics), with a focus factor comprising high yield characteristics (the “Factor Characteristics”). To construct the Index, Frank Russell Company (“Index Provider”) utilizes a proprietary rules-based multi-factor scoring process that seeks to increase exposure (or
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“tilt”) to companies in the Russell 1000 Index demonstrating the Factor Characteristics. The Russell 1000 Index is a market-capitalization index that measures the performance of the large-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. Within the multi-factor scoring process, a specific focus is applied towards a company's yield factor. Each stock's combined multi-factor score is multiplied by the stock's free float market cap weight in the Russell 1000 Index to determine the constituents of the Index and each constituent's weight in the Index. Companies in the Russell 1000 Index are excluded from the Index if they do not meet a minimum weight in the Index. A company's yield factor score is based on 12-month trailing dividend yield as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's value factor score is based on cash flow yield, earnings yield, and sales to price ratio, calculated based on the company's total market capitalization and information reported in the company's most recent annual financial statement as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's quality factor score is based on return on assets, change in asset turnover, accruals, and leverage, calculated based on information reported in the company's most recent annual financial statement as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's size factor score is based on total market capitalization as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month.
The weight of each individual stock in the Index is capped at 2000% of the stock's weight in the Russell 1000 Index, and any weight exceeding this limit will be redistributed to all stocks below the limit in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The weight of each industry in the Index is capped at 120% of the industry's weight in the Russell 1000 Index plus an additional 5%, and any weight exceeding this limit is redistributed to all other industries below the limit in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The weight of each industry in the Index must be at least 80% of the industry's weight in the Russell 1000 Index less 5%. The weights of any industries below this minimum will be increased to the minimum by redistributing the weights of industries above the minimum in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The Index is rebalanced annually in June. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the consumer discretionary and financial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 292 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Frank Russell Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Dividend Paying Securities Risk: Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such companies to underperform companies that do not pay dividends. In addition, changes in the dividend policies of the companies held by the Fund or the capital resources available for such company's dividend payments may adversely affect the Fund.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
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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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Quality Risk: A “quality” style of investing emphasizes companies with high returns on equity, stable earnings per share growth, and low financial leverage. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Value Stock Risk: A “value” style of investing is subject to the risk that the returns on “value” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize a stock's intrinsic worth.
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Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® Russell 1000® Momentum Focus ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the Russell 1000 Momentum Focused Factor Index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.20%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.20%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$20 $64 $113 $255
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on December 3, 2015 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Russell 1000 Momentum Focused Factor Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index (including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts and shares of other investment companies), cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to reflect the performance of a segment of large-capitalization U.S. equity securities demonstrating a combination of core factors (high value, high quality, and low size characteristics), with a focus factor comprising high momentum characteristics (the “Factor Characteristics”). To construct the Index, Frank Russell Company (“Index Provider”) utilizes a proprietary rules-based multi-factor scoring process that seeks to increase
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exposure (or “tilt”) to companies in the Russell 1000 Index demonstrating the Factor Characteristics. The Russell 1000 Index is a market-capitalization index that measures the performance of the large-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. Within the multi-factor scoring process, a specific focus is applied towards a company's momentum factor. Companies with higher momentum are those whose securities have had higher recent price performance compared to other securities. Each stock's combined multi-factor score is multiplied by the stock's free float market cap weight in the Russell 1000 Index to determine the constituents of the Index and each constituent's weight in the Index. Companies in the Russell 1000 Index are excluded from the Index if they do not meet a minimum weight in the Index. A company's momentum factor score is based on historical total return over the 11 months ending on the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's value factor score is based on cash flow yield, earnings yield, and sales to price ratio, calculated based on the company's total market capitalization and information reported in the company's most recent annual financial statement as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's quality factor score is based on return on assets, change in asset turnover, accruals, and leverage, calculated based on information reported in the company's most recent annual financial statement as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's size factor score is based on total market capitalization as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month.
The weight of each individual stock in the Index is capped at 2000% of the stock's weight in the Russell 1000 Index, and any weight exceeding this limit will be redistributed to all stocks below the limit in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The weight of each industry in the Index is capped at 120% of the industry's weight in the Russell 1000 Index plus an additional 5%, and any weight exceeding this limit is redistributed to all other industries below the limit in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The weight of each industry in the Index must be at least 80% of the industry's weight in the Russell 1000 Index less 5%. The weights of any industries below this minimum will be increased to the minimum by redistributing the weights of industries above the minimum in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The Index is rebalanced semi-annually in June and December. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the consumer discretionary, financial and industrial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016 there were approximately 890 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Frank Russell Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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
19

 

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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Momentum Risk: The Fund employs a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes investing in securities that have had higher recent price performance compared to other securities. This style of investing is subject to the risk that these securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities or that the returns on securities that have previously exhibited price momentum are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Momentum can turn quickly and cause significant variation from other types of investments.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
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Quality Risk: A “quality” style of investing emphasizes companies with high returns on equity, stable earnings per share growth, and low financial leverage. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Value Stock Risk: A “value” style of investing is subject to the risk that the returns on “value” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize a stock's intrinsic worth.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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
21

 

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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SPDR® Russell 1000® Low Volatility Focus ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focused Factor Index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.20%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.20%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$20 $64 $113 $255
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on December 3, 2015 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 68% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focused Factor Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index (including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts and shares of other investment companies), cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to reflect the performance of a segment of large-capitalization U.S. equity securities demonstrating a combination of core factors (high value, high quality, and low size characteristics), with a focus factor comprising low volatility characteristics (the “Factor Characteristics”). To construct the Index, Frank Russell Company (“Index Provider”) utilizes a proprietary rules-based multi-factor scoring process that seeks to increase exposure (or
23

 

“tilt”) to companies in the Russell 1000 Index demonstrating the Factor Characteristics. The Russell 1000 Index is a market-capitalization index that measures the performance of the large-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. Within the multi-factor scoring process, a specific focus is applied towards a company's volatility factor. Volatility is a statistical measurement of the magnitude of movements in a stock's price over time. Each stock's combined multi-factor score is multiplied by the stock's free float market cap weight in the Russell 1000 Index to determine the constituents of the Index and each constituent's weight in the Index. Companies in the Russell 1000 Index are excluded from the Index if they do not meet a minimum weight in the Index. A company's volatility factor score is based on the standard deviation of weekly total returns to a company's stock price over the trailing five years ending on the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's value factor score is based on cash flow yield, earnings yield, and sales to price ratio, calculated based on the company's total market capitalization and information reported in the company's most recent annual financial statement as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's quality factor score is based on return on assets, change in asset turnover, accruals, and leverage, calculated based on information reported in the company's most recent annual financial statement as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month. A company's size factor score is based on total market capitalization as of the last business day of the month prior to the Index rebalancing month.
The weight of each individual stock in the Index is capped at 2000% of the stock's weight in the Russell 1000 Index, and any weight exceeding this limit will be redistributed to all stocks below the limit in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The weight of each industry in the Index is capped at 120% of the industry's weight in the Russell 1000 Index plus an additional 5%, and any weight exceeding this limit is redistributed to all other industries below the limit in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The weight of each industry in the Index must be at least 80% of the industry's weight in the Russell 1000 Index less 5%. The weights of any industries below this minimum will be increased to the minimum by redistributing the weights of industries above the minimum in proportion to their combination of market capitalization and factor scoring. The Index is rebalanced annually in June. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the consumer discretionary, financial and industrial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016 there were approximately 435 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Frank Russell Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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
24

 

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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Low Volatility Risk: Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, a portfolio comprised of low volatility stocks may not produce investment exposure that has lower variability to changes in such stocks' price levels. Low volatility stocks are likely to underperform the broader market during periods of rapidly rising stock prices.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
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Quality Risk: A “quality” style of investing emphasizes companies with high returns on equity, stable earnings per share growth, and low financial leverage. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Value Stock Risk: A “value” style of investing is subject to the risk that the returns on “value” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize a stock's intrinsic worth.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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
26

 

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.
27

 

SPDR® S&P 500 Buyback ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of publicly traded issuers that have a high buyback ratio.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 98% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P 500 Buyback Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index provides exposure to the 100 constituent companies in the S&P 500® with the highest buyback ratio in the last 12 months. The S&P 500 Index focuses on the large capitalization U.S. equity market, including common stock and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The selection universe for the S&P 500 Index includes all U.S.-domiciled, as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or
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Bats EDGX with market capitalizations generally of $5.3 billion or more at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. A “buyback” occurs when a company buys back its own shares from the marketplace, reducing the number of shares outstanding. At each rebalancing reference date, the buyback ratio is defined as the monetary amount of cash paid for common shares bought back in the last four calendar quarters with interim reports available divided by the total market capitalization of common shares at the beginning of the buyback period.
Constituents are equally weighted and the Index is rebalanced quarterly. The rebalancing reference dates are the last trading day of March, June, September and December. Index rebalancings are effective after market close on the third Friday of the month following the reference date. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the consumer discretionary, financial, industrial and technology sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 102 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Buyback Risk: Stocks of companies that announce share buybacks are often anticipated to perform well because buybacks typically are a signal that a company's management believes its shares are undervalued.  This positive signal from management may cause the value of such shares to rise after an announcement.  However, the announcement of a buyback may not be an accurate predictor of future share performance.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in
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fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
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Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P 500 Growth ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of large capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities exhibiting “growth” characteristics.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P 500 Growth Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization growth segment of the U.S. equity market. The Index consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 Index exhibiting the strongest growth characteristics based on: (i) sales growth; (ii) earnings change to price; and (iii) momentum. The S&P 500 Index focuses on the large capitalization U.S. equity market, including common stock and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The selection universe for the S&P 500 Index includes all U.S.-domiciled, as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, common equities listed on
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the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with market capitalizations generally of $5.3 billion or more at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. To be included in the Index, a security (or issuer of a security, as applicable) should (i) have an annual dollar value traded to float-adjusted market capitalization ratio of 1 or greater; (ii) trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the six months leading up to the evaluation date; (iii) have a public float of at least 50%; and (iv) have positive as-reported earnings over the most recent four consecutive quarters (measured using the sum of earnings over those quarters) and for the most recent quarter. Meeting these criteria does not guarantee automatic inclusion into the Index. Given the limited number of companies that the Index can have and that it must reflect sector representation, some eligible companies may not be added to the Index at a particular time. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC's Index Committee makes the final determination and approval of all Index constituents. The Index is market capitalization weighted and rebalanced annually on the third Friday of December. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the technology, health care and consumer discretionary sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 316 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Growth Stock Risk: The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and their prices can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news. Growth stocks may underperform value stocks and stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in
33

 

fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 16.35% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -23.11% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 6.28%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P 500 Growth Index. Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 5.38% 13.82% 8.68%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 4.96% 13.44% 8.42%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 3.34% 11.07% 7.08%
S&P 500 Growth Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
5.52% 14.06% 8.70%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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.
36

 

SPDR® S&P 500 Value ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of large capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities exhibiting “value” characteristics.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 24% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P 500 Value Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization value segment of the U.S. equity market. The Index consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 Index exhibiting the strongest value characteristics based on: (i) book value to price ratio; (ii) earnings to price ratio; and (iii) sales to price ratio. The S&P 500 Index focuses on the large capitalization U.S. equity market, including common stock and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The selection universe for the S&P 500 Index includes all U.S-domiciled, as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, common equities listed
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on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with market capitalizations generally of $5.3 billion or more at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. To be included in the Index, a security (or issuer of a security, as applicable) should (i) have an annual dollar value traded to float-adjusted market capitalization ratio of 1 or greater; (ii) trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the six months leading up to the evaluation date; (iii) have a public float of at least 50%; and (iv) have positive as-reported earnings over the most recent four consecutive quarters (measured using the sum of earnings over those quarters) and for the most recent quarter. Meeting these criteria does not guarantee automatic inclusion into the Index. Given the limited number of companies that the Index can have and that it must reflect sector representation, some eligible companies may not be added to the Index at a particular time. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC's Index Committee makes the final determination and approval of all Index constituents. The Index is market capitalization weighted and rebalanced annually on the third Friday of December. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 361 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
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Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Value Stock Risk: A “value” style of investing is subject to the risk that the returns on “value” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize a stock's intrinsic worth.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 15.22% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -21.13% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 9.24%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P 500 Value Index. Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
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  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes -3.20% 10.74% 5.86%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -3.78% 10.20% 5.35%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -1.35% 8.53% 4.67%
S&P 500 Value Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-3.13% 10.97% 5.80%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P 500 High Dividend ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of publicly traded issuers that have high dividend yields.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.12%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.12%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$12 $39 $68 $154
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on October 22, 2015 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P 500 High Dividend Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of the top 80 dividend-paying securities listed on the S&P 500® Index, based on dividend yield. The S&P 500 Index focuses on the large capitalization U.S. equity market, including common stock and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The selection universe for the S&P 500 Index includes all U.S.-domiciled, as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX,
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Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with market capitalizations generally of $5.3 billion or more at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. To determine dividend yield: (i) an indicated dividend is measured by taking the latest dividend paid (excluding special payments) multiplied by the annual frequency of the payment; and (ii) the indicated dividend is then divided by the company's share price at the date of rebalancing. Index constituents are equally weighted and the Index is rebalanced semi-annually, in January and July. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the consumer discretionary and financial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 80 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Dividend Paying Securities Risk: Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such companies to underperform companies that do not pay dividends. In addition, changes in the dividend policies of the companies held by the Fund or the capital resources available for such company's dividend payments may adversely affect the Fund.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Real Estate Securities Risk: An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.
REIT Risk: Real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities of real property companies. In particular, REITs may be affected by changes in the values of the underlying properties that they own or operate. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, and their investments may be concentrated in relatively few properties, or in a small geographic area or a single property type. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and, as a result, are particularly reliant on the proper functioning of capital markets. A variety of economic and other factors may adversely affect a lessee's ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a lessor and may incur substantial costs associated in protecting its investments. In addition, a REIT could fail to qualify for favorable regulatory treatment.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you. Some distributions may be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes.
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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SPDR® S&P 500® Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF
 (formerly, SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free Index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.25%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.25%
Less contractual fee waiver1 -0.05%
Net annual Fund operating expenses 0.20%
1 SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses, until October 31, 2017, so that the net annual fund operating expenses of the Fund will be limited to 0.20% of the Fund's average daily net assets before application of any fees and expenses not paid by the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement (except for acquired fund fees and expenses from holdings in acquired funds for non-cash management purposes), if any. The contractual fee waiver and/or reimbursement does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any fees the Adviser previously waived. The Adviser may continue the waiver and/or reimbursement from year to year, but there is no guarantee that the Adviser will do so and the waiver and/or reimbursement may be cancelled or modified at any time after October 31, 2017. This waiver and/or reimbursement may not be terminated prior to October 31, 2017 except with the approval of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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. The Example reflects the Fund's contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement only in the periods for which the contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
$20 $75 $136 $313
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on December 1, 2015 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a
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number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index (including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts and shares of other investment companies), cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of companies in the S&P 500 Index that are “fossil fuel free”, which are defined as companies that do not own fossil fuel reserves. For purposes of the composition of the Index, fossil fuel reserves are defined as economically and technically recoverable sources of crude oil, natural gas and thermal coal but do not include metallurgical or coking coal, which are used in connection with steel production. The Index is a subset of the S&P 500 Index (the “Underlying Index”), which serves as the initial universe of eligible securities for the Index. The Underlying Index focuses on the large capitalization U.S. equity market, including common stock and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The selection universe for the S&P 500 Index includes all U.S.-domiciled, as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with market capitalizations generally of $5.3 billion or more at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. In constructing the Index, the initial universe is screened in an effort to exclude companies with any ownership of fossil fuel reserves, including for third-party and in-house power generation, as determined by publicly available information, such as annual reports and other company publications.
The Index is weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization. The Index is rebalanced quarterly after the close of business on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December. The rebalancing reference dates are after the close of the third Friday of February, May, August, and November, respectively. New additions to the Underlying Index are reviewed for inclusion in the Index each quarter, provided they have been added to the Underlying Index by the Index rebalancing reference dates. Fossil fuel reserve ownership information is updated annually in April and is first applied as part of the following June quarterly rebalancing. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the technology, financial and health care sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 475 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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
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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.
Fossil Fuel Reserves Free Ownership Risk: The lack of ownership of fossil fuel reserves may potentially have an adverse effect on a company's profitability. The returns on a portfolio of securities that excludes companies that own fossil fuel reserves may trail the returns on a portfolio of securities that includes companies that own fossil fuel reserves. Investing only in a portfolio of securities of companies that do not own fossil fuel reserves may affect the Fund's exposure to certain types of investments and may impact the Fund's relative investment performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor in the market.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
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Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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
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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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SPDR® S&P 1000 ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Russell Small Cap Completeness ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 1000 ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of mid- to small-capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.10%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.10%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$10 $32 $56 $128
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P 1000 Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the small- and mid-capitalization segments of the U.S. equity market. The Index consists of those stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and S&P SmallCap 600 Index (together, the “Component Indexes”). The selection universe for the Component Indexes includes all U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX,
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Bats BYX, Bats EDGA or Bats EDGX exchanges with market capitalizations generally ranging from $400 million to $5.9 billion. Such capitalization range may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) from time to time. For purposes of determining Index eligibility, the market capitalization of an issuer is evaluated in the context of such issuer's short- and medium-term historical market capitalization trends, as well as those of its industry. To be added as a constituent of the Index, a security (or issuer of a security, as applicable) must: (i) have an annual dollar value traded to float adjusted market capitalization ratio of 1.00 or greater; (ii) trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the preceding six months; (iii) have a public float of at least 50% of the total market capitalization; and (iv) have positive earnings (i.e. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) net income excluding discounted operations and extraordinary items) for the sum of the most recent four consecutive quarters and for the most recent quarter. In determining eligibility for Index inclusion, the Index Provider also attempts to maintain sector balance, as measured by a comparison of the weight of each GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) sector's weight in the Index to such sector's weight in the S&P Total Market Index, in the relevant market capitalization range.
The Index is float-adjusted and market capitalization weighted. Index constituents may be removed from the Index if they are in violation of one or more of the Index eligibility criteria described above. Changes are made to the Index on an as-needed basis. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial, technology and industrial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 1,001 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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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 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of mid-sized companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of mid-sized issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may be volatile.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of smaller issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may have significant volatility. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. Returns on investments in securities of small-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs.
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Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 22.89% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -25.80% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 8.95%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Effective August 31, 2016, the Fund changed its benchmark to the S&P 1000 Index. Between July 9, 2013 and August 30, 2016, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of the Russell Small Cap Completeness Index. Prior to July 9, 2013, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of a different index. Performance of the Fund prior to August 31, 2016 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track a prior index.
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  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes -3.49% 10.69% 8.18%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -4.85% 9.15% 7.12%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -1.20% 8.16% 6.41%
S&P 1000 Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-2.11% 13.03% 8.11%
Russell Small Cap Completeness Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-3.41% 10.26% 7.64%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of medium capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities exhibiting “growth” characteristics.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization growth segment of the U.S. equity market. The Index consists of those stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index exhibiting the strongest growth characteristics based on: (i) sales growth; (ii) earnings change to price; and (iii) momentum. The selection universe for the S&P MidCap 400 Index includes all U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with market
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capitalizations generally between $1.4 billion and $5.9 billion at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. To be included in the Index, a security (or issuer of a security, as applicable) should (i) have an annual dollar value traded to float adjusted market capitalization ratio of 1 or greater; (ii) trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the six months leading up to the evaluation date; (iii) have a public float of at least 50%; and (iv) have positive as-reported earnings over the most recent four consecutive quarters (measured using the sum of earnings over those quarters) and for the most recent quarter. The Index is market capitalization weighted and rebalanced annually on the third Friday of December. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial, technology and health care sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 226 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Growth Stock Risk: The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and their prices can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news. Growth stocks may underperform value stocks and stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
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Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of mid-sized companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of mid-sized issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may be volatile.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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
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or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by the Fund at that time. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 22.24% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -27.02% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 9.49%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index . Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 1.93% 10.91% 9.09%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.29% 10.53% 8.76%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.54% 8.62% 7.39%
S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
2.02% 11.10% 8.86%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of medium capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities exhibiting “value” characteristics.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 40% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Value Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value segment of the U.S. equity market. The Index consists of those stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index exhibiting the strongest value characteristics based on: (i) book value to price ratio; (ii) earnings to price ratio; and (iii) sales to price ratio. The selection universe for the S&P MidCap 400 Index includes all U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with
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market capitalizations generally between $1.4 billion and $5.9 billion at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. To be included in the Index, a security (or issuer of a security, as applicable) should (i) have an annual dollar value traded to float adjusted market capitalization ratio of 1 or greater; (ii) trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the six months leading up to the evaluation date; (iii) have a public float of at least 50%; and (iv) have positive as-reported earnings over the most recent four consecutive quarters (measured using the sum of earnings over those quarters) and for the most recent quarter. The Index is market capitalization weighted and rebalanced annually on the third Friday of December. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial and industrial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 307 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
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Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of mid-sized companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of mid-sized issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may be volatile.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Value Stock Risk: A “value” style of investing is subject to the risk that the returns on “value” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize a stock's intrinsic worth.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 23.46% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -24.41% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 15.16%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P MidCap 400 Value Index. Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes -6.80% 9.95% 6.70%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -8.22% 8.98% 5.90%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -3.60% 7.56% 5.14%
S&P MidCap 400 Value Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-6.65% 10.19% 7.41%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P 600 Small Cap ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of small capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 25% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. The selection universe for the Index includes all U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with market capitalizations generally between $400 million and $1.8 billion at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. To be included in the Index, a security (or issuer
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of a security, as applicable) should (i) have an annual dollar value traded to float adjusted market capitalization ratio of 1 or greater; (ii) trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the six months leading up to the evaluation date; (iii) have a public float of at least 50%; and (iv) have positive as-reported earnings over the most recent four consecutive quarters (measured using the sum of earnings over those quarters) and for the most recent quarter. The Index is float-adjusted and market capitalization weighted. Index constituents are added and removed on an as-needed basis. Share counts are updated on a quarterly basis. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial, industrial and technology sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 601 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
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Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of smaller issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may have significant volatility. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. Returns on investments in securities of small-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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
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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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 26.04% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -26.84% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 13.84%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes -2.07% 11.30% 8.58%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -3.04% 10.49% 7.97%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.64% 8.83% 6.85%
S&P SmallCap 600 Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-1.97% 11.48% 8.01%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of small capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities exhibiting “growth” characteristics.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization growth segment of the U.S. equity market. The Index consists of those stocks in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index exhibiting the strongest growth characteristics based on: (i) sales growth; (ii) earnings change to price; and (iii) momentum. The selection universe for the S&P SmallCap 600 Index
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includes all U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with market capitalizations generally between $400 million and $1.8 billion at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. To be included in the Index, a security (or issuer of a security, as applicable) should (i) have an annual dollar value traded to float adjusted market capitalization ratio of 1 or greater; (ii) trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the six months leading up to the evaluation date; (iii) have a public float of at least 50%; and (iv) have positive as-reported earnings over the most recent four consecutive quarters (measured using the sum of earnings over those quarters) and for the most recent quarter. The Index is market capitalization weighted and rebalanced annually on the third Friday of December. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial, industrial, health care and technology sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 348 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Growth Stock Risk: The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and their prices can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news. Growth stocks may underperform value stocks and stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
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Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of smaller issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may have significant volatility. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. Returns on investments in securities of small-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs.
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Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 28.61% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -28.41% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 11.39%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index. Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 2.64% 12.40% 9.49%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.12% 11.63% 9.04%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 2.39% 9.77% 7.73%
S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
2.78% 12.58% 8.81%
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of small capitalization exchange traded U.S. equity securities exhibiting “value” characteristics.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 48% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization value segment of the U.S. equity market. The Index consists of those stocks in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index exhibiting the strongest value characteristics based on: (i) book value to price ratio; (ii) earnings to price ratio; and (iii) sales to price ratio. The selection universe for the S&P SmallCap 600 Index includes all U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX with
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market capitalizations generally between $400 million and $1.8 billion at the time of inclusion. Capitalization ranges may be revised by the Index Provider (as defined below) at any time. To be included in the Index, a security (or issuer of a security, as applicable) should (i) have an annual dollar value traded to float adjusted market capitalization ratio of 1 or greater; (ii) trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the six months leading up to the evaluation date; (iii) have a public float of at least 50%; and (iv) have positive as-reported earnings over the most recent four consecutive quarters (measured using the sum of earnings over those quarters) and for the most recent quarter. The Index is market capitalization weighted and rebalanced annually on the third Friday of December. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the consumer discretionary, financial, industrial and technology sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 456 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil
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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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of smaller issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may have significant volatility. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. Returns on investments in securities of small-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
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Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Value Stock Risk: A “value” style of investing is subject to the risk that the returns on “value” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize a stock's intrinsic worth.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 25.67% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -25.28% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 16.53%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index . Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes -6.82% 10.13% 7.66%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -8.56% 8.94% 6.77%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -3.12% 7.75% 5.98%
S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-6.67% 10.37% 7.17%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
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Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® Global Dow ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Global Dow ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of multinational blue-chip issuers.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.50%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.50%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$51 $160 $280 $628
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of The Global Dow (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is made up of 150 companies from around the world. The 150 companies are selected not just based on size and reputation, but also on their promise of future growth. The Index has been designed to cover both developed and emerging countries. The Index is equal weighted and will be reset to equal weights annually each September. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 151 stocks.
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The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Currency Risk: The value of the Fund's assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange rates may have significant volatility, and changes in the values of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar may result in substantial declines in the values of the Fund's assets denominated in foreign currencies.
Depositary Receipts Risk: Investments in depositary receipts may be less liquid and more volatile than the underlying securities in their primary trading market. If a depositary receipt is denominated in a different currency than its underlying securities, the Fund will be subject to the currency risk of both the investment in the depositary receipt and the underlying security. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited or no rights to take action with respect to the underlying securities or to compel the issuer of the receipts to take action.
Emerging Markets Risk: Risks of investing in emerging markets include, among others, greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers and issuers, an emerging market country's dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, and less developed legal systems. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as expropriation, nationalization, embargo, and acts of war. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. These risks are generally greater for investments in frontier market countries, which typically have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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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Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
Europe: Developed and emerging market countries in Europe will be significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary controls of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (“EU”). Changes in regulations on trade, decreasing imports or exports, changes in the exchange rate of the euro and recessions among European countries may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other European countries. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities (including depositary receipts) are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, when the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent
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investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Investments in depositary receipts may be less liquid and more volatile than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 15.94% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -19.80% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 9.16%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to May 2, 2011, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from The Global Dow. Performance of the Fund prior to May 2, 2011 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes -4.39% 4.61% 2.50%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -4.86% 4.10% 2.05%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -1.99% 3.63% 2.03%
The Global Dow Index1
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-4.54% 4.58% N/A
MSCI World Index2
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-0.87% 7.59% 4.98%
1 The Global Dow Index inception date is November 9, 2008.
2 The Fund's index prior to May 2, 2011, was the Dow Jones Global Titans 50 Index U.S. Close. The Fund's use of the Dow Jones Global Titans 50 Index U.S. Close was discontinued in July 2012 and the MSCI World Index returns are shown instead for each time period. The Fund has never sought to track the performance of the MSCI World Index.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® Dow Jones REIT ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of publicly traded real estate investment trusts.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.25%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.25%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$26 $80 $141 $318
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 10% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to provide a measure of real estate securities that serve as proxies for direct real estate investing, in part by excluding securities whose value is not always closely tied to the value of the underlying real estate. The reason for the exclusions is that factors other than real estate supply and demand, such as interest rates, influence the market value of these companies. The Index is a market capitalization weighted index of publicly traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and is comprised of companies whose charters are the equity ownership and
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operation of commercial and/or residential real estate and which operate under the REIT Act of 1960. To be included in the Index, a company must be both an equity owner and operator of commercial and/or residential real estate. Businesses excluded from the Index include: those classified under the Dow Jones REIT/RESI Industry Classification Hierarchy as “Specialty” (i.e., REIT types that cannot be easily classified within the Hierarchy, including net-lease REITs, Timber REITs, railroad REITs and tower REITs), hybrid REITS, mortgage REITs, real estate finance companies, mortgage brokers and bankers, commercial and residential real estate brokers and/or agents, home builders, large landowners and subdividers of unimproved land, as well as companies that have more than 25% of their assets in direct mortgage investments. A company must have a minimum total market capitalization of at least $200 million at the time of its inclusion, and at least 75% of the company's total revenue must be derived from the ownership and operation of real estate assets. The liquidity of the company's stock must be commensurate with that of other institutionally held real estate securities. The Index is generally rebalanced quarterly, and returns are calculated on a buy and hold basis except as necessary to reflect the occasional occurrence of Index changes in the middle of the month. Each REIT in the Index is weighted by its float-adjusted market capitalization. That is, each security is weighted to reflect the attainable market performance of the security which reflects that portion of securities shares that are accessible to investors. The Index is priced daily and is a total return (price and income) benchmark. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 98 REITs.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a
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portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Real Estate Securities Risk: An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.
REIT Risk: Real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities of real property companies. In particular, REITs may be affected by changes in the values of the underlying properties that they own or operate. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, and their investments may be concentrated in relatively few properties, or in a small geographic area or a single property type. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and, as a result, are particularly reliant on the proper functioning of capital markets. A variety of economic and other factors may adversely affect a lessee's ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a lessor and may incur substantial costs associated in protecting its investments. In addition, a REIT could fail to qualify for favorable regulatory treatment.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 35.38% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -39.70% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 9.16%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 4.20% 12.04% 7.04%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 2.74% 10.60% 5.69%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 2.34% 8.87% 5.01%
Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
4.48% 12.33% 7.21%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
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John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you. Some distributions may be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes.
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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SPDR® S&P Bank ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Bank ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of publicly traded national money centers and leading regional banks.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 40% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Banks Select Industry Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the banks segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The banks segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Asset Management & Custody Banks, Diversified Banks, Regional Banks, Other Diversified Financial Services, and Thrifts & Mortgage Finance. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined
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based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $2 billion with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 100%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $1 billion or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 61 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Banking Companies Risk: The performance of bank stocks may be affected by extensive governmental regulation which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees 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. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers can negatively impact banking companies. Banks may also be subject to severe price competition. Competition is high among banking companies and failure to maintain or increase market share may result in lost market value.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Financial Institutions Risk: Changes in the creditworthiness of financial institutions (such as banks and broker-dealers) may adversely affect the values of instruments of issuers in financial industries. Adverse developments in banking and other financial industries may cause the Fund to underperform relative to other funds that invest more broadly across different industries or have a smaller exposure to financial institutions. Changes in governmental regulation and oversight of financial institutions may have an adverse effect on the financial condition of a financial institution.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 30.43% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -35.84% (Q1, 2009)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 0.05%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to October 24, 2011, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P Banks Select Industry Index. Performance of the Fund prior to October 24, 2011 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 2.63% 7.32% -1.88%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 2.22% 6.94% -2.38%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.83% 5.74% -1.37%
S&P Banks Select Industry Index*
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
2.97% N/A N/A
KBW Bank Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.49% 9.18% -1.02%
* The S&P Banks Select Industry Index inception date is September 12, 2011.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Capital Markets ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of publicly traded companies that do business as broker-dealers, asset managers, trust and custody banks or exchanges.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 29% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Capital Markets Select Industry Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the capital markets segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The capital markets segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Asset Management & Custody Banks, Diversified Capital Markets, Financial Exchanges & Data, and
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Investment Banking & Brokerage. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 43 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Capital Markets Companies Risk: Capital Markets companies may be significantly affected by stock and bank trading activity, changes in governmental regulation, continuing increases in price competition, decreases in fees or fee-related business, including investment banking, brokerage, asset management and other servicing fees, fluctuation in interest rates and other factors which could adversely affect financial markets.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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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Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 29.06% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -33.43% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was -4.61%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to October 24, 2011, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P Capital Markets Select Industry Index. Performance of the Fund prior to October 24, 2011 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
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  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes -12.37% 4.99% -0.16%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -12.90% 4.36% -0.61%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -6.62% 3.79% -0.10%
S&P Capital Markets Select Industry Index*
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-12.31% N/A N/A
KBW Capital Markets Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-3.09% 8.70% 1.74%
* The S&P Capital Markets Select Industry Index inception date is September 12, 2011.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Insurance ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Insurance ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of publicly traded companies in the insurance industry.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Insurance Select Industry Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the insurance segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The insurance segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Insurance Brokers, Life & Health Insurance, Multi-Line Insurance, Property & Casualty Insurance, and Reinsurance. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global
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Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $2 billion with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $1 billion or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 47 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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Insurance Companies Risk: Insurance companies' profits are affected by many factors, including interest rate movements, the imposition of premium rate caps, competition and pressure to compete globally. Certain types of insurance companies may also be affected by weather catastrophes and other disasters and mortality rates. In addition, although insurance companies are currently subject to extensive regulation, such companies may be adversely affected by increased governmental regulations or tax law changes in the future.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 36.67% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -28.64% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 7.96%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to October 24, 2011, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P Insurance Select Industry Index. Performance of the Fund prior to October 24, 2011 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 6.01% 11.99% 4.65%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 5.59% 11.57% 4.29%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 3.73% 9.53% 3.65%
S&P Insurance Select Industry Index*
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
6.38% N/A N/A
KBW Insurance Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.04% 11.75% 4.72%
* The S&P Insurance Select Industry Index inception date is September 12, 2011.
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Regional Banking ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the regional banking segment of the U.S. banking industry.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 86% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the regional banks segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The regional banks segment of the S&P TMI comprises the Regional Banks sub-industry. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on
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the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 97 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Banking Companies Risk: The performance of bank stocks may be affected by extensive governmental regulation which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees 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. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers can negatively impact banking companies. Banks may also be subject to severe price competition. Competition is high among banking companies and failure to maintain or increase market share may result in lost market value.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Financial Institutions Risk: Changes in the creditworthiness of financial institutions (such as banks and broker-dealers) may adversely affect the values of instruments of issuers in financial industries. Adverse developments in banking and other financial industries may cause the Fund to underperform relative to other funds that invest more broadly across different industries or have a smaller exposure to financial institutions. Changes in governmental regulation and oversight of financial institutions may have an adverse effect on the financial condition of a financial institution.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 34.92% (Q3, 2008)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -33.24% (Q1, 2009)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 2.19%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to October 24, 2011, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index. Performance of the Fund prior to October 24, 2011 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(6/19/06)
Return Before Taxes 4.88% 11.68% 0.98%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 4.41% 11.25% 0.40%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 3.10% 9.28% 0.62%
S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index*
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
5.42% N/A N/A
KBW Regional Banking Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
5.92% 11.35% 0.91%
* The S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index inception date is September 12, 2011.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® Morgan Stanley Technology ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of publicly traded electronics-based technology companies.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Morgan Stanley Technology Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is composed of 35 leading US Technology related companies. The Index was the first listed broad-market technology barometer dedicated exclusively to the electronics-based technology industry. The Index comprises companies drawn from the Information Technology, or Consumer Discretionary GICS Sectors as defined and published by MSCI INC (http://www.msci.com/products/indexes/sector/gics/). The Morgan Stanley Technology Index is calculated and maintained by NYSE ARCA INC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NYSE GROUP INC (“NYSE”). Morgan Stanley &
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Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) acts as consultant to the NYSE in connection with NYSE's maintenance of the Index. The Index is equal-dollar-weighted to ensure that each of its component securities is represented in approximate equal dollar value. To ensure that each component stock continues to represent approximate equal market value in the Index, adjustments, if necessary, are made annually after the close of trading on the third Friday of December. As of August 31, 2016, the Index was comprised of 36 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Electronics Companies Risk: Electronics companies can be significantly affected by competitive pressures, aggressive pricing, technological developments, changing domestic demand, the ability to attract and retain skilled employees and availability and price of components. The market for products is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of electronics companies depends in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products. An unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse effect on a participant's operating results. Electronics companies may rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by such companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies' technology.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks
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to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 24.81% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -28.11% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 11.91%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes 7.78% 11.35% 8.26%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 7.53% 11.13% 8.13%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 4.59% 9.03% 6.74%
Morgan Stanley Technology Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
8.17% 11.83% 8.75%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Dividend ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of publicly traded issuers that have historically followed a policy of making dividend payments.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of the highest dividend yielding S&P Composite 1500® Index constituents that have followed a managed-dividends policy of consistently increasing dividends every year for at least 20 consecutive years. Stocks included in the Index have both capital growth and dividend income characteristics, as opposed to stocks that are pure yield, or pure capital oriented, and must meet minimum float-adjusted market capitalization and liquidity requirements. Stocks within the Index are weighted by indicated yield (annualized gross
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dividend payment per share divided by price per share) and weight-adjusted each quarter. The Index components are reviewed annually in January for continued inclusion in the Index and re-weighted quarterly after the closing of the last business day of January, April, July and October. A component stock may be removed from the Index if, among other factors, 1) during the January rebalancing, the company's calendar year dividends did not increase from the previous calendar year, 2) during the January rebalancing, the company no longer has a float-adjusted market capitalization of at least US$ 1.5 billion as of the rebalancing reference date, 3) during the January rebalancing, the company no longer has an average daily value traded of at least US$ 4 million for the three-months prior to the rebalancing reference date, 4) between rebalancings, the stock is removed from the S&P Composite 1500 Index, or 5) during a quarterly rebalancing, the Index Provider (as defined below) determines that a company has reduced its calendar year dividend amount and will no longer qualify for the Index at the subsequent annual rebalancing. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial and industrial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 107 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Dividend Paying Securities Risk: Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such companies to underperform companies that do not pay dividends. In addition, changes in the dividend policies of the companies held by the Fund or the capital resources available for such company's dividend payments may adversely affect the Fund.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil
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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, a 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 17.28% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -16.22% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 16.77%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
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  One Year Five Years Ten Years
Return Before Taxes -0.83% 11.90% 7.52%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -2.42% 10.67% 6.53%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.48% 9.26% 5.89%
S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-0.38% 12.35% 7.79%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you. Some distributions may be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes.
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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SPDR® S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the aerospace and defense segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 30% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the aerospace and defense segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The aerospace & defense segment of the S&P TMI comprises the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select
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Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 34 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Aerospace and Defense Companies Risk: The aerospace and defense companies can be significantly affected by government aerospace and defense regulation and spending policies because companies involved in this industry rely to a significant extent on U.S. (and other) 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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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
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to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, a 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 17.76% (Q4, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -12.39% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 11.03%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(9/28/11)
Return Before Taxes -0.38% 21.49%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -1.04% 20.85%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.10% 17.26%
S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-0.01% 21.96%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Biotech ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the biotechnology segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 75% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the biotechnology segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The biotechnology segment of the S&P TMI comprises the Biotechnology sub-industry. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices
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is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. If there are fewer than 35 stocks, stocks from the Life Sciences Tools & Services sub-industry that meet the market capitalization and liquidity thresholds are included in order of their float-adjusted market capitalization. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 86 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Biotechnology Companies Risk: Biotech companies invest heavily in research and development which may not necessarily lead to commercially successful products. These companies are also subject to increased governmental regulation which may delay or inhibit the release of new products. Many biotech companies are dependent upon their ability to use and enforce intellectual property rights and patents. Any impairment of such rights may have adverse financial consequences. Biotech stocks, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Biotech companies can be significantly affected by technological change and obsolescence, product liability lawsuits and consequential high insurance costs.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
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Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 23.81% (Q3, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -25.94% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was -5.35%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(1/31/06)
Return Before Taxes 13.63% 27.84% 16.15%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 13.36% 27.62% 16.00%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 7.74% 23.09% 13.70%
S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
13.09% 27.49% 16.17%
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Health Care Equipment ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the health care equipment and supplies segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 39% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Health Care Equipment Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the health care equipment segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The health care equipment segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Health Care Equipment and Health Care Supplies. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”).
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Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 63 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Health Care Equipment Companies Risk: Health care equipment companies are affected by rising costs of medical products, devices and services and the increased emphasis on the delivery of health care through outpatient services. Competition among health care equipment companies is high and can be significantly affected by extensive government regulation or government reimbursement for medical expenses. The equipment may be subject to extensive litigation based on malpractice claims, product liability claims or other litigation. Medical equipment manufacturers are heavily dependent on patent protection and the expiration of patents may adversely affect their profitability. Many new health care products are subject to the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The process of obtaining FDA approval is often long and expensive.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
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Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 18.26% (Q4, 2014)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -7.78% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 17.17%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(1/26/11)
Return Before Taxes 8.83% 14.73%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 6.83% 14.02%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 6.19% 11.72%
S&P Health Care Equipment Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
9.23% 15.11%
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Health Care Services ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the health care providers and services segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 36% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Health Care Services Select Industry Index   (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the health care services segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The health care services segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Health Care Distributors, Health Care Facilities, Health Care Services, and Managed Health Care. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the
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Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 55 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
Health Care Services Companies Risk: Health care services companies are affected by rising costs of medical products, devices and services and the increased emphasis on the delivery of health care through outpatient services. Competition is high among health care services companies and can be significantly affected by extensive government regulation or government reimbursement for medical expenses. The equipment may be subject to extensive litigation based on malpractice claims, product liability claims or other litigation. Medical equipment manufacturers are heavily dependent on patent protection and the expiration of patents may adversely affect their profitability. Many new health care products are subject to the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The process of obtaining FDA approval is often long and expensive.
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Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 14.35% (Q1, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -12.99% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was -3.67%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(9/28/11)
Return Before Taxes 3.20% 23.40%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 2.83% 22.79%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.86% 18.80%
S&P Health Care Services Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
3.57% 23.88%
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Homebuilders ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the homebuilding segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 44% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the homebuilders segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The homebuilders segment of the S&P TMI comprises the Homebuilding sub-industry. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices
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is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. If there are fewer than 35 stocks, stocks from the Building Products, Home Furnishings, Home Improvement Retail, Homefurnishing Retail, or Household Appliances sub-industries that meet the market capitalization and liquidity thresholds are included in order of their float-adjusted market capitalization. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 35 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Homebuilding Companies Risk: Homebuilding companies can be significantly affected by the national, regional and local real estate markets. This industry is also sensitive to interest rate fluctuations which can cause changes in the availability of mortgage capital and directly affect the purchasing power of potential homebuyers. The building industry can be significantly affected by changes in government spending, consumer confidence, demographic patterns and the level of new and existing home sales.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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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 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, a 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Retail Companies Risk: Retail companies can be significantly affected by the performance of the domestic and international economy, consumer confidence and spending, intense competition, changes in demographics, and changing consumer tastes and preferences.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 28.86% (Q4, 2011)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -37.91% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was -0.19%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
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  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(1/31/06)
Return Before Taxes 0.60% 15.25% -2.10%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.48% 15.07% -2.33%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.44% 12.28% -1.62%
S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.98% 15.61% -1.98%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P® Internet ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Internet ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the internet segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses1 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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
$36 $113
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on June 28, 2016 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Internet Select Industry Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the internet segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The internet segment of the S&P TMI comprises the Internet and Direct Marketing Retail sub-industry and the Internet Software & Services sub-industry. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P
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Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 57 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Internet Segment Risk: Internet companies are subject to rapid changes in technology, worldwide competition, rapid obsolescence of products and services, loss of patent protections, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. Competitive pressures, such as technological developments, fixed-rate pricing and the ability to attract and retain skilled employees, can significantly affect internet companies, and changing domestic and international demand, research and development costs, availability and price components and product obsolescence also can affect their profitability.
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Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider, each of which has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Metals & Mining ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the metals and mining segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Metals & Mining Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the metals and mining segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The metals & mining segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Aluminum, Coal & Consumable Fuels, Copper, Diversified Metals & Mining, Gold, Precious Metals & Minerals, Silver, and Steel. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries
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determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 23 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Materials Sector Risk: Many materials companies are significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity prices, exchange rates, import controls, worldwide competition, environmental policies and consumer demand. At times, worldwide production of industrial materials has exceeded demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns or losses. Other risks may include liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control. The materials sector may also be affected by economic cycles, technical progress, labor relations, and government regulations.
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Metals and Mining Companies Risk: Metals and mining companies can be significantly affected by events relating to international political and economic developments, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, commodity prices, and tax and other government regulations. Investments in metals and mining companies may be speculative and may be subject to greater price volatility than investments in other types of companies. Risks of metals and mining investments include: changes in international monetary policies or economic and political conditions that can affect the supply of precious metals and consequently the value of metals and mining company investments; the United States or foreign governments may pass laws or regulations limiting metals investments for strategic or other policy reasons; and increased environmental or labor costs may depress the value of metals and mining investments.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 47.81% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -49.76% (Q3, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 79.38%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(6/19/06)
Return Before Taxes -50.50% -25.15% -9.43%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -50.82% -25.45% -9.68%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -28.38% -15.90% -6.12%
S&P Metals & Mining Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-50.78% -25.26% -9.39%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the oil and gas equipment and services segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 51% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the oil and gas equipment and services segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The oil and gas equipment and services segment of the S&P TMI comprises the Oil & Gas Drilling sub-industry and the Oil & Gas Equipment & Services sub-industry. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global
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Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 34 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Energy Sector Risk: Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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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.
Oil and Gas Companies Risk: Oil and gas companies develop and produce crude oil and natural gas and provide drilling and other energy resources production and distribution related services. Stock prices for these types of companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for energy products in general. The price of oil and gas, exploration and production spending, government regulation, world events and economic conditions will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Correspondingly, securities of companies in the energy field are subject to swift price and supply fluctuations caused by events relating to international politics, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Weak demand for the companies' products or services or for energy products and services in general, as well as negative developments in these other areas, would adversely impact the Fund's performance. Oil and gas equipment and services can be significantly affected by natural disasters as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 30.39% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -47.62% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 9.17%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(6/19/06)
Return Before Taxes -36.51% -12.86% -4.00%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -36.94% -13.09% -4.18%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -20.47% -9.01% -2.82%
S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-36.66% -12.78% -3.83%
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the oil and gas exploration and production segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 44% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the oil and gas exploration and production segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The oil and gas exploration and production segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Integrated Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Exploration & Production, and Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries
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determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 58 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Energy Sector Risk: Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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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.
Oil and Gas Companies Risk: Oil and gas companies develop and produce crude oil and natural gas and provide drilling and other energy resources production and distribution related services. Stock prices for these types of companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for energy products in general. The price of oil and gas, exploration and production spending, government regulation, world events and economic conditions will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Correspondingly, securities of companies in the energy field are subject to swift price and supply fluctuations caused by events relating to international politics, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Weak demand for the companies' products or services or for energy products and services in general, as well as negative developments in these other areas, would adversely impact the Fund's performance. Oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 30.52% (Q2, 2008)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -35.77% (Q3, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 28.14%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(6/19/06)
Return Before Taxes -35.71% -9.45% -0.32%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -36.09% -9.76% -0.54%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -20.03% -6.77% -0.17%
S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-36.05% -9.47% -0.20%
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P® Pharmaceuticals ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the pharmaceuticals segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Pharmaceuticals Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the pharmaceuticals segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The pharmaceuticals segment of the S&P TMI comprises the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices
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is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 37 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
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growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Pharmaceuticals Companies Risk: Pharmaceutical companies are heavily dependent on patent protection. The expiration of patents may adversely affect the profitability of the companies. Pharmaceutical companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and other similar claims. Many new products are subject to approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The process of obtaining FDA approval can be long and costly and approved products are susceptible to obsolescence. Pharmaceutical companies are also subject to heavy competitive forces that may make it difficult to raise prices and, in fact, may result in price discounting.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 17.74% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -24.56% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was -13.39%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(6/19/06)
Return Before Taxes 1.50% 21.48% 15.96%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -1.26% 20.11% 15.15%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.02% 17.10% 13.22%
S&P Pharmaceuticals Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.80% 21.74% 16.21%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Retail ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the retail segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 41% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Retail Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the retail segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The retail segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Apparel Retail, Automotive Retail, Computer & Electronic Retail, Department Stores, Drug Retail, Food Retailers, General Merchandise Stores, Hypermarkets & Super Centers, Internet & Direct Marketing Retail, and Specialty Stores. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to
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measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 95 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk: Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies' performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal product companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in
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fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Retail Companies Risk: Retail companies can be significantly affected by the performance of the domestic and international economy, consumer confidence and spending, intense competition, changes in demographics, and changing consumer tastes and preferences.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 23.68% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -32.30% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 1.70%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(6/19/06)
Return Before Taxes -8.81% 13.54% 10.62%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -9.09% 13.22% 10.29%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -4.78% 10.80% 8.64%
S&P Retail Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-8.62% 13.80% 10.94%
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Semiconductor ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the semiconductor segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Semiconductor Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the semiconductors segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The semiconductors segment of the S&P TMI comprises the Semiconductors sub-industry. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices
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is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. If there are fewer than 35 stocks, stocks from the Semiconductor Equipment sub-industry that meet the market capitalization and liquidity thresholds are included in order of their float-adjusted market capitalization. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 39 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
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Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Semiconductor Companies Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that market or economic factors impacting semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Additionally, semiconductor companies may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 23.93% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -31.08% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 22.31%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(1/31/06)
Return Before Taxes 10.31% 10.56% 5.78%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 10.15% 10.41% 5.66%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 5.96% 8.37% 4.62%
S&P Semiconductor Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
10.53% 10.77% 5.85%
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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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Software & Services ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the computer software segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 62% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Software & Services Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the software and services segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The software and services segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Application Software, Data Processing & Outsourced Services, Home Entertainment Software, IT Consulting & Other Services, and Systems Software. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-
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industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 121 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Computer Software/Services Companies Risk: Computer software/services companies can be significantly affected by competitive pressures, aggressive pricing, technological developments, changing domestic demand, the ability to attract and retain skilled employees and availability and price of components. The market for products produced by computer software/services companies is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of computer software/services companies depends in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products and the ability to service such products. An unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse effect on a participant's operating results.
Many computer software/services companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by computer software/services companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies' technology.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in
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fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 16.57% (Q3, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -8.22% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 11.00%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
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  One Year Since Inception
(9/28/11)
Return Before Taxes 7.39% 19.69%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 7.25% 19.11%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 4.30% 15.69%
S&P Software & Services Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
7.63% 20.04%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P® Technology Hardware ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the technology hardware segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses1 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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
$36 $113
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on June 28, 2016 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Technology Hardware Select Industry Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the technology hardware segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The technology hardware segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Electronic Components, Electronic Equipment & Instruments, and Technology Hardware,
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Storage & Peripherals. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 43 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
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Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Technology Hardware Companies Risk: Technology hardware companies can be significantly affected by competitive pressures, aggressive pricing, technological developments, changing domestic demand, the ability to attract and retain skilled employees and availability and price of components. The market for products produced by these companies is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of technology hardware companies depends in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products. An unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse effect on a participant's operating results.
Many of these companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by the companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies' technology.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider, each of which has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Telecom ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Telecom ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the telecommunications segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Telecom Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the telecommunications segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The telecommunications segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Alternative Carriers, Communications Equipment, Integrated Telecommunication Services, and Wireless Telecommunication Services. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-
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industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 55 stocks.
Should the Index not contain the required minimum of 35 qualifying companies, it may contain members of the Communications Equipment sub-industry.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
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Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Telecommunications Sector Risk: The telecommunications industry is subject to extensive government regulation. The costs of complying with governmental regulations, delays or failure to receive required regulatory approvals or the enactment of new adverse regulatory requirements may adversely affect the business of the telecommunications companies. The telecommunications industry can also be significantly affected by intense competition, including competition with alternative technologies such as wireless communications, product compatibility, consumer preferences, rapid product obsolescence and research and development of new products. Technological innovations may make the products and services of telecommunications companies obsolete. Other risks include uncertainties resulting from such companies' diversification into new domestic and international businesses, as well as agreements by any such companies linking future rate increases to inflation or other factors not directly related to the actual operating profits of the enterprise.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 11.65% (Q1, 2012)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -11.54% (Q2, 2012)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 18.48%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(1/26/11)
Return Before Taxes -1.66% 3.29%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -2.07% 2.94%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.76% 2.49%
S&P Telecom Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-1.53% 3.60%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
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John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® S&P Transportation ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Transportation ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the transportation segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Transportation Select Industry Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index represents the transportation segment of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The S&P TMI is designed to track the broad U.S. equity market. The transportation segment of the S&P TMI comprises the following sub-industries: Air Freight & Logistics, Airlines, Airport Services, Highways & Rail Tracks, Marine, Marine Ports & Services, Railroads, and Trucking. The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries
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determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is modified equal weighted. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 45 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
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growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Transportation Companies Risk: Transportation companies can be significantly affected by changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor relations, technology developments, exchange rates, insurance costs, industry competition and government regulation.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 21.72% (Q1, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -9.56% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 11.02%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(1/26/11)
Return Before Taxes -20.20% 11.87%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -20.40% 11.72%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -11.29% 9.48%
S&P Transportation Select Industry Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-19.99% 12.27%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
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Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® MSCI USA StrategicFactorsSM ETF
 (formerly, SPDR MSCI USA Quality Mix ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactorsSM ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index based upon the U.S. equity market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 17% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the MSCI USA Factor Mix A-Series Capped Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the equity market performance of large-and mid-cap companies across the U.S. equity market. It aims to represent the performance of a combination of three factors: value, quality, and low volatility. The Index is an equal weighted combination of the following three MSCI Factor Indices in a single composite index: the MSCI USA Value Weighted Index, the MSCI USA Quality Index, and the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index (each,
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a “Component Index”). If the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index is not available due to the concentrated nature of its underlying parent index (for example, in the event of a low number of stocks or where a relatively few number of constituents constitutes a large proportion of index weight), the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index is replaced with the MSCI USA Risk Weighted Index (if used to replace the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index, also a “Component Index”) and the Index is an equal weighted combination of the MSCI USA Value Weighted Index, the MSCI USA Quality Index and the MSCI USA Risk Weighted Index. The Index Provider (defined below) determines if such replacement is necessary and reviews the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index for viability on a regular basis. The MSCI USA Value Weighted Index includes publicly-traded companies domiciled in the U.S., weighted to emphasize stocks with lower valuations, by giving higher index weight to stocks with higher values of fundamental variables such as sales, earnings, cash earnings and book value. The MSCI USA Quality Index includes publicly-traded companies domiciled in the U.S., weighted to emphasize stocks with historically high return on equity, stable year-over-year earnings growth, and low financial leverage. The MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index aims to reflect the performance characteristics of a minimum variance strategy applied to publicly-traded companies domiciled in the U.S. and is weighted to provide the lowest absolute risk within a given set of constraints. The MSCI USA Risk Weighted Index includes publicly-traded companies domiciled in the U.S., and reweights the constituents so that stocks with lower volatility, measured as the weekly return variance over the prior three years, are given higher index weight. Each Component Index is attributed equal weight (1/3) at each rebalancing. All constituents of each Component Index are included in the Index. The weight of each security in the Index is determined based on 1) the security's weight in each underlying Component Index; and 2) the weight of each underlying Component Index in the Index. The Index is then subject to the MSCI A-Series Index Methodology. The MSCI A-Series Index Methodology first seeks to ensure the Index includes at least 25 constituents. In the event the Index does not contain at least 25 constituents, the Index is supplemented by including constituents of the MSCI USA Small Cap Index, selected in decreasing order based on full market capitalization, until the target of 25 constituents is reached. The MSCI A-Series Index Methodology then applies the MSCI 25/50 Index Methodology, which aims to reflect 5/25/50 weight constraints (i.e., no issuer has a weight above 25%, and the sum of weights of all issuers with weights above 5% does not exceed 50%). The Index is rebalanced semi-annually, usually as of the close of the last business day of May and November, coinciding with the semi-annual index reviews of the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices and of each Component Index. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial and technology sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 620 securities.
The Index is sponsored by MSCI, Inc. (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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
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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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Low Volatility Risk: Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, a portfolio comprised of low volatility stocks may not produce investment exposure that has lower variability to changes in such stocks' price levels. Low volatility stocks are likely to underperform the broader market during periods of rapidly rising stock prices.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of mid-sized companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of mid-sized issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may be volatile.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Quality Risk: A “quality” style of investing emphasizes companies with high returns on equity, stable earnings per share growth, and low financial leverage. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily
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dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Value Stock Risk: A “value” style of investing is subject to the risk that the returns on “value” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize a stock's intrinsic worth.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® Wells Fargo® Preferred Stock ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index based upon Preferred Securities (as defined below).
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.45%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.45%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$46 $144 $252 $567
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 31% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”) may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the performance of non-convertible preferred stock and securities that are functionally equivalent to preferred stock, including, but not limited to, depositary preferred securities, perpetual subordinated debt and certain securities issued by banks and other financial institutions that are eligible for capital treatment with respect to such instruments akin to that received for issuance of straight preferred stock (collectively, “Preferred Securities”). Preferred Securities generally pay fixed rate distributions
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and typically have “preference” over common stock in the payment of distributions and the liquidation of a company's assets — preference means that a company must pay distributions on its Preferred Securities before paying dividends on its common stock, and the claims of Preferred Securities holders are ahead of common stockholders' claims on assets in a corporate liquidation. The Index includes Preferred Securities that meet the following criteria: (i) are non-convertible; (ii) have a par amount of $25; (iii) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”); (iv) maintain a minimum par value of $250 million; (v) are U.S. dollar denominated; (vi) are rated investment grade by one of Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC ratings services; (vii) are publicly registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933; and (viii) have a minimum monthly trading volume during each of the last six months of at least 250,000 trading units. The Index does not include auction rate preferred securities, convertible preferred shares, securities subject to sinking fund provisions, shares in closed-end funds, municipal securities, or repackaged securities linked to a security, a basket of securities or an index. The Index is rebalanced monthly, on the final NYSE Arca trading day of each month. Issuers of Preferred Securities may be either U.S. based or foreign. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 154 Preferred Securities.
The Index is sponsored by Wells Fargo & Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Depositary Receipts Risk: Investments in depositary receipts may be less liquid and more volatile than the underlying securities in their primary trading market. If a depositary receipt is denominated in a different currency than its underlying securities, the Fund will be subject to the currency risk of both the investment in the depositary receipt and the underlying security. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited or no rights to take action with respect to the underlying securities or to compel the issuer of the receipts to take action.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities (including depositary receipts) are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, when the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Investments in depositary receipts may be less liquid and more volatile than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk: Generally, Preferred Security holders have no or limited voting rights with respect to the issuing company. In addition, Preferred Securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Dividend payments on a Preferred Security typically must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. In the event an issuer of Preferred Securities experiences economic difficulties, the issuer's Preferred Securities may lose substantial value due to the reduced likelihood that the issuer's board of directors will declare a dividend and the fact that the Preferred Security may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. Further, because many Preferred Securities pay dividends at a fixed rate, their market price can be sensitive to changes in interest rates in a manner similar to bonds — that is, as interest rates rise, the value of the Preferred Securities held by the Fund are likely to decline. In addition, because many Preferred Securities allow holders to convert the Preferred Securities into common stock of the issuer, their market price can be sensitive to changes in the value of the issuer's common stock and, therefore, declining common stock values may also cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline. Preferred securities often have call features which allow the issuer to redeem the security at its discretion. The redemption of a Preferred Security having a higher than average yield may cause a decrease in the Fund's yield.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by
showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how
 
 
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the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 10.56% (Q3, 2010)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -5.52% (Q3, 2011)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 5.40%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(9/16/09)
Return Before Taxes 8.14% 6.42% 8.31%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 6.11% 4.22% 6.11%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 5.02% 4.20% 5.76%
Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
8.67% 6.59% 8.59%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you. Some distributions may be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes.
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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SPDR® FactSet Innovative Technology ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the FactSet Innovative Technology Index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.45%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses1 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.45%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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
$46 $144
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on January 14, 2016 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the FactSet Innovative Technology Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index (including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts and shares of other investment companies), cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). Futures contracts may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index.
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The Index is designed to represent the performance of U.S.-listed stock and American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) of Technology companies and Technology-related companies (including Electronic Media companies) within the most innovative segments of the Technology sector and Electronic Media sub-sector of the Media sector, as defined by FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (“FactSet” or the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider considers the most innovative segments of the Technology sector and Electronic Media sub-sector to be those with the highest revenue growth and believes that these companies are often involved in cutting edge research, innovative product and service development, disruptive business models, or a combination of these activities. In addition to traditional Technology companies, Electronic Media companies are included in the Index because of their core focus on technology and the integral role technology plays in determining how such companies operate, innovate and compete within their industry. FactSet defines the Technology sector to include Information Technology Services providers, Hardware manufacturers, Software manufacturers, Electronic Components manufacturers, and Manufacturing Equipment and Services providers. FactSet defines the Electronic Media sub-sector to include companies that produce media content in digital format and deliver, distribute and monetize their content via an electronic medium such as the Internet.
FactSet sector determinations are based on a comprehensive, structured taxonomy designed to seek to offer precise industry classification of global companies according to the products and services sold by such companies (the “FactSet Revere Hierarchy”). The FactSet Revere Hierarchy reflects a variable depth structure that, with respect to the Index, consists of twelve levels of increasingly specialized Technology or Electronic Media sub-sectors. Technology and electronic media companies are classified or mapped to the sub-sectors from which they each derive 50% or more of their respective revenues. A company will be eligible for inclusion in the Index if it satisfies the following criteria: (i) is mapped to a Technology or Electronic Media sub-sector at the fourth level or lower (levels four through twelve) in the FactSet Revere Hierarchy; (ii) is mapped to a sub-sector in the top quartile of FactSet's composite revenue growth scoring system for the Technology sector or Electronic Media sub-sector (the “revenue growth scoring system”); (iii) has a market capitalization of shares publicly available to investors (i.e., a “float-adjusted” market capitalization) above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; (iv) is a U.S.-listed stock or ADR; and (v) has not had an initial public offering of shares within three months of the Review Selection Day (defined below).
The Index is equal-weighted to ensure that each of its component securities is represented in approximate equal dollar value at each reconstitution. The Index is capped at a maximum of 100 constituent securities. If there are fewer than 50 stocks suitable for inclusion based on the eligibility criteria, stocks mapped to the next highest-ranked quartile of sub-sectors would be added until the minimum number of Index constituents is met. To ensure that each component stock continues to represent approximate equal market value in the Index, adjustments, if necessary, are made annually after the close of trading on the third Friday of December (the “Reconstitution Day”) based on information as of the last business day two weeks before the Reconstitution Day (the “Review Selection Day”). As of August 31, 2016, the Index was comprised of 73 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by FactSet (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
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Depositary Receipts Risk: Investments in depositary receipts may be less liquid and more volatile than the underlying securities in their primary trading market. If a depositary receipt is denominated in a different currency than its underlying securities, the Fund will be subject to the currency risk of both the investment in the depositary receipt and the underlying security. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited or no rights to take action with respect to the underlying securities or to compel the issuer of the receipts to take action. Investments in depositary receipts are generally subject to the same risks as their underlying securities, including political, regulatory, and economic risks. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity that issues the underlying securities than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; liquidity risks; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Growth Stock Risk: The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and their prices can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news. Growth stocks may underperform value stocks and stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
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Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Electronic Media Companies Risk: Electronic media companies create, own, and distribute various forms of technology-based visual, audio, and interactive content, as well as information databases that they sell or lease to others. Electronic media companies can be adversely affected by, among other things, changes in government regulation, intense competition, dependency on patent protection, and rapid obsolescence of products and services due to product compatibility or changing consumer preferences.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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. Updated performance information may be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting the Fund's website: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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
General. Please see each Fund's “The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy” section under “Fund Summaries” above for a complete discussion of each Fund's principal investment strategies. A Fund may invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment techniques which are not the principal focus of the Fund 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).
The Adviser seeks to track the performance of each Fund's Index as closely as possible (i.e., obtain a high degree of correlation with the Index). A number of factors may affect a Fund's ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with its Index, and there can be no guarantee that a Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. 
The Adviser will utilize a sampling strategy in managing the Funds. Sampling means that the Adviser uses quantitative analysis to select securities, including securities in the Index, outside of the Index and derivatives that have a similar investment profile as the relevant Index in terms of key risk factors, performance attributes and other economic characteristics. These include industry weightings, market capitalization, and other financial characteristics of securities. The quantity of holdings in a Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. In addition, from time to time, securities are added to or removed from each Index. The Adviser may sell securities that are represented in an Index, or purchase securities that are not yet represented in an Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to an Index. Further, the Adviser may choose to overweight securities in an Index, purchase or sell securities not in an Index, or utilize various combinations of other available techniques, in seeking to track an Index.
Certain of the Funds, as described in the SAI, have adopted a non-fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of their respective net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in investments suggested by their respective names, measured at the time of investment. A Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any change in this 80% investment policy. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) may change a Fund's investment strategy, Index and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or in the SAI. The Board may also change a Fund's investment objective without shareholder approval.
Non-Principal Strategies
Certain Other Investments. Each Fund may invest in structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors such as the movement of a particular security or index), swaps, options and futures contracts. Swaps, options and futures contracts and structured notes may be used by a Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
Temporary Defensive Positions. In certain situations or market conditions, a Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies, provided that the alternative is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is in the best interest of the Fund. For example, a Fund may make larger than normal investments in derivatives to maintain exposure to its Index if it is unable to invest directly in a component security.
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. Certain Funds may also invest in reverse repurchase agreements, which are considered borrowings under the 1940 Act. Although 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), and there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, under normal circumstances any borrowings by a Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets.
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Lending of Securities. Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed one-quarter (25%) of the value of its total 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 102% of the market value of that security, marked to market each trading day. 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 additional information regarding certain of 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 unless otherwise noted.
Principal Risks
The tables below identify the principal risks of investing in each Fund.
Fund Name SPDR Russell 3000 ETF SPDR Russell 1000 ETF SPDR Russell 2000 ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF
Aerospace and Defense Companies Risk                
Banking Companies Risk                
Biotechnology Companies Risk                
Buyback Risk             x  
Capital Markets Companies Risk                
Computer Software/Services Companies Risk                
Concentration Risk                
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk       x x x x x
Consumer Staples Sector Risk                
Counterparty Risk                
Currency Risk                
Depositary Receipts Risk                
Derivatives Risk                
Dividend Paying Securities Risk       x        
Electronics Companies Risk                
Emerging Markets Risk                
Energy Sector Risk                
Equity Investing Risk x x x x x x x x
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Fund Name SPDR Russell 3000 ETF SPDR Russell 1000 ETF SPDR Russell 2000 ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF
Financial Institutions Risk                
Financial Sector Risk x x x x x x x  
Fossil Fuel Reserves Free Ownership Risk                
Geographic Focus Risk                
Europe                
Growth Stock Risk               x
Health Care Equipment Companies Risk                
Health Care Sector Risk               x
Health Care Services Companies Risk                
Homebuilding Companies Risk                
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk         x x x  
Insurance Companies Risk                
Internet Segment Risk                
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk   x   x x x x x
Leveraging Risk                
Liquidity Risk     x          
Low Volatility Risk           x    
Market Risk x x x x x x x x
Materials Sector Risk                
Metals and Mining Companies Risk                
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Momentum Risk         x      
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk                
Oil and Gas Companies Risk                
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x x x
Pharmaceuticals Companies Risk                
Portfolio Turnover Risk       x x x    
Preferred Securities Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR Russell 3000 ETF SPDR Russell 1000 ETF SPDR Russell 2000 ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF
Quality Risk       x x x    
Real Estate Securities Risk                
REIT Risk                
Retail Companies Risk                
Semiconductor Companies Risk                
Settlement Risk                
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk     x          
Technology Hardware Companies Risk                
Technology Sector Risk x x         x x
Electronic Media Companies Risk                
Telecommunications Sector Risk                
Transportation Companies Risk                
Unconstrained Sector Risk x x x x x x x x
Valuation Risk     x          
Value Stock Risk       x x x    
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Fund Name SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF SPDR S&P 1000 ETF SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF
Aerospace and Defense Companies Risk                
Banking Companies Risk                
Biotechnology Companies Risk                
Buyback Risk                
Capital Markets Companies Risk                
Computer Software/Services Companies Risk                
Concentration Risk                
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk   x            
Consumer Staples Sector Risk                
Counterparty Risk                
Currency Risk                
Depositary Receipts Risk                
Derivatives Risk                
Dividend Paying Securities Risk   x            
Electronics Companies Risk                
Emerging Markets Risk                
Energy Sector Risk                
Equity Investing Risk x x x x x x x x
Financial Institutions Risk                
Financial Sector Risk x x x x x x x x
Fossil Fuel Reserves Free Ownership Risk     x          
Geographic Focus Risk                
Europe                
Growth Stock Risk         x     x
Health Care Equipment Companies Risk                
Health Care Sector Risk     x   x     x
Health Care Services Companies Risk                
Homebuilding Companies Risk                
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk       x   x x x
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Fund Name SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF SPDR S&P 1000 ETF SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF
Insurance Companies Risk                
Internet Segment Risk                
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk x x x          
Leveraging Risk                
Liquidity Risk       x     x x
Low Volatility Risk                
Market Risk x x x x x x x x
Materials Sector Risk                
Metals and Mining Companies Risk                
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk       x x x    
Momentum Risk                
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk                
Oil and Gas Companies Risk                
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x x x
Pharmaceuticals Companies Risk                
Portfolio Turnover Risk   x x          
Preferred Securities Risk                
Quality Risk                
Real Estate Securities Risk   x            
REIT Risk   x            
Retail Companies Risk                
Semiconductor Companies Risk                
Settlement Risk                
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk       x     x x
Technology Hardware Companies Risk                
Technology Sector Risk     x x x   x x
Electronic Media Companies Risk                
Telecommunications Sector Risk                
Transportation Companies Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF SPDR S&P 1000 ETF SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF
Unconstrained Sector Risk x x x x x x x x
Valuation Risk       x x x x x
Value Stock Risk x         x    
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Fund Name SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF SPDR Global Dow ETF SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF SPDR S&P Bank ETF SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF SPDR S&P Insurance ETF SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF
Aerospace and Defense Companies Risk                
Banking Companies Risk       x     x  
Biotechnology Companies Risk                
Buyback Risk                
Capital Markets Companies Risk         x      
Computer Software/Services Companies Risk                
Concentration Risk     x x x x x x
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk x              
Consumer Staples Sector Risk                
Counterparty Risk                
Currency Risk   x            
Depositary Receipts Risk   x            
Derivatives Risk                
Dividend Paying Securities Risk                
Electronics Companies Risk               x
Emerging Markets Risk   x            
Energy Sector Risk                
Equity Investing Risk x x x x x x x x
Financial Institutions Risk       x     x  
Financial Sector Risk x x     x x    
Fossil Fuel Reserves Free Ownership Risk                
Geographic Focus Risk   x            
Europe   x            
Growth Stock Risk                
Health Care Equipment Companies Risk                
Health Care Sector Risk                
Health Care Services Companies Risk                
Homebuilding Companies Risk                
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk x              
Insurance Companies Risk           x    
200

 

Fund Name SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF SPDR Global Dow ETF SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF SPDR S&P Bank ETF SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF SPDR S&P Insurance ETF SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF
Internet Segment Risk                
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Leveraging Risk                
Liquidity Risk x x            
Low Volatility Risk                
Market Risk x x x x x x x x
Materials Sector Risk                
Metals and Mining Companies Risk                
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Momentum Risk                
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk   x            
Oil and Gas Companies Risk                
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x x x
Pharmaceuticals Companies Risk                
Portfolio Turnover Risk                
Preferred Securities Risk                
Quality Risk                
Real Estate Securities Risk     x          
REIT Risk     x          
Retail Companies Risk                
Semiconductor Companies Risk                
Settlement Risk   x            
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk x              
Technology Hardware Companies Risk                
Technology Sector Risk x             x
Electronic Media Companies Risk                
Telecommunications Sector Risk                
Transportation Companies Risk                
Unconstrained Sector Risk x x            
Valuation Risk x x            
Value Stock Risk x              
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Dividend ETF SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF SPDR S&P Biotech ETF SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF SPDR S&P Internet ETF SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF
Aerospace and Defense Companies Risk   x            
Banking Companies Risk                
Biotechnology Companies Risk     x          
Buyback Risk                
Capital Markets Companies Risk                
Computer Software/Services Companies Risk                
Concentration Risk   x x x x x x x
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk           x x  
Consumer Staples Sector Risk                
Counterparty Risk                
Currency Risk                
Depositary Receipts Risk                
Derivatives Risk                
Dividend Paying Securities Risk x              
Electronics Companies Risk                
Emerging Markets Risk                
Energy Sector Risk                
Equity Investing Risk x x x x x x x x
Financial Institutions Risk                
Financial Sector Risk x              
Fossil Fuel Reserves Free Ownership Risk                
Geographic Focus Risk                
Europe                
Growth Stock Risk                
Health Care Equipment Companies Risk       x        
Health Care Sector Risk     x x x      
Health Care Services Companies Risk         x      
Homebuilding Companies Risk           x    
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk x x       x    
Insurance Companies Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Dividend ETF SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF SPDR S&P Biotech ETF SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF SPDR S&P Internet ETF SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF
Internet Segment Risk             x  
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Leveraging Risk                
Liquidity Risk                
Low Volatility Risk                
Market Risk x x x x x x x x
Materials Sector Risk               x
Metals and Mining Companies Risk               x
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Momentum Risk                
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk                
Oil and Gas Companies Risk                
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x x x
Pharmaceuticals Companies Risk                
Portfolio Turnover Risk             x  
Preferred Securities Risk                
Quality Risk                
Real Estate Securities Risk                
REIT Risk                
Retail Companies Risk           x    
Semiconductor Companies Risk                
Settlement Risk                
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Technology Hardware Companies Risk                
Technology Sector Risk             x  
Electronic Media Companies Risk                
Telecommunications Sector Risk                
Transportation Companies Risk                
Unconstrained Sector Risk x              
Valuation Risk                
Value Stock Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF SPDR S&P Retail ETF SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF SPDR S&P Telecom ETF
Aerospace and Defense Companies Risk                
Banking Companies Risk                
Biotechnology Companies Risk                
Buyback Risk                
Capital Markets Companies Risk                
Computer Software/Services Companies Risk           x    
Concentration Risk x x x x x x x x
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk       x        
Consumer Staples Sector Risk       x        
Counterparty Risk                
Currency Risk                
Depositary Receipts Risk                
Derivatives Risk                
Dividend Paying Securities Risk                
Electronics Companies Risk                
Emerging Markets Risk                
Energy Companies Risk x x            
Equity Investing Risk x x x x x x x x
Financial Institutions Risk                
Financial Sector Risk                
Fossil Fuel Reserves Free Ownership Risk                
Geographic Focus Risk                
Europe                
Growth Stock Risk                
Health Care Equipment Companies Risk                
Health Care Sector Risk     x          
Health Care Services Companies Risk                
Homebuilding Companies Risk                
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x x x
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF SPDR S&P Retail ETF SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF SPDR S&P Telecom ETF
Industrial Sector Risk                
Insurance Companies Risk                
Internet Segment Risk                
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Leveraging Risk                
Liquidity Risk                
Low Volatility Risk                
Market Risk x x x x x x x x
Materials Sector Risk                
Metals and Mining Companies Risk                
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Momentum Risk                
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk                
Oil and Gas Companies Risk x x            
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x x x
Pharmaceuticals Companies Risk     x          
Portfolio Turnover Risk             x  
Preferred Securities Risk                
Quality Risk                
Real Estate Securities Risk                
REIT Risk                
Retail Companies Risk       x        
Semiconductor Companies Risk         x      
Settlement Risk                
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk                
Technology Hardware Companies Risk             x  
Technology Sector Risk         x x x  
Electronic Media Companies Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF SPDR S&P Retail ETF SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF SPDR S&P Telecom ETF
Telecommunications Sector Risk               x
Transportation Companies Risk                
Unconstrained Sector Risk                
Valuation Risk                
Value Stock Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Transportation ETF SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF
Aerospace and Defense Companies Risk        
Banking Companies Risk        
Biotechnology Companies Risk        
Buyback Risk        
Capital Markets Companies Risk        
Computer Software/Services Companies Risk        
Concentration Risk x     x
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk        
Consumer Staples Sector Risk        
Counterparty Risk       x
Currency Risk        
Depositary Receipts Risk     x x
Derivatives Risk       x
Dividend Paying Securities Risk        
Electronics Companies Risk        
Emerging Markets Risk        
Energy Companies Risk        
Equity Investing Risk x x x x
Financial Institutions Risk        
Financial Sector Risk   x x  
Fossil Fuel Reserves Free Ownership Risk        
Geographic Focus Risk        
Europe        
Growth Stock Risk       x
Health Care Equipment Companies Risk        
Health Care Sector Risk        
Health Care Services Companies Risk        
Homebuilding Companies Risk        
Index Tracking Risk x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk x      
Insurance Companies Risk        
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Transportation ETF SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF
Internet Segment Risk        
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk   x    
Leveraging Risk       x
Liquidity Risk       x
Low Volatility Risk   x    
Market Risk x x x x
Materials Sector Risk        
Metals and Mining Companies Risk        
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk   x    
Momentum Risk        
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk     x  
Oil and Gas Companies Risk        
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x
Pharmaceuticals Companies Risk        
Portfolio Turnover Risk       x
Preferred Securities Risk     x  
Quality Risk   x    
Real Estate Securities Risk        
REIT Risk        
Retail Companies Risk        
Semiconductor Companies Risk        
Settlement Risk     x  
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk        
Technology Hardware Companies Risk        
Technology Sector Risk   x   x
Electronic Media Companies Risk       x
Telecommunications Sector Risk        
Transportation Companies Risk x      
Unconstrained Sector Risk   x x  
Valuation Risk   x    
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Transportation ETF SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF
Value Stock Risk   x    
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Aerospace and Defense Companies Risk. The aerospace and defense companies can be significantly affected by government aerospace and defense regulation and spending policies because companies involved in this industry rely to a significant extent on U.S. (and other) 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.
Banking Companies Risk. The performance of bank stocks may be affected by extensive governmental regulation which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees 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. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers can negatively impact the banking companies. Banks may also be subject to severe price competition. Competition among banking companies is high and failure to maintain or increase market share may result in lost market value.
Biotechnology Companies Risk. Biotech companies invest heavily in research and development which may not necessarily lead to commercially successful products. These companies are also subject to increased governmental regulation which may delay or inhibit the release of new products. Many biotech companies are dependent upon their ability to use and enforce intellectual property rights and patents. Any impairment of such rights may have adverse financial consequences. Biotech stocks, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Biotech companies can be significantly affected by technological change and obsolescence, product liability lawsuits and consequential high insurance costs.
Buyback Risk. Stocks of companies that announce share buybacks are often anticipated to perform well because buybacks typically are a signal that a company's management believes its shares are undervalued. This positive signal from management may cause the value of such shares to rise after the announcement. However, the announcement of a buyback may not be an accurate predictor of future share performance.
Capital Markets Companies Risk. Companies within an Index can be significantly affected by stock and bank trading activity, changes in governmental regulation, continuing increases in price competition, decreases in fees or fee-related business, including investment banking, brokerage, asset management and other servicing fees, fluctuation in interest rates and other factors which could adversely affect financial markets.
Computer Software/Services Companies Risk. Computer software/services companies can be significantly affected by competitive pressures, aggressive pricing, technological developments, changing domestic demand, the ability to attract and retain skilled employees and availability and price of components. The market for products produced by computer software/services companies is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of computer software/services companies depends in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products and the ability to service such products. An unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse effect on a participant's operating results.
Many computer software/services companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by computer software/services companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies' technology.
Concentration Risk. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
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Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies' performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal products companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.
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. Contractual provisions and applicable law may prevent or delay a Fund from exercising its rights to terminate an investment or transaction with a financial institution experiencing financial difficulties, or to realize on collateral, and another institution may be substituted for that financial institution without the consent of a Fund. If the credit rating of a derivatives counterparty declines, a Fund may nonetheless choose or be required to keep existing transactions in place with the counterparty, in which event the Fund would be subject to any increased credit risk associated with those transactions.
Currency Risk. Investments in issuers in different countries are often denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Changes in the values of those currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may have a positive or negative effect on the values of a Fund's investments denominated in those currencies. The values of other currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may fluctuate in response to, among other factors, interest rate changes, intervention (or failure to intervene) by national governments, central banks, or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, the imposition of currency controls, and other political or regulatory developments. Currency values can decrease significantly both in the short term and over the long term in response to these and other developments. Continuing uncertainty as to the status of the Euro and the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (the “EMU”) has created significant volatility in currency and financial markets generally. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU, or any continued uncertainty as to its status, could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of a Fund's portfolio investments.
Depositary Receipts Risk. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are typically trust receipts issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that evidence an indirect interest in underlying securities issued by a foreign entity. Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), and other types of depositary receipts are typically issued by non-U.S. banks or financial institutions to evidence an interest in underlying securities issued by either a U.S. or a non-U.S. entity. Investments in non-U.S. issuers through ADRs, GDRs, EDRs, and other types of depositary receipts generally involve risks applicable to other types of investments in non-U.S. issuers. Investments in depositary receipts may be less liquid and more volatile than the underlying securities in their primary trading market. If a depositary receipt is denominated in a different currency than its underlying securities, a Fund will be subject to the currency risk of both the investment in the depositary receipt and the underlying security. There may be less publicly available information regarding the issuer of the securities underlying a depositary receipt than if those securities were traded directly in U.S. securities markets. Depositary receipts may or may not be sponsored by the issuers of the underlying securities, and information regarding issuers of securities underlying unsponsored depositary receipts may
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be more limited than for sponsored depositary receipts. The values of depositary receipts may decline for a number of reasons relating to the issuers or sponsors of the depositary receipts, including, but not limited to, insolvency of the issuer or sponsor. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited or no rights to take action with respect to the underlying securities or to compel the issuer of the receipts to take action.
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.
Dividend Paying Securities Risk. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such companies to underperform companies that do not pay dividends. In addition, changes in the dividend policies of the companies held by a Fund or the capital resources available for such company's dividend payments may adversely affect the Fund.
Electronics Companies Risk. Electronics companies can be significantly affected by competitive pressures, aggressive pricing, technological developments, changing domestic demand, the ability to attract and retain skilled employees and availability and price of components. The market for products is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of electronics companies depends in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products. An unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse effect on a participant's operating results. Electronic companies may rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by such companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies' technology.
Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in emerging markets are generally subject to a greater risk of loss than investments in developed markets. This may be due to, among other things, the possibility of greater market volatility, lower trading volume and liquidity, greater risk of expropriation, nationalization, and social, political and economic instability, greater reliance on a few industries, international trade or revenue from particular commodities, less developed accounting, legal and regulatory systems, higher levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, greater risk of market shut down, and more significant governmental limitations on investment policy as compared to those typically found in a developed market. In addition, issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may have less financial stability than in other countries. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. A Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as embargo and acts of war. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk of price volatility in investments in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the
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U.S. dollar. Settlement and asset custody practices for transactions in emerging markets may differ from those in developed markets. Such differences may include possible delays in settlement and certain settlement practices, such as delivery of securities prior to receipt of payment, which increase the likelihood of a “failed settlement.” Failed settlements can result in losses. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Energy Sector Risk. Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels caused by geopolitical events, energy conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, the success of exploration projects, weather or meteorological events, taxes, increased governmental or environmental regulation, resource depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, or terrorist threats or attacks, among others. Markets for various energy-related commodities can have significant volatility, and are subject to control or manipulation by large producers or purchasers. Companies in the energy sector may need to make substantial expenditures, and to incur significant amounts of debt, in order to maintain or expand their reserves through exploration of new sources of supply, through the development of existing sources, through acquisitions, or through long-term contracts to acquire reserves. Factors adversely affecting producers, refiners, distributors, or others in the energy sector may affect adversely companies that service or supply those entities, either because demand for those services or products is curtailed, or those services or products come under price pressure.
Equity Investing Risk. The market prices of equity securities owned by a Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services. The values of equity securities also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Financial Institutions Risk. Some instruments are issued or guaranteed by financial institutions, such as banks and brokers, or are collateralized by securities issued or guaranteed by financial institutions. Changes in the creditworthiness of any of these institutions may adversely affect the values of instruments of issuers in financial industries. Financial institutions may be particularly sensitive to certain economic factors such as interest rate changes, adverse developments in the real estate market, fiscal and monetary policy and general economic cycles. Adverse developments in banking and other financial industries may cause a Fund to underperform relative to other funds that invest more broadly across different industries or have a smaller exposure to financial institutions. Changes in governmental regulation and oversight of financial institutions may have an adverse effect on the financial condition or the earnings or operations of a financial institution and on the types and amounts of businesses in which a financial institution may engage. An investor may be delayed or prevented from exercising certain remedies against a financial institution. The amount of a Fund's assets that may be invested in any financial institution, or financial institutions generally, may be limited by applicable law.
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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Fossil Fuel Reserves Free Ownership Risk. The lack of ownership of fossil fuel reserves may potentially have an adverse effect on a company's profitability. The returns on a portfolio of securities that excludes companies that own fossil fuel reserves may trail the returns on a portfolio of securities that includes companies that own fossil fuel reserves. Investing only in a portfolio of securities of companies that do not own fossil fuel reserves may affect a Fund's exposure to certain types of investments and may impact the Fund's relative investment performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor in the market.
Geographic Focus Risk. The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
Europe. The Economic and Monetary Union of the EU requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain EU countries), the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their trading partners. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns or rising government debt levels in several European countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. These events have adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the euro.
Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake and resulting in S&P downgrading the EU's credit rating from “AA+” to “AA” in the days following the vote. The country's referendum vote sparked depreciation in the value of the British pound, short-term declines in the stock markets and heightened risk of continued economic volatility worldwide. Although the precise timeframe for Brexit is uncertain, it is currently expected that the United Kingdom will seek to withdraw from the EU by invoking article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty with an anticipated completion date within two years from notifying the European Council of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
Growth Stock Risk. The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and their prices can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news about such factors as earnings, revenues, the economy, political developments, or other news. Growth stocks may underperform value stocks and stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors. As a result, at times when it holds substantial investments in growth stocks, a Fund may underperform other investment funds that invest more broadly or that favor different investment styles. Because growth companies typically reinvest their earnings, growth stocks typically do not pay dividends at levels associated with other types of stocks, if at all.
Health Care Equipment Companies Risk: Health care equipment companies are affected by rising costs of medical products, devices and services and the increased emphasis on the delivery of health care through outpatient services. Competition is high among health care equipment companies and can be significantly affected by extensive
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government regulation or government reimbursement for medical expenses. The equipment may be subject to extensive litigation based on malpractice claims, product liability claims or other litigation. Medical equipment manufacturers are heavily dependent on patent protection and the expiration of patents may adversely affect their profitability. Many new health care products are subject to the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The process of obtaining FDA approval is often long and expensive.
Health Care Sector Risk. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
Health Care Services Companies Risk. Health care services companies are affected by rising costs of medical products, devices and services and the increased emphasis on the delivery of health care through outpatient services. Competition is high among health care services companies and can be significantly affected by extensive government regulation or government reimbursement for medical expenses. The equipment may be subject to extensive litigation based on malpractice claims, product liability claims or other litigation. Medical equipment manufacturers are heavily dependent on patent protection and the expiration of patents may adversely affect their profitability. Many new health care products are subject to the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The process of obtaining FDA approval is often long and expensive.
Homebuilding Companies Risk. Homebuilding companies can be significantly affected by the national, regional and local real estate markets. Homebuilding companies are also sensitive to interest rate fluctuations which can cause changes in the availability of mortgage capital and directly affect the purchasing power of potential homebuyers. Homebuilding companies can be significantly affected by changes in government spending, consumer confidence, demographic patterns and the level of new and existing home sales.
Index Tracking Risk. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), a Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the return on the sample of securities purchased by a Fund (or the return on securities not included in the Index) to replicate the performance of the Index may not correlate precisely with the return of the Index. Each Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, a Fund may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. Changes in the composition of the Index and regulatory requirements also may impact a Fund's ability to match the return of the Index. The Adviser may apply one or more “screens” or investment techniques to refine or limit the number or types of issuers included in the Index in which a Fund may invest. Application of such screens or techniques may result in investment performance below that of the Index and may not produce results expected by the Adviser. Index tracking risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
Industrial Sector Risk. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
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Insurance Companies Risk. Insurance companies' profits are affected by many factors, including interest rate movements, the imposition of premium rate caps, competition and pressure to compete globally. Certain types of insurance companies may also be affected by weather catastrophes and other disasters and mortality rates. In addition, although insurance companies are currently subject to extensive regulation, such companies may be adversely affected by increased governmental regulations or tax law changes in the future.
Internet Segment Risk. Internet companies are subject to rapid changes in technology, worldwide competition, rapid obsolescence of products and services, loss of patent protections, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. Competitive pressures, such as technological developments, fixed-rate pricing and the ability to attract and retain skilled employees, can significantly affect internet companies, and changing domestic and international demand, research and development costs, availability and price components and product obsolescence also can affect their profitability.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk. Securities issued by large-capitalization companies may present risks not present in smaller companies. For example, larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies, especially during strong economic periods. Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies.
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 segregation or coverage requirements.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions 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 securities 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 securities 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. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity a Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
Low Volatility Risk. Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, a portfolio comprised of low volatility stocks may not produce investment exposure that has lower variability to changes in such stocks' price levels. Low volatility stocks are likely to underperform the broader market during periods of rapidly rising stock prices.
Market Risk. Market prices of investments held by a Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Each 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, 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.
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Materials Sector Risk. Many materials companies are significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity prices, exchange rates, import controls, worldwide competition, environmental policies and consumer demand. At times, worldwide production of industrial materials has exceeded demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns or losses. Other risks may include liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control. The materials sector may also be affected by economic cycles, technical progress, labor relations, and government regulations.
Metals and Mining Companies Risk. Metals and mining companies can be significantly affected by events relating to international political and economic developments, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, commodity prices, and tax and other government regulations. Investments in metals and mining companies may be speculative and may be subject to greater price volatility than investments in other types of companies. Risks of metals and mining investments include: changes in international monetary policies or economic and political conditions that can affect the supply of precious metals and consequently the value of metals and mining company investments; the United States or foreign governments may pass laws or regulations limiting metals investments for strategic or other policy reasons; and increased environmental or labor costs may depress the value of metals and mining investments.
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk. The securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of mid-sized companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. The prices of these securities may fluctuate more sharply than those of other securities, and a Fund may experience some difficulty in establishing or closing out positions in these securities at prevailing market prices. There may be less publicly available information about the issuers of these securities or less market interest in these securities than in the case of larger companies, both of which can cause significant price volatility. Some securities of mid-sized issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale. Returns on investments in securities of mid-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger or smaller companies.
Momentum Risk. The Fund employs a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes investing in securities that have had higher recent price performance compared to other securities. This style of investing is subject to the risk that these securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities or that the returns on securities that have previously exhibited price momentum are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Momentum can turn quickly and cause significant variation from other types of investments.
Non-Diversification Risk. As a “non-diversified” fund, each 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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers (including depositary receipts) entail risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Similar risks may apply to securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange that are issued by entities with significant exposure to non-U.S. countries. In certain countries, legal remedies available to investors may be more limited than those available with regard to U.S. investments. Because non-U.S. securities are normally denominated and traded in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the value of the Fund's assets to the extent they are non-U.S. dollar denominated may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currencies. Income and gains with respect to investments in certain countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, regulatory framework and practices comparable to those in the United States. The securities of some non-U.S. entities are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. entities, and could become subject to sanctions or embargoes that adversely affect a Fund's investment. Non-U.S. transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions and custody costs may be higher than in the U.S. In addition, there may be a possibility of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls, confiscatory taxation, and diplomatic developments that could adversely
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affect the values of a Fund's investments in certain non-U.S. countries. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers also are subject to foreign political and economic risk not associated with U.S. investments, meaning that political events (civil unrest, national elections, changes in political conditions and foreign relations, imposition of exchange controls and repatriation restrictions), social and economic events (labor strikes, rising inflation) and natural disasters occurring in a country where a Fund invests could cause the Fund's investments in that country to experience gains or losses.
Oil and Gas Companies Risk. Oil and gas companies develop and produce crude oil and natural gas and provide drilling and other energy resources production and distribution related services. Stock prices for these types of companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for energy products in general. The price of oil and gas, exploration and production spending, government regulation, world events and economic conditions will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Correspondingly, securities of companies in the energy field are subject to swift price and supply fluctuations caused by events relating to international politics, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Weak demand for the companies' products or services or for energy products and services in general, as well as negative developments in these other areas, would adversely impact the Fund's performance. Oil and gas equipment and services can be significantly affected by natural disasters as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. These companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk. Each Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund will seek to replicate Index returns regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. The Fund generally will buy and will not sell a security included in the Index as long as the security is part of the Index regardless of any sudden or material decline in value or foreseeable material decline in value of the security, even though the Adviser may make a different investment decision for other actively managed accounts or portfolios that hold the security. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index (in absolute terms and by comparison with other indices) and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Pharmaceuticals Companies Risk. Pharmaceutical companies are heavily dependent on patent protection. The expiration of patents may adversely affect the profitability of the companies. Pharmaceutical companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and other similar claims. Many new products are subject to approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The process of obtaining FDA approval can be long and costly and approved products are susceptible to obsolescence. Pharmaceutical companies are also subject to heavy competitive forces that may make it difficult to raise prices and, in fact, may result in price discounting.
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.
Preferred Securities Risk. Generally, preferred security holders have no or limited voting rights with respect to the issuing company. In addition, preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Unlike debt securities, dividend payments on a preferred security typically must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. An issuer's board of directors is generally not under any obligation to pay a dividend (even if such dividends have accrued), and may suspend payment of dividends on preferred securities at any time. Therefore, in the event an issuer of preferred securities experiences economic difficulties, the issuer's preferred securities may lose substantial value due to the reduced likelihood that the issuer's board of directors will declare a dividend and the fact that the preferred security may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. Further, because many preferred securities pay dividends at a fixed rate, their market price can be sensitive to changes in interest rates in a manner similar to bonds -- that is, as interest rates rise, the value of the preferred securities held by a Fund are likely to
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decline. Therefore, to the extent that a Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in fixed rate preferred securities, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly. In addition, because many preferred securities allow holders to convert the preferred securities into common stock of the issuer, their market price can be sensitive to changes in the value of the issuer's common stock and, therefore, declining common stock values may also cause the value of a Fund's investments to decline. Preferred securities often have call features which allow the issuer to redeem the security at its discretion. The redemption of a preferred security having a higher than average yield may cause a decrease in a Fund's yield.
Quality Risk. A “quality” style of investing emphasizes companies with high returns on equity, stable earnings per share growth, and low financial leverage. This style of investing is subject to the risk that the past performance of these companies does not continue or that the returns on “quality” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market.
Real Estate Securities Risk. There are special risks associated with investment in securities of companies engaged in real property markets, including without limitation real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and real estate operating companies. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. An investment in a real property company is subject to additional risks, such as poor performance by the manager of the real property company, adverse changes in tax laws, difficulties in valuing and disposing of real estate, and the effect of general declines in stock prices. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property. Also, the organizational documents of a real property company may contain provisions that make changes in control of the company difficult and time-consuming. As a shareholder in a real property company, a Fund, and indirectly a Fund's shareholders, would bear their ratable shares of the real property company's expenses and would at the same time continue to pay their own fees and expenses.
REIT Risk. REITs are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities of real property companies. In particular, REITs may be affected by changes in the values of the underlying properties that they own or operate. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, and their investments may be concentrated in relatively few properties, or in a small geographic area or a single property type. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and, as a result, are particularly reliant on the proper functioning of capital markets, as well as defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. A variety of economic and other factors may adversely affect a lessee's ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, a REIT could possibly fail to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, or to maintain its exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which could have adverse consequences for a Fund. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and, as a result, are particularly reliant on capital markets. Investments in REITs are also subject to the risks affecting equity markets generally.
Retail Companies Risk. Retail companies can be significantly affected by the performance of the domestic and international economy, consumer confidence and spending, intense competition, changes in demographics, and changing consumer tastes and preferences.
Semiconductor Companies Risk. A Fund is subject to the risk that market or economic factors impacting semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Additionally, semiconductor companies may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
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Settlement Risk. Markets in different countries have different clearance and settlement procedures and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of transactions. Delays in settlement may increase credit risk to a Fund, limit the ability of a Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a sale of securities, hinder the ability of a Fund to lend its portfolio securities, and potentially subject a Fund to penalties for its failure to deliver to on-purchasers of securities whose delivery to a Fund was delayed. Delays in the settlement of securities purchased by a Fund may limit the ability of a Fund to sell those securities at times and prices it considers desirable, and may subject a Fund to losses and costs due to its own inability to settle with subsequent purchasers of the securities from it. A Fund may be required to borrow monies it had otherwise expected to receive in connection with the settlement of securities sold by it, in order to meet its obligations to others. Limits on the ability of a Fund to purchase or sell securities due to settlement delays could increase any variance between a Fund's performance and that of its benchmark index.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk. The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. The prices of these securities may fluctuate more sharply than those of other securities, and a Fund may experience some difficulty in establishing or closing out positions in these securities at prevailing market prices. There may be less publicly available information about the issuers of these securities or less market interest in these securities than in the case of larger companies, both of which can cause significant price volatility. Some securities of smaller issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale. A Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet a Fund's obligations. Returns on investments in securities of small-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.
Technology Hardware Companies Risk. Technology hardware companies can be significantly affected by competitive pressures, aggressive pricing, technological developments, changing domestic demand, the ability to attract and retain skilled employees and availability and price of components. The market for products produced by these companies is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of technology hardware companies depends in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products. An unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse effect on a participant's operating results.
Many of these companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by the companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies' technology.
Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Electronic Media Companies Risk: Electronic media companies create, own, and distribute various forms of technology-based visual, audio, and interactive content, as well as information databases that they sell or lease to others. Electronic media companies can be adversely affected by, among other things, changes in government regulation, intense competition, dependency on patent protection, and rapid obsolescence of products and services due to product compatibility or changing consumer preferences.
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Telecommunications Sector Risk. The telecommunications industry is subject to extensive government regulation. The costs of complying with governmental regulations, delays or failure to receive required regulatory approvals or the enactment of new adverse regulatory requirements may adversely affect the business of the telecommunications companies. The telecommunications industry can also be significantly affected by intense competition, including competition with alternative technologies such as wireless communications, product compatibility, consumer preferences, rapid product obsolescence and research and development of new products. Technological innovations may make the products and services of telecommunications companies obsolete. Other risks include uncertainties resulting from such companies' diversification into new domestic and international businesses, as well as agreements by any such companies linking future rate increases to inflation or other factors not directly related to the actual operating profits of the enterprise.
Transportation Companies Risk. Transportation companies can be significantly affected by changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor relations, technology developments, exchange rates, insurance costs, industry competition and government regulation.
Unconstrained Sector Risk. A Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
Valuation Risk. Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of a Fund's investment portfolio, 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 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when a Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if a Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Value Stock Risk. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize the stock's intrinsic worth. Value stocks may underperform growth stocks and stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors. As a result, at times when it holds substantial investments in value stocks a Fund may underperform other investment portfolios that invest more broadly or that favor different investment styles.
Non-Principal Risks
Each risk discussed below is a non-principal risk of a Fund to the extent it is not identified as a principal risk for such Fund in the preceding “ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION - PRINCIPAL RISKS” section.
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.
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Concentration Risk. A Fund's assets will generally be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund's underlying Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
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. The Funds 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.
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.
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 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.
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. Contractual provisions and applicable law may prevent or delay a Fund from exercising its rights to
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terminate an investment or transaction with a financial institution experiencing financial difficulties, or to realize on collateral, and another institution may be substituted for that financial institution without the consent of a Fund. If the credit rating of a derivatives counterparty declines, a Fund may nonetheless choose or be required to keep existing transactions in place with the counterparty, in which event the Fund would be subject to any increased credit risk associated with those transactions.
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. 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 sub-adviser, or a custodian, 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. 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. Similar types of cybersecurity risks or technical malfunctions also are present for issuers of securities in which each Fund invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause a Fund's investment in such securities to lose value.
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.
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts. The net asset value 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. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading
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market for Fund Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities of an Index 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.
Index Construction Risk. A security included in an Index may not exhibit the characteristic or provide the specific exposure for which it was selected and consequently a Fund's holdings may not exhibit returns consistent with that characteristic or exposure.
Index Licensing Risk. It is possible that the license under which the Adviser or a Fund is permitted to replicate or otherwise use the Index will be terminated or may be disputed, impaired or cease to remain in effect. In such a case, the Adviser may be required to replace the Index with another index which it considers to be appropriate in light of the investment strategy of a Fund. The use of any such substitute index may have an adverse impact on a Fund's performance. In the event that the Adviser is unable to identify a suitable replacement for the relevant Index, it may determine to terminate a Fund.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions 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 securities 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 securities 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. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity a Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
Money Market 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 seeks 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 increase 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 share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), SSGA FM or their affiliates (“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 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 or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
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Securities Lending Risk. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value of up to 25% of its total assets. For these purposes, total assets shall include the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan. Such loans may be terminated at any time, and a Fund will receive cash or other obligations as collateral. Any such loans must be continuously secured by collateral in cash or cash equivalents maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by a Fund. In a loan transaction, as compensation for lending its securities, a Fund will receive a portion of the dividends or interest accrued on the securities held as collateral or, in the case of cash collateral, a portion of the income from the investment of such cash. In addition, 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. 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 acquired with cash collateral. A Fund will attempt to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to high quality instruments of short maturity.
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. 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 and, subject to the supervision 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 the Funds' assets. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser and certain other affiliates of State Street Corporation make up SSGA. SSGA is one of the world's largest institutional money managers and the investment management arm of State Street Corporation. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets and SSGA managed approximately $2.30 trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal business address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
For the services provided to each Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, each Fund paid the Adviser the annual fees based on a percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets as set forth below:
SPDR Russell 3000 ETF

0.10%
SPDR Russell 1000 ETF

0.10%
SPDR Russell 2000 ETF

0.12% (1)
SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF

0.20% (2)
SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF

0.20% (2)
SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF

0.20% (2)
SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF

0.15%
SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF

0.15%
SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF

0.12% (3)
SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF

0.25% (4)
SPDR S&P 1000 ETF

0.10%
SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF

0.15%
SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF

0.15%
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF

0.15%
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SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

0.15%
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF

0.15%
SPDR Global Dow ETF

0.50%
SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

0.25%
SPDR S&P Bank ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Insurance ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

0.35%
SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Internet ETF

0.35% (5)
SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Retail ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF

0.35% (5)
SPDR S&P Telecom ETF

0.35%
SPDR S&P Transportation ETF

0.35%
SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF

0.15%
SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF

0.45%
SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF

0.45% (6)
(1) Effective August 31, 2016, the management fee of the Fund was reduced from 0.12% to 0.10% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
(2) The Fund commenced operations on December 3, 2015.
(3) The Fund commenced operations on October 22, 2015.
(4)
The Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2015. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses, until October 31, 2017, so that the net annual fund operating expenses of the Fund will be limited to 0.20% of the Fund's average daily net assets before application of any fees and expenses not paid by the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement (except for acquired fund fees and expenses from holdings in acquired funds for non-cash management purposes), if any. The contractual fee waiver and/or reimbursement does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any fees the Adviser previously waived. The Adviser may continue the waiver and/or reimbursement from year to year, but there is no guarantee that the Adviser will do so and the waiver and/or reimbursement may be cancelled or modified at any time after October 31, 2017. This waiver and/or reimbursement may not be terminated prior to October 31, 2017 except with the approval of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
(5) The Fund commenced operations on June 28, 2016.
(6) The Fund commenced operations on January 14, 2016.
From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee, although it does not currently intend to do so, except as noted above. The Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, distribution fee pursuant to each Fund's Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee's counsel fees), litigation expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and other extraordinary expenses.
A discussion regarding the Board's consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement is provided in the Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.
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 SPDR Series Trust (the “Trust”) have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, with the approval of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, to retain and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated investment sub-advisers for the Funds 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
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disclose fees paid to any sub-adviser retained pursuant to the order. Except with respect to the SPDR Russell 2000 ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF, SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF, SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF, SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF, SPDR S&P Internet ETF, SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF, SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF and SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF, approval by the Fund's shareholders is required before any authority granted under the exemptive order may be exercised.
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 each 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 SSGA. Each portfolio management team is overseen by the SSGA Investment Committee.
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund are Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in North America. He is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team and sits on the firm's North America Product Committee and Trade Management Oversight Committee. Mr. Feehily rejoined SSGA in 2010 after spending four years at State Street Global Markets LLC, where he helped to build the Global Exposure Solutions business. This group created and managed portfolios that were designed to meet the short-term market exposure needs of institutional clients. Prior to this, Mr. Feehily had been Head of the U.S. Passive Equity Team within SSGA. He joined State Street in 1992. Mr. Feehily received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Babson College in Finance, Investments, and Economics. He received an MBA in Finance from Bentley College and also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. Mr. Feehily is also a former member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Passive Equity Strategies in North America. Mr. Tucker is responsible for overseeing the management of all equity index strategies and Exchange Traded Funds managed in North America. He is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Previously, Mr. Tucker was head of the Structured Products Group in SSGA's London office, where he was responsible for the management of all index strategies in SSGA's second largest investment center. Mr. Tucker received a BA from Trinity College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. In addition, Mr. Tucker is a member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board and the S&P U.S. Index Advisory Panel. He joined State Street in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and Head of U.S. Equity Strategies for the Global Equity Beta Solutions (GEBS) team, where in addition to overseeing the management of the U.S. equity index strategies, he also serves as a portfolio manager for a number of the group's passive equity portfolios. Previously within GEBS, he served as a portfolio manager and product specialist for synthetic beta strategies, including commodities, buy/write, and hedge fund replication. Prior to joining the GEBS team, Mr. Schneider worked as a portfolio manager in SSGA's Currency Management Group, managing both active currency selection and traditional passive hedging overlay portfolios. He joined State Street in 1996. Mr. Schneider holds a BS in Finance and Investments from Babson College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation and is a member of the CAIA Association.
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 is 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.
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Distributor. State Street Global Markets, LLC (the “Distributor”), part of State Street Corporation, is the distributor of Fund Shares. 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.
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.
Index/Trademark Licenses/Disclaimers
The Index Providers are not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser, the Funds' Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, Distributor, or any of their respective affiliates. The Adviser (“Licensee”) has entered into license agreements with the Index Providers pursuant to which the Adviser pays a fee to use their respective Indexes. The Adviser is sub-licensing rights to the Indexes to the Funds at no charge.
Morgan Stanley Technology Index. The SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated or any of its affiliates (collectively “MSC”). Neither MSC nor any other party makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of this Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in funds generally or in this Fund particularly or the ability of the Morgan Stanley Technology Index to track general stock market performance. MSC is the licensor of certain trademarks, service marks and trade names of MSC and the Morgan Stanley Technology Index which are determined, composed and calculated by the Exchange without regard to the issuer of this Fund or the owners of this Fund. Neither the Exchange nor MSC has any obligation to take the needs of the issuer of the Fund or the owners of this Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Morgan Stanley Technology Index. MSC is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is redeemable for cash. Neither MSC nor any other party has any obligation or liability to owners of the Fund in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.
Although the Exchange and MSC shall obtain information for inclusion in or for use in the calculation of the Index from sources which they consider reliable, neither the Exchange, MSC nor any other party guarantees the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Index or any data included therein. Neither the Exchange, MSC nor any other party makes any warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Adviser, the Adviser's customers and counterparties, owners of the Fund, or any other person or entity from the use of the Index or any data included therein in connection with the rights licensed hereunder or for any other use. Neither MSC nor any other party makes any express or implied warranties, and MSC hereby expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSC or any other party have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.
S&P Indexes: “The Global Dow,”“Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index,”“S&P 500 Buyback Index,”“S&P 500 High Dividend Index,”“S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free Index,”“S&P 1000 Index,”“S&P 500 Growth Index,”“S&P 500 Value Index,”“S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index,”“S&P MidCap 400 Value Index,”“S&P SmallCap 600 Index,”“S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index,”“S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index,”“S&P Composite 1500 Index,”“S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index,”“S&P Banks Select Industry Index,”“S&P Capital Markets Select Industry Index,”“S&P Insurance Select Industry Index,”“S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index,”“S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index,”“S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index,”“S&P Health Care Equipment Select Industry Index,”“S&P Health Care Services Select Industry Index,”“S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index,”“S&P Internet Select Industry
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Index,”“S&P Metals & Mining Select Industry Index,”“S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Select Industry Index,”“S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index,”“S&P Pharmaceuticals Select Industry Index,”“S&P Retail Select Industry Index,”“S&P Semiconductor Select Industry Index,”“S&P Software & Services Select Industry Index,”“S&P Technology Hardware Select Industry Index,”“S&P Telecom Select Industry Index,”“S&P Transportation Select Industry Index” and “S&P Total Stock Market Index” (together, the “S&P Indexes”) are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use by the Adviser. “S&P”, “Standard & Poor's”, “S&P 500”, “S&P MidCap 400”, “S&P SmallCap 600” and “S&P Composite 1500” are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC; “The Global Dow” is a trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC; and these marks, together with the names of the S&P Indexes, have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sub-licensed for use by the Adviser.
THE FUNDS ARE NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR MARKETED BY S&P DOW JONES INDICES LLC, ITS AFFILIATES, AND/OR THIRD PARTY LICENSORS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DOW JONES TRADEMARK HOLDINGS LLC) (COLLECTIVELY, “S&P”). S& P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, CONDITION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE FUNDS OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN SECURITIES GENERALLY OR IN THE FUNDS PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE S&P INDEXES TO TRACK MARKET PERFORMANCE AND/OR TO ACHIEVE THEIR STATED OBJECTIVE AND/OR TO FORM THE BASIS OF A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT STRATEGY, AS APPLICABLE. S&P LICENSES TO THE ADVISER CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES, AS WELL AS THE S&P INDEXES, WHICH ARE DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY S&P WITHOUT REGARD TO THE ADVISER OR THE FUNDS. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF THE ADVISER OR THE OWNERS OF OR INVESTORS IN THE FUNDS INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES. S&P DOW JONES INDICES LLC IS NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR. INCLUSION OF A SECURITY WITHIN AN INDEX IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION BY S&P DOW JONES INDICES TO BUY, SELL, OR HOLD SUCH SECURITY, NOR IS IT CONSIDERED TO BE INVESTMENT ADVICE. S&P IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF THE FUNDS OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH FUND SHARES ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, OR TRADING OF THE FUNDS.
S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ADVISER, OWNERS OF OR INVESTORS IN THE FUNDS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES. S&P MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE AND ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS) RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND THE ADVISOR, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.
Wells FargoSM hybrid and preferred securities aggregate index: SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF (the “ETF”) is not sponsored, issued or advised by Wells Fargo & Company, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC or their subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, “Wells Fargo”). Wells Fargo makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the ETF's investors or any member of the public regarding the performance of the Wells FargoSM Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index or this ETF or the ability of any data supplied by Wells Fargo or any index to track financial instruments comprising the Wells FargoSM Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index or any trading market. Wells Fargo licenses to SSGA certain trademarks and trade names of Wells Fargo and of the data supplied by Wells
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Fargo that is determined, composed and calculated by Wells Fargo or a third party index calculator, without regard to this ETF or its common shares. Wells Fargo has no obligation to take the needs of or the ETF into consideration when determining, composing or calculating the data. Wells Fargo may act as an Authorized Participant for the ETF and/or as an initial purchaser of Shares of the ETF.
WELLS FARGO DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF ANY DATA SUPPLIED BY IT OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WELLS FARGO MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY SSGA AND THE ETF, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DATA SUPPLIED BY WELLS FARGO OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WELLS FARGO MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE DATA SUPPLIED BY WELLS FARGO OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL WELLS FARGO HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ARCA INC. (“NYSE ARCA”) IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH SSGA OR WELLS FARGO AND DOES NOT APPROVE, ENDORSE, REVIEW OR RECOMMEND WELLS FARGO, SSGA OR SPDR WELLS FARGO PREFERRED STOCK ETF.
SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF is based on the Wells FargoSM Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index and the value of the Wells FargoSM Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index is derived from sources deemed reliable, but the NYSE ARCA and its suppliers do not guarantee the correctness or completeness of Wells FargoSM Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index, their values or other information furnished in connection with Wells FargoSM Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index. THE NYSE ARCA MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE WELLS FARGOSM HYBRID AND PREFERRED SECURITIES AGGREGATE INDEX, TRADING BASED ON THE INDEX, OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRADING OF SSGA's PRODUCTS, OR FOR ANY OTHER USE. WELLS FARGO AND NYSE ARCA MAKE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE WELLS FARGOsm HYBRID AND PREFERRED SECURITIES AGGREGATE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN.
Russell Indexes: The SPDR Russell 1000 ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 2000 ETF and SPDR Russell 3000 ETF, (the “Products”) are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Frank Russell Company (“Russell”). Russell makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Products or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Products particularly or the ability of the Russell 1000® Index, Russell 1000® Yield Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000® Momentum Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000® Low Volatility Focused Factor Index, Russell 2000® Index and Russell 3000® Index to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. Russell's publication of the Russell 1000 Index, Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000 Momentum Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focused Factor Index, Russell 2000 Index and Russell 3000 Index in no way suggests or implies an opinion by Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the securities upon which the Russell 1000 Index, Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000 Momentum Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focused Factor Index, Russell 2000 Index and Russell 3000 Index are based. Russell licenses to the Adviser certain trademarks and trade names of Russell and of the Russell 1000 Index, Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000 Momentum Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focused Factor Index, Russell 2000 Index and Russell 3000 Index which are determined, composed and calculated by Russell without regard to the SPDR Russell 1000 ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 2000 ETF and SPDR Russell 3000 ETF. Russell is not responsible for the Products nor any associated literature or publications and Russell makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. Russell reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate or in any way change the Russell 1000 Index, Russell 1000 Yield Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000 Momentum Focused Factor Index, Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focused Factor Index, Russell 2000 Index and Russell 3000 Index. Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Products.
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RUSSELL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF ANY OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND RUSSELL SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. RUSSELL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE FUNDS, INVESTORS, OWNERS OF THE PRODUCTS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF ANY OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. RUSSELL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO ALL OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL RUSSELL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
THE SPDR MSCI USA STRATEGICFACTORS ETF IS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY MSCI INC. (“MSCI”), MSCI'S PARENT COMPANY, ANY OF MSCI'S OR MSCI'S PARENT COMPANY'S DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY HELD SUBSIDIARIES, ANY OF MSCI'S OR MSCI'S PARENT COMPANY'S INFORMATION PROVIDERS OR ANY THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN, OR RELATED TO, COMPILING, COMPUTING OR CREATING ANY MSCI INDEX (COLLECTIVELY, THE “MSCI PARTIES”).THE MSCI INDEXES ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF MSCI. MSCI AND THE MSCI INDEX NAMES ARE SERVICE MARK(S) OF MSCI OR ITS AFFILIATES AND HAVE BEEN LICENSED FOR USE FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES BY THE LICENSEE. NONE OF THE MSCI PARTIES MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE ISSUER OR OWNERS OF THE MSCI FUNDS OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN FUNDS GENERALLY OR IN THE MSCI FUNDS PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF ANY MSCI INDEX TO TRACK CORRESPONDING STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE. MSCI OR ITS AFFILIATES ARE THE LICENSORS OF CERTAIN TRADEMARKS, SERVICE MARKS AND TRADE NAMES AND OF THE MSCI INDEXES WHICH ARE DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY MSCI WITHOUT REGARD TO THE MSCI FUNDS OR THE ISSUER OR OWNERS OF THE MSCI FUNDS OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY. NONE OF THE MSCI PARTIES HAS ANY OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF THE ISSUER OR OWNERS OF THE MSCI FUNDS OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE MSCI INDEXES. NONE OF THE MSCI PARTIES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OR HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE TIMING OF, PRICES AT, OR QUANTITIES OF THE MSCI FUNDS TO BE ISSUED OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY OR THE CONSIDERATION INTO WHICH THE MSCI FUNDS ARE REDEEMABLE. FURTHER, NONE OF THE MSCI PARTIES HAS ANY OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY TO THE ISSUER OR OWNERS OF THE MSCI FUNDS OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING OR OFFERING OF THE MSCI FUNDS.
ALTHOUGH MSCI SHALL OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION IN OR FOR USE IN THE CALCULATION OF THE MSCI INDEXES FROM SOURCES THAT MSCI CONSIDERS RELIABLE, NONE OF THE MSCI PARTIES WARRANTS OR GUARANTEES THE ORIGINALITY, ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF ANY MSCI INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NONE OF THE MSCI PARTIES MAKES ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ISSUER OF THE MSCI FUNDS, OWNERS OF THE FUNDS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY, FROM THE USE OF ANY MSCI INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NONE OF THE MSCI PARTIES SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR INTERRUPTIONS OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY MSCI INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. FURTHER, NONE OF THE MSCI PARTIES MAKES ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, AND THE MSCI PARTIES HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO EACH MSCI INDEX AND ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY OF THE MSCI PARTIES HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
NO PURCHASER, SELLER OR HOLDER OF THE MSCI FUNDS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY, SHOULD USE OR REFER TO ANY MSCI TRADE NAME, TRADEMARK OR SERVICE MARK TO SPONSOR, ENDORSE, MARKET OR PROMOTE THESE FUNDS WITHOUT FIRST CONTACTING MSCI TO DETERMINE WHETHER MSCI'S PERMISSION IS REQUIRED. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY CLAIM ANY AFFILIATION WITH MSCI WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MSCI.
The SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF (the “FactSet Fund”) is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by
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FactSet. FactSet makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the FactSet Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the FactSet Fund particularly or the ability of the FactSet Innovative Technology Index to track general stock market performance. FactSet licenses to State Street Global Advisors (“Licensee”) certain trademarks and trade names of FactSet and of the FactSet Innovative Technology Index. The FactSet Innovative Technology Index is determined, composed and calculated by FactSet without regard to the Licensee, Adviser or the FactSet Fund. FactSet has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee, Adviser or the owners of the FactSet Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. FactSet is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the FactSet Fund or the timing of the issuance or sale of the FactSet Fund or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the FactSet Fund is to be converted into cash. FactSet has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the FactSet Fund. FACTSET DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE FACTSET INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND FACTSET SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. LICENSOR FACTSET MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, ADVISER, OWNERS OF THE FACTSET FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE FACTSET INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. FACTSET MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE FACTSET INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL FACTSET HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
SPDR Trademark. The “SPDR” trademark is used under license from Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, an affiliate of The McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (“S&P”). No Fund offered by the Trust or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of any Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly or the ability of the Index on which the Funds are based to track general stock market performance. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance or redemption of Fund Shares. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.
WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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), 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
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value should not be sustained over long periods. Information showing the number of days the market price of Fund Shares was greater than the relevant Fund's net asset value and the number of days it was less than the relevant Fund's net asset value (i.e., premium or discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com.
The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an indicative optimized portfolio value (“IOPV”) relating to the Funds. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of the Funds' net asset value per Fund Share using market data converted into U.S. dollars at the current currency rates. The IOPV price is based on quotes and closing prices from the securities' local market and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market's close. 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, which is calculated only once a day. 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.
Distribution and Service Plan
Each Fund (except for the SPDR Russell 3000 ETF) has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of Fund Shares. No payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made through at least October 31, 2017. Additionally, the implementation of any such payments would have to be approved by the Board prior to implementation. Because these fees would be paid out of a Fund's assets on an on-going basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more over time than paying other types of sales charges.
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.”
Each Fund may earn income dividends from stocks, 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 realize 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 realize 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, are generally distributed to shareholders quarterly, 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 times to improve Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
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For the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF, SPDR S&P Internet ETF, SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF and SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF: The Funds intend to distribute at least annually amounts representing the full dividend yield net of expenses on the underlying investment securities as if the Fund owned the underlying investment securities for the entire dividend period. As a result, some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital. You will be notified regarding the portion of the distribution which represents a return of capital.
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 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.
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 either ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Subject to certain limitations, dividends that are reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income are taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. 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 rates of up to 20%. 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.
In general, dividends may be reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by its respective Fund, which, in general, includes dividend income from taxable U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations (i.e., certain foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, and certain other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States), provided that the Fund satisfies certain holding period requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations and has not hedged its position in the stock in certain ways. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held by a Fund for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning at the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for fewer than 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date. These holding period requirements will also apply to your ownership of Fund Shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. Additionally, dividends paid on Fund Shares on loan will not be treated as qualified dividend income.
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.
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.
If you lend your Fund Shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements you may lose the ability to treat Fund dividends (paid while the Fund Shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. You should consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor to discuss your particular circumstances.
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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, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
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.
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 the Fund and/or defer the 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.
Foreign Income Taxes. Investment income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which may entitle a Fund to a reduced rate of such taxes or exemption from taxes on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax for a Fund in advance since the amount of the assets to be invested within various countries is not known. If more than 50% of the total assets of a Fund at the close of its taxable year consist of certain foreign stocks or securities, the Fund may elect to “pass through” to you certain foreign income taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund. If a Fund in which you hold Fund Shares makes such an election, you will be considered to have received as an additional dividend your share of such foreign taxes, but you may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating your taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating your federal income tax. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If a Fund does not so elect, the Fund will be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Fund.
Real Estate Investments. Non-U.S. persons are generally subject to U.S. tax on a disposition of a “United States real property interest” (a “USRPI”). Gain on such a disposition is generally referred to as “FIRPTA gain.” The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of so-called FIRPTA gain by a Fund if certain requirements are met. If the look-through rule applies, certain distributions attributable to income received by a Fund, e.g., from U.S. REITs, may be treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at rates of up to 35%, and requiring non-U.S. investors to file nonresident U.S. income tax returns. Also, gain may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a foreign stockholder that is treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Under certain circumstances, a Fund may itself qualify as a USRPI, which would result in similar consequences to certain non-U.S. investors.
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.
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
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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 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.
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.
Investments In Certain Foreign Corporations. A Fund may invest in foreign entities classified as passive foreign investment companies or “PFICs” under the Code. PFIC investments are subject to complex rules that may under certain circumstances adversely affect a Fund. Accordingly, investors should consult their own tax advisors and carefully consider the tax consequences of PFIC investments by a Fund before making an investment in a Fund. Fund dividends attributable to dividends received from PFICs generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income. Additional information pertaining to the potential tax consequences to the Funds, and to the shareholders, from the Funds' potential investment in PFICs can be found in the SAI.
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, after June 30, 2014 (or, in certain cases, after later dates), to distributions payable to such entities and , after December 31, 2018, to redemption proceeds and certain capital gain 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 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)
236

 

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 28%. 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.
Other Tax Issues. A Fund may be subject to tax in certain states where the Fund does business. 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 June 12, 1998. 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, non-diversified series of the Trust, which is an open-end registered management investment company.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, Fund Shares are issued by the respective series of the Trust and the acquisition of Fund Shares by investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
The Trust has received exemptive relief from Section 12(d)(1) to allow registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions as set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.
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. Ernst & Young LLP serves as the independent registered public accounting firm and will audit the Funds' financial statements annually.
Premium/Discount Information
Information showing the number of days the market price of a Fund's shares was greater than a Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a premium) and the number of days it was less than the Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlight tables are intended to help you understand each Fund's financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the period since each Fund's inception. Certain information reflects the performance results for a single Fund Share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in each Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with each Fund's financial highlights and financial statements, is included in the annual report to shareholders, which is available upon request. The financial information included in these tables should be read in conjunction with the financial statements incorporated by reference in the SAI.
237

 

Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Russell 3000 ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 154.98   $ 147.69   $ 120.30   $ 101.45   $ 99.24
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

3.08   2.71   2.53   2.25   1.90
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.44   8.56   27.38   18.83   1.89
Total from investment operations

3.52   11.27   29.91   21.08   3.79
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.08)   (0.73)   (0.00 )(c)   (0.00 )(c)   0.21
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(3.13)   (3.25)   (2.52)   (2.23)   (1.79)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 155.29   $ 154.98   $ 147.69   $ 120.30   $ 101.45
Total return(d)

2.34%   7.17%   25.02%   20.91%   4.16%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$341,640   $247,978   $612,924   $499,249   $426,109
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.10%   0.11%   0.10%   0.20%   0.20%
Net investment income (loss)

2.04%   1.79%   1.87%   2.03%   1.97%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

4%   3%   19%   1%   3%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
238

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Russell 1000 ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 97.38   $ 92.46   $ 75.29   $ 63.75   $ 62.09
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.98   1.82   1.63   1.46   1.21
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.68   4.82   17.17   11.56   1.62
Total from investment operations

2.66   6.64   18.80   13.02   2.83
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.06   0.09   (0.00) (c)   (0.01)   0.00 (c)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(2.00)   (1.81)   (1.63)   (1.47)   (1.17)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 98.10   $ 97.38   $ 92.46   $ 75.29   $ 63.75
Total return(d)

2.90%   7.31%   25.14%   20.56%   4.69%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$93,191   $73,036   $46,230   $37,646   $41,437
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.10%   0.11%   0.11%   0.20%   0.20%
Net investment income (loss)

2.08%   1.89%   1.92%   2.11%   1.99%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

5%   3%   8%   6%   4%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
239

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Russell 2000 ETF
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
  For the
Period
7/8/13* -
6/30/14
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 73.99   $ 70.93   $ 60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
         
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.12   1.02   0.95
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(6.01)   3.36   10.77
Total from investment operations

(4.89)   4.38   11.72
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.08   0.13   0.06
Distributions to shareholders from:
         
Net investment income

(1.13)   (1.15)   (0.83)
Net realized gains

(0.36)   (0.30)   (0.02)
Total distributions

(1.49)   (1.45)   (0.85)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 67.69   $ 73.99   $ 70.93
Total return(c)

(6.45)%   6.43%   19.69%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$87,992   $73,986   $53,198
Ratios to average net assets:

         
Total expenses

0.12%   0.12%   0.12 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

1.68%   1.44%   1.42 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

18%   17%   19%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
240

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Russell
1000 Yield
Focus ETF
  For the
Period
12/3/15* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.21
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

3.48
Total from investment operations

4.69
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
Net investment income

(1.13)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 63.57
Total return(c)

7.93%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$359,191
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.20 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

3.50 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

44%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
241

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Russell 1000
Momentum
Focus ETF
  For the
Period
12/3/15* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.65
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

1.19
Total from investment operations

1.84
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.00 (c)
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
Net investment income

(0.61)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 61.23
Total return(d)

3.10%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$345,946
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.20 %(e)
Net investment income (loss)

1.91 %(e)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

55%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
242

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Russell 1000
Low Volatility
Focus ETF
  For the
Period
12/3/15* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.79
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

3.73
Total from investment operations

4.52
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
Net investment income

(0.75)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 63.78
Total return(c)

7.60%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$385,862
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.20 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

2.28 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

68%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
243

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
  For the
Period
2/4/15* -
6/30/15
Net asset value, beginning of period

$50.09   $ 50.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
     
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.78   0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(3.50)  
Total from investment operations

(2.72)   0.26
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.01)   0.07
Distributions to shareholders from:
     
Net investment income

(0.80)   (0.24)
Net realized gains

(0.40)  
Total distributions

(1.20)   (0.24)
Net asset value, end of period

$46.16   $ 50.09
Total return(c)

(5.43)%   0.67%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
     
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$9,232   $15,028
Ratios to average net assets:

     
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

1.65%   1.28 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

98%   18%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
244

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 98.49   $ 90.95   $ 72.83   $ 63.63   $ 60.18
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.57   1.45   1.28   1.25   1.01
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

2.40   7.48   18.08   9.19   3.45
Total from investment operations

3.97   8.93   19.36   10.44   4.46
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.02   0.04   0.05   (0.01)   0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.61)   (1.43)   (1.29)   (1.23)   (1.02)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 100.87   $ 98.49   $ 90.95   $ 72.83   $ 63.63
Total return(c)

4.12%   9.90%   26.78%   16.49%   7.54%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$711,123   $556,464   $427,451   $247,627   $219,541
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.18%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%
Net investment income (loss)

1.59%   1.51%   1.54%   1.83%   1.69%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

23%   22%   23%   26%   21%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
245

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 99.92   $ 97.95   $ 82.26   $ 67.63   $ 67.32
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

2.52   2.32   2.04   1.85   1.52
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.56   1.93   15.67   14.66   0.32
Total from investment operations

3.08   4.25   17.71   16.51   1.84
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.02   0.05   (0.02)   0.03   (0.06)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(2.52)   (2.33)   (2.00)   (1.91)   (1.47)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 100.50   $ 99.92   $ 97.95   $ 82.26   $ 67.63
Total return(c)

3.29%   4.40%   21.67%   24.70%   2.81%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$246,308   $229,890   $205,773   $156,368   $98,120
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.18%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%
Net investment income (loss)

2.61%   2.31%   2.26%   2.45%   2.37%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

24%   24%   23%   30%   25%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
246

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P
500 High
Dividend ETF
  For the
Period
10/22/15* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 30.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.98
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

3.26
Total from investment operations

4.24
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.23
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
Net investment income

(0.93)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 33.54
Total return(c)

15.20%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$31,866
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.12 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

4.50 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

23%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
247

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 500
Fossil Fuel Reserves
Free ETF
  For the
Period
12/1/15* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 50.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.58
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.11
Total from investment operations

0.69
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.03
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
Net investment income

(0.56)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 50.16
Total return(c)

1.48%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$100,328
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.25 %(d)
Net expenses

0.20 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

2.05 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

6%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
248

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 1000 ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 87.01   $ 86.75   $ 76.01   $ 61.65   $ 64.26
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.24   1.17   1.14   1.18   0.80
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(5.82)   3.85   18.59   14.85   (2.60)
Total from investment operations

(4.58)   5.02   19.73   16.03   (1.80)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.04)   0.04   (0.05)   0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.30)   (1.17)   (1.13)   (1.19)   (0.81)
Net realized gains

(2.86)   (3.63)   (7.81)   (0.48)  
Total distributions

(4.16)   (4.80)   (8.94)   (1.67)   (0.81)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 78.23   $ 87.01   $ 86.75   $ 76.01   $ 61.65
Total return(d)

(5.20)%   6.03%   26.70%   26.19%   (2.73)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$62,580   $100,062   $78,077   $95,008   $70,893
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.10%   0.10%   0.11%   0.25%   0.25%
Net investment income (loss)

1.57%   1.36%   1.37%   1.71%   1.34%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

16%   17%   75%   29%   20%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
249

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 125.05   $ 116.83   $ 95.79   $ 78.68   $ 82.38
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.35   1.26   0.89   0.94   0.50
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(0.19)   9.05   21.02   17.14   (3.62)
Total from investment operations

1.16   10.31   21.91   18.08   (3.12)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.04   0.03   0.02   0.04   (0.01)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.46)   (1.27)   (0.89)   (1.01)   (0.57)
Net realized gains

(1.48)   (0.85)      
Total distributions

(2.94)   (2.12)   (0.89)   (1.01)   (0.57)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 123.31   $ 125.05   $ 116.83   $ 95.79   $ 78.68
Total return(c)

1.07%   8.92%   22.94%   22.96%   (3.66)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$345,259   $243,839   $175,250   $91,003   $62,947
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.21%   0.25%   0.25%   0.25%
Net investment income (loss)

1.13%   1.04%   0.82%   1.07%   0.65%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

55%   53%   43%   43%   33%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
250

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 85.69   $ 86.27   $ 68.97   $ 55.54   $ 57.18
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.60   1.39   1.31   1.23   0.97
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(1.02)   1.48   17.19   13.39   (1.60)
Total from investment operations

0.58   2.87   18.50   14.62   (0.63)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.11   (0.04)   0.04   0.07   (0.03)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.61)   (1.38)   (1.23)   (1.26)   (0.98)
Net realized gains

(1.83)   (2.03)   (0.01)    
Total distributions

(3.44)   (3.41)   (1.24)   (1.26)   (0.98)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 82.94   $ 85.69   $ 86.27   $ 68.97   $ 55.54
Total return(c)

1.13%   3.31%   27.04%   26.42%   (0.82)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$207,342   $124,247   $112,157   $48,282   $22,215
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.21%   0.25%   0.25%   0.25%
Net investment income (loss)

2.02%   1.62%   1.67%   1.94%   1.81%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

40%   44%   36%   33%   28%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
251

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 108.25   $ 105.40   $ 86.83   $ 70.53   $ 70.54
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.45   1.34   1.11   1.19   0.95
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(1.76)   5.46   20.68   16.31   (0.20)
Total from investment operations

(0.31)   6.80   21.79   17.50   0.75
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.03   (0.03)   0.00 (c)   0.01   0.14
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.48)   (1.39)   (1.09)   (1.21)   (0.90)
Net realized gains

(2.16)   (2.53)   (2.13)    
Total distributions

(3.64)   (3.92)   (3.22)   (1.21)   (0.90)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 104.33   $ 108.25   $ 105.40   $ 86.83   $ 70.53
Total return(d)

(0.10)%   6.55%   25.23%   24.98%   1.35%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$443,392   $411,346   $426,877   $316,922   $183,382
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.18%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%
Net investment income (loss)

1.44%   1.28%   1.12%   1.52%   1.40%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

25%   16%   18%   11%   13%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
252

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 189.84   $ 181.62   $ 145.80   $ 121.07   $ 120.92
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

2.27   1.91   1.24   1.57   0.97
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(3.94)   14.55   35.70   24.73   0.28
Total from investment operations

(1.67)   16.46   36.94   26.30   1.25
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.06   0.09   0.05   0.05   (0.02)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(2.41)   (1.87)   (1.10)   (1.62)   (1.08)
Net realized gains

(7.60)   (6.46)   (0.07)    
Total distributions

(10.01)   (8.33)   (1.17)   (1.62)   (1.08)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 178.22   $ 189.84   $ 181.62   $ 145.80   $ 121.07
Total return(c)

(0.73)%   9.40%   25.40%   21.89%   1.07%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$686,130   $560,024   $399,562   $226,000   $151,354
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.20%   0.25%   0.25%   0.25%
Net investment income (loss)

1.29%   1.06%   0.73%   1.19%   0.85%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

57%   49%   54%   45%   37%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
253

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 106.07   $ 110.22   $ 89.75   $ 71.24   $ 71.29
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.58   1.62   1.47   1.37   1.09
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(1.45)   2.15   20.92   18.57   0.01
Total from investment operations

0.13   3.77   22.39   19.94   1.10
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.06   0.05   0.04   (0.02)   (0.04)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.57)   (1.68)   (1.41)   (1.41)   (1.11)
Net realized gains

(4.44)   (6.29)   (0.55)    
Total distributions

(6.01)   (7.97)   (1.96)   (1.41)   (1.11)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 100.25   $ 106.07   $ 110.22   $ 89.75   $ 71.24
Total return(c)

0.56%   3.50%   25.09%   28.17%   1.61%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$501,368   $392,578   $308,732   $170,652   $121,201
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.21%   0.25%   0.25%   0.25%
Net investment income (loss)

1.63%   1.52%   1.43%   1.72%   1.60%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

48%   42%   41%   39%   34%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
254

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Global Dow ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 69.67   $ 72.15   $ 58.79   $ 51.21   $ 59.50
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.55   1.65   1.77   1.41   1.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(5.53)   (2.55)   13.34   7.67   (8.35)
Total from investment operations

(3.98)   (0.90)   15.11   9.08   (7.06)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.03)   (0.01)   0.02   (0.06)   (0.04)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.59)   (1.57)   (1.77)   (1.44)   (1.19)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 64.07   $ 69.67   $ 72.15   $ 58.79   $ 51.21
Total return(c)

(5.68)%   (1.25)%   25.86%   17.68%   (11.90)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$86,521   $108,027   $115,474   $88,220   $92,203
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.50%   0.50%   0.51%   0.50%   0.50%
Net investment income (loss)

2.39%   2.33%   2.63%   2.50%   2.44%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

15%   13%   10%   13%   11%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
255

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 84.38   $ 82.99   $ 75.91   $ 72.90   $ 66.59
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

2.83   2.28   2.03   1.85   1.71
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

15.72   1.91   7.56   3.44   6.67
Total from investment operations

18.55   4.19   9.59   5.29   8.38
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.03   0.01   0.01   0.01   0.03
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(3.52)   (2.81)   (2.52)   (2.29)   (2.10)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 99.44   $ 84.38   $ 82.99   $ 75.91   $ 72.90
Total return(c)

22.43%   4.97%   13.02%   7.36%   13.05%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$3,816,521   $2,863,030   $2,579,540   $2,180,930   $1,959,752
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.25%   0.25%   0.25%   0.25%   0.25%
Net investment income (loss)

3.14%   2.55%   2.66%   2.45%   2.60%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

10%   5%   6%   7%   7%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
256

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Bank ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 36.27   $ 33.41   $ 28.67   $ 22.05   $ 24.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.58   0.55   0.49   0.52   0.41
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(5.73)   2.86   4.71   6.62   (1.92)
Total from investment operations

(5.15)   3.41   5.20   7.14   (1.51)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.02)   0.01   (0.00 )(c)   0.02   (0.02)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.59)   (0.56)   (0.46)   (0.54)   (0.42)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 30.51   $ 36.27   $ 33.41   $ 28.67   $ 22.05
Total return(d)

(14.30)%   10.36%   18.21%   32.76%   (6.22)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$2,041,171   $3,023,444   $2,492,584   $2,289,295   $1,450,630
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

1.76%   1.67%   1.54%   2.08%   1.92%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

40%   18%   29%   28%   55%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
257

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 50.69   $ 49.21   $ 39.95   $ 31.02   $ 35.45
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.94   0.94   0.95   1.16   0.73
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(14.51)   1.48   9.13   9.04   (4.09)
Total from investment operations

(13.57)   2.42   10.08   10.20   (3.36)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.09   (0.01)   0.02   0.09   (0.09)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.04)   (0.93)   (0.84)   (1.36)   (0.98)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 36.17   $ 50.69   $ 49.21   $ 39.95   $ 31.02
Total return(c)

(26.75)%   4.92%   25.39%   33.67%   (9.53)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$84,998   $177,409   $199,312   $67,907   $23,263
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.36%
Net investment income (loss)

2.17%   1.92%   2.03%   3.11%   2.40%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

29%   28%   33%   56%   64%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
258

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Insurance ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 68.09   $ 64.15   $ 54.03   $ 40.74   $ 41.73
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.30   1.21   0.97   0.98   0.69
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

2.96   3.83   10.09   13.31   (0.98)
Total from investment operations

4.26   5.04   11.06   14.29   (0.29)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.03   0.08   (0.01)   0.06   (0.05)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.24)   (1.18)   (0.93)   (1.06)   (0.65)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 71.14   $ 68.09   $ 64.15   $ 54.03   $ 40.74
Total return(c)

6.37%   8.05%   20.52%   35.60%   (0.65)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$594,003   $377,924   $272,622   $318,774   $93,698
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

1.87%   1.84%   1.62%   2.04%   1.82%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

32%   17%   16%   30%   62%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
259

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 44.16   $ 40.32   $ 33.85   $ 27.34   $ 25.45
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.77   0.71   0.61   0.60   0.45
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(5.70)   3.79   6.45   6.49   1.90
Total from investment operations

(4.93)   4.50   7.06   7.09   2.35
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.01   0.04   0.01   0.01   0.02
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.79)   (0.70)   (0.60)   (0.59)   (0.48)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 38.45   $ 44.16   $ 40.32   $ 33.85   $ 27.34
Total return(c)

(11.16)%   11.40%   20.94%   26.20%   9.59%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,615,033   $2,755,536   $2,576,688   $1,770,490   $1,167,653
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

1.89%   1.76%   1.59%   2.04%   1.77%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

86%   27%   28%   29%   44%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
260

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 50.26   $ 47.72   $ 37.09   $ 32.05   $ 32.72
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.49   0.48   0.48   0.38   0.25
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

2.31   2.48   10.64   5.05   (0.64)
Total from investment operations

2.80   2.96   11.12   5.43   (0.39)
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

0.00 (d)   0.03   (0.01)   (0.01)   (0.01)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.49)   (0.45)   (0.48)   (0.38)   (0.27)
Voluntary contribution from Adviser

0.06        
Net asset value, end of period

$ 52.63   $ 50.26   $ 47.72   $ 37.09   $ 32.05
Total return(e)

5.73 %(f)   6.27%   30.05%   16.93%   (1.21)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$489,477   $412,108   $224,296   $178,029   $166,653
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.42%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%
Net investment income (loss)

0.94%   0.94%   1.09%   1.08%   0.79%
Portfolio turnover rate(g)

32%   9%   24%   27%   21%
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) If the Adviser had not made a contribution during the year ended June 30, 2016, the total return would have been 5.62%.
(g) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
261

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Dividend ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 76.23   $ 76.57   $ 66.41   $ 55.66   $ 54.06
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

2.01   1.88   1.69   1.79   1.80
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

10.29   1.59   11.42   10.78   1.53
Total from investment operations

12.30   3.47   13.11   12.57   3.33
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.01   0.00 (c)   (0.02)   0.01   0.06
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(2.02)   (1.86)   (1.70)   (1.83)   (1.79)
Net realized gains

(2.61)   (1.95)   (1.23)    
Total distributions

(4.63)   (3.81)   (2.93)   (1.83)   (1.79)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 83.91   $ 76.23   $ 76.57   $ 66.41   $ 55.66
Total return(d)

16.94%   4.45%   20.00%   22.87%   6.46%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$14,009,561   $12,925,516   $12,806,768   $11,936,789   $9,123,307
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

2.62%   2.41%   2.35%   2.92%   3.34%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

32%   28%   33%   44%   94%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
262

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF  
 

Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  For the
Period
9/28/11* -
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 57.12   $ 49.81   $ 38.36   $ 29.46   $ 25.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.41   0.51   0.88   0.57   0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

(0.54)   7.20   11.77   9.04   4.45
Total from investment operations

(0.13)   7.71   12.65   9.61   4.71
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

0.00 (d)   0.07   0.04   0.01   (0.00 )(d)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.42)   (0.47)   (0.79)   (0.55)   (0.25)
Net realized gains

(0.72)     (0.45)   (0.17)  
Total distributions

(1.14)   (0.47)   (1.24)   (0.72)   (0.25)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 55.85   $ 57.12   $ 49.81   $ 38.36   $ 29.46
Total return(e)

(0.11)%   15.63%   33.22%   33.01%   18.86%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$181,497   $159,928   $49,808   $15,345   $14,731
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35 %(f)
Net investment income (loss)

0.78%   0.93%   1.81%   1.75%   1.18 %(f)
Portfolio turnover rate(g)

30%   42%   33%   34%   23%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
263

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Biotech ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 84.11   $ 51.33   $ 34.97   $ 29.49   $ 24.34
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.29   0.52   0.37   0.10   (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

(29.93)   32.83   16.33   5.48   5.16
Total from investment operations

(29.64)   33.35   16.70   5.58   5.12
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

(0.01)   0.01   0.02   (0.00 )(d)   0.03
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.30)   (0.58)   (0.36)   (0.10)  
Net asset value, end of period

$ 54.16   $ 84.11   $ 51.33   $ 34.97   $ 29.49
Total return(e)

(35.30)%   65.37%   48.59%   18.35%   21.15%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,873,833   $2,750,480   $1,108,657   $849,853   $641,452
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

0.45%   0.81%   0.84%   0.31%   (0.15)%
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

75%   78%   86%   61%   61%
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF underwent a 3-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
264

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 47.03   $ 39.40   $ 31.68   $ 28.65   $ 27.55
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.13   0.14   0.15   0.12   0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

3.41   8.27   7.68   3.46   1.18
Total from investment operations

3.54   8.41   7.83   3.58   1.23
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

0.00 (d)   0.01   (0.00 )(d)   (0.00 )(d)   (0.00 )(d)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.13)   (0.14)   (0.11)   (0.11)   (0.05)
Net realized gains

(3.08)   (0.65)     (0.44)   (0.08)
Total distributions

(3.21)   (0.79)   (0.11)   (0.55)   (0.13)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 47.36   $ 47.03   $ 39.40   $ 31.68   $ 28.65
Total return(e)

7.91%   21.52%   24.74%   12.70%   4.51%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$47,364   $47,027   $31,522   $19,009   $22,919
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

0.28%   0.31%   0.39%   0.39%   0.20%
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

39%   40%   46%   34%   42%
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
265

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF  
 

Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  For the
Period
9/28/11* -
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 65.55   $ 50.01   $ 40.48   $ 31.01   $25.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.13   0.12   0.14   0.27   0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

(7.83)   16.07   9.63   10.51   6.00
Total from investment operations

(7.70)   16.19   9.77   10.78   6.10
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

(0.00 )(d)   (0.02)   (0.01)   0.02   0.00 (d)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.11)   (0.10)   (0.11)   (0.31)   (0.09)
Net realized gains

(0.46)   (0.53)   (0.12)   (1.02)  
Total distributions

(0.57)   (0.63)   (0.23)   (1.33)   (0.09)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 57.28   $ 65.55   $ 50.01   $ 40.48   $31.01
Total return(e)

(11.74)%   32.52%   24.16%   35.66%   24.35%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$283,542   $196,629   $80,011   $44,526   $9,301
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35 %(f)
Net investment income (loss)

0.23%   0.21%   0.30%   0.75%   0.42 %(f)
Portfolio turnover rate(g)

36%   37%   33%   48%   25%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
266

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 36.60   $ 32.75   $ 29.45   $ 21.36   $ 18.05
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.20   0.18   0.14   0.16   0.24
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(3.04)   3.86   3.30   8.08   3.29
Total from investment operations

(2.84)   4.04   3.44   8.24   3.53
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.00 )(c)   (0.01)   (0.01)   0.01   0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.20)   (0.18)   (0.13)   (0.16)   (0.23)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 33.56   $ 36.60   $ 32.75   $ 29.45   $ 21.36
Total return(d)

(7.77)%   12.37%   11.64%   38.64%   19.85%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,240,151   $1,757,020   $1,897,730   $2,475,307   $1,321,402
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

0.57%   0.53%   0.44%   0.59%   1.30%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

44%   25%   31%   36%   46%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
267

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Internet ETF
  For the
Period
6/28/16* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$50.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

(0.00 )(b)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

2.65
Total from investment operations

2.65
Net asset value, end of period

$52.65
Total return(d)

5.31%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$5,265
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.35 %(e)
Net investment income (loss)

(0.35 )%(e)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

— %
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
268

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 24.34   $ 42.26   $ 33.20   $ 41.49   $ 69.40
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.39   0.50   0.56   0.61   0.55
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(0.04)   (17.82)   9.07   (8.29)   (27.86)
Total from investment operations

0.35   (17.32)   9.63   (7.68)   (27.31)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.09   (0.01)   (0.04)   0.01   (0.03)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.41)   (0.59)   (0.53)   (0.62)   (0.57)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 24.37   $ 24.34   $ 42.26   $ 33.20   $ 41.49
Total return(c)

2.53%   (41.32)%   28.96%   (18.75)%   (39.46)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$665,428   $266,503   $494,491   $610,940   $769,680
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

2.03%   1.55%   1.41%   1.45%   1.06%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

57%   38%   35%   36%   32%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
269

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 26.05   $ 49.28   $ 39.15   $ 30.74   $ 41.48
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.27   0.51   0.34   0.28   0.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(7.30)   (23.24)   10.13   8.41   (10.73)
Total from investment operations

(7.03)   (22.73)   10.47   8.69   (10.59)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.01   (0.00 )(c)   (0.00 )(c)   (0.00 )(c)   0.00 (c)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.29)   (0.50)   (0.34)   (0.28)   (0.15)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 18.74   $ 26.05   $ 49.28   $ 39.15   $ 30.74
Total return(d)

(26.87)%   (46.22)%   26.84%   28.34%   (25.56)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$238,941   $246,186   $349,887   $260,329   $248,972
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

1.45%   1.56%   0.77%   0.77%   0.39%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

51%   36%   26%   31%   30%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
270

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 46.73   $ 82.28   $ 58.23   $ 50.40   $ 58.77
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.44   0.71   0.59   0.79   0.44
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(11.91)   (35.58)   23.89   7.79   (8.37)
Total from investment operations

(11.47)   (34.87)   24.48   8.58   (7.93)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.02   0.04   0.07   0.05   0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.49)   (0.72)   (0.50)   (0.80)   (0.45)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 34.79   $ 46.73   $ 82.28   $ 58.23   $ 50.40
Total return(c)

(24.38)%   (42.42)%   42.27%   17.18%   (13.49)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,943,140   $1,420,613   $1,456,408   $858,947   $866,842
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

1.34%   1.29%   0.85%   1.42%   0.82%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

44%   44%   46%   40%   42%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
271

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 62.34   $ 51.86   $ 35.20   $ 29.67   $ 25.45
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.26   0.41   0.27   0.59   0.23
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

(17.20)   13.08   17.28   5.51   4.25
Total from investment operations

(16.94)   13.49   17.55   6.10   4.48
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

(0.00 )(d)   0.00 (d)   0.02   (0.01)   0.02
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.24)   (0.42)   (0.27)   (0.56)   (0.24)
Net realized gains

(3.32)   (2.64)   (0.64)     (0.04)
Total distributions

(3.56)   (3.06)   (0.91)   (0.56)   (0.28)
Voluntary contribution from Adviser

  0.05      
Net asset value, end of period

$ 41.84   $ 62.34   $ 51.86   $ 35.20   $ 29.67
Total return(e)

(28.21)%   26.97 %(f)   50.33%   20.81%   17.86%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$508,393   $1,134,542   $954,135   $471,716   $471,793
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

0.51%   0.72%   0.60%   1.92%   0.86%
Portfolio turnover rate(g)

69%   65%   68%   44%   31%
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) If the Adviser had not made a voluntary contribution during the year ended 6/30/15, the total return would have been 26.88%.
(g) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
272

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Retail ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 49.33   $ 43.38   $ 38.28   $ 29.52   $ 26.74
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.53   0.54   0.28   0.51   0.30
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

(7.36)   5.85   5.12   8.80   2.75
Total from investment operations

(6.83)   6.39   5.40   9.31   3.05
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

0.01   0.05   0.01   (0.02)   0.02
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.54)   (0.49)   (0.31)   (0.53)   (0.29)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 41.97   $ 49.33   $ 43.38   $ 38.28   $ 29.52
Total return(d)

(13.84)%   14.87%   14.13%   31.78%   11.56%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$491,027   $1,173,933   $628,931   $1,175,195   $720,212
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

1.16%   1.15%   0.67%   1.53%   1.10%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

41%   45%   40%   29%   39%
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Retail ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
273

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 43.06   $ 37.58   $ 26.68   $ 22.33   $ 28.01
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.30   0.21   0.18   0.19   0.22
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

1.41   5.47   10.87   4.36   (5.70)
Total from investment operations

1.71   5.68   11.05   4.55   5.48
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

0.01   0.01   0.02   (0.02)   (0.01)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.30)   (0.21)   (0.17)   (0.18)   (0.19)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 44.48   $ 43.06   $ 37.58   $ 26.68   $ 22.33
Total return(d)

4.03%   15.18%   41.59%   20.40%   (19.65)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$195,692   $219,604   $165,348   $50,695   $37,952
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

0.72%   0.53%   0.55%   0.77%   0.89%
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

50%   42%   30%   38%   36%
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
274

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF  
 

Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
 

Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  For the
Period
9/28/11* -
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 51.17   $ 44.33   $ 36.45   $ 30.74   $ 25.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.24   0.18   0.20   0.39   0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

(0.49)   6.90   8.65   6.47   5.74
Total from investment operations

(0.25)   7.08   8.85   6.86   5.82
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

(0.00 )(d)   (0.01)   0.02   (0.04)   (0.01)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.23)   (0.17)   (0.17)   (0.38)   (0.07)
Net realized gains

(0.09)   (0.06)   (0.82)   (0.73)  
Total distributions

(0.32)   (0.23)   (0.99)   (1.11)   (0.07)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 50.60   $ 51.17   $ 44.33   $ 36.45   $ 30.74
Total return(f)

(0.46)%   16.00%   24.31%   22.66%   23.25%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$45,542   $51,168   $31,030   $14,580   $18,445
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35 %(f)
Net investment income (loss)

0.49%   0.37%   0.46%   1.18%   0.35 %(f)
Portfolio turnover rate(g)

62%   36%   41%   37%   32%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(f) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Annualized.
(g) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
275

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Technology
Hardware ETF
  For the
Period
6/28/16* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$50.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

3.21
Total from investment operations

3.23
Net asset value, end of period

$53.23
Total return(c)

6.47%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$5,323
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.35 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

5.13 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

— %
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
276

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Telecom ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 57.47   $ 56.90   $ 48.70   $41.14   $ 51.59
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.76   0.79   0.56   1.08   0.44
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

1.05   0.43   8.01   7.86   (10.42)
Total from investment operations

1.81   1.22   8.57   8.94   (9.98)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.10)   0.03   0.15   (0.16)   (0.07)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.79)   (0.68)   (0.52)   (1.22)   (0.40)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 58.39   $ 57.47   $ 56.90   $48.70   $ 41.14
Total return(c)

3.04%   2.21%   17.92%   21.47%   (19.47)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$23,355   $71,843   $25,604   $7,305   $ 4,114
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

1.37%   1.34%   1.03%   2.38%   1.01%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

33%   47%   46%   42%   50%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
277

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P Transportation ETF  
  Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 48.48   $ 46.85   $ 33.15   $ 24.78   $ 26.54
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.30   0.23   0.20   0.21   0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

(4.63)   1.64   13.67   8.39   (1.76)
Total from investment operations

(4.33)   1.87   13.87   8.60   (1.64)
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

(0.01)   (0.00 )(d)   0.02   0.01   (0.00 )(d)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.31)   (0.22)   (0.19)   (0.24)   (0.12)
Net realized gains

(0.20)   (0.02)      
Total distributions

(0.51)   (0.24)   (0.19)   (0.24)   (0.12)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 43.63   $ 48.48   $ 46.85   $ 33.15   $ 24.78
Total return(f)

(8.92)%   3.94%   41.97%   34.87%   (6.14)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$170,163   $368,395   $224,865   $46,411   $12,391
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

0.66%   0.45%   0.49%   0.68%   0.50%
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

32%   26%   33%   36%   25%
(a) On September 8, 2015, the SPDR S&P Transportation ETF underwent a 2-for-1 share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 12.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(f) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
278

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR MSCI USA
StrategicFactors ETF
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
  For the
Period
4/15/15* -
6/30/15
Net asset value, beginning of period

$58.58   $60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
     
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.27   0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

3.00   (1.44)
Total from investment operations

4.27   (1.18)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.01  
Distributions to shareholders from:
     
Net investment income

(1.28)   (0.24)
Net realized gains

(0.01)  
Total distributions

(1.29)   (0.24)
Net asset value, end of period

$61.57   $58.58
Total return(c)

7.45%   (1.98)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
     
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$6,157   $5,858
Ratios to average net assets:

     
Total expenses

0.15%   0.15 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

2.16%   2.11 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

17%   10%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
279

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 43.32   $ 43.57   $ 43.57   $ 45.21   $ 45.62
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

2.51   2.42   2.55   2.86   3.09
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

2.48   (0.23)   0.39   (1.72)   (0.84)
Total from investment operations

4.99   2.19   2.94   1.14   2.25
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.12   0.01   (0.10)   0.06   0.18
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(2.45)   (2.45)   (2.84)   (2.84)   (2.84)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 45.98   $ 43.32   $ 43.57   $ 43.57   $ 45.21
Total return(c)

12.11%   5.11%   7.07%   2.70%   5.70%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$565,508   $292,431   $259,219   $361,658   $253,174
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.45%   0.45%   0.45%   0.45%   0.45%
Net investment income (loss)

5.61%   5.48%   6.08%   6.27%   6.99%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

31%   48%   23%   67%   69%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
280

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR FactSet
Innovative
Technology ETF
  For the
Period
1/14/16* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$50.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

(0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

4.86
Total from investment operations

4.83
Net asset value, end of period

$54.83
Total return(c)

9.67%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$5,483
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.46 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

(0.12 )%(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

11%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
281

 

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 and the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, each of which has been or will be filed with the SEC, provide more information about the Funds. The Prospectus and SAI may be supplemented from time to time. 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 Fund's last fiscal year, as applicable. The SAI and the financial statements included in the Trust's annual report to shareholders are incorporated herein by reference (i.e., they are legally part of this Prospectus). These materials may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing to the Distributor, State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com 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 and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room (100 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20549) or on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. You may get copies of this and other information after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Funds in writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, 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.
SPDRSERTREQ The Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-08839.


Table of Contents
Prospectus
October 31, 2016
SPDR® Series Trust    
SPDR S&P® 1500 Value Tilt ETF (VLU)
SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF (MMTM)
SPDR Russell 1000® Low Volatility ETF (LGLV)
SPDR Russell 2000® Low Volatility ETF (SMLV)
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
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
SPDR® S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of U.S. equity securities exhibiting “value” characteristics.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.12%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses1 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.12%
1 “Other expenses” have been restated to reflect current fees. Amounts do not reflect non-recurring expenses incurred during the prior 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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$12 $39 $68 $154
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P 1500 Low Valuation Tilt Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
1

 

The Index applies an alternative weighting methodology to the S&P Composite 1500 Index so that stocks with relatively low valuations (i.e., relatively “cheap”) are overweight relative to the S&P Composite 1500 Index and stocks with relatively high valuations (i.e., relatively “rich”) are underweight. The S&P Composite 1500 Index, one of the leading indices of the U.S. equity market, is a capitalization-weighted combination of the large-cap S&P 500 Index, the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. In constructing the Index, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“Index Provider”) estimates the valuation of each stock in the S&P Composite 1500 Index based on the ratio of its price to its level of earnings, cash flow, sales, book value, and dividends. S&P weights this data from the last five calendar years to create a composite valuation measure, and ranks all 1,500 index constituents in order of composite valuation. S&P then forms 20 sub-portfolios of approximately equal market capitalization, grouped by composite valuations. S&P derives a sub-portfolio allocation factor using each sub-portfolio's composite valuation, so that a sub-portfolio with relatively low valuation will have a higher allocation factor than a sub-portfolio with relatively high valuation. The weight of each stock in the Index is proportionate to its market capitalization and to its sub-portfolio allocation factor. The Index is rebalanced annually after the close of business on the third Friday of April. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial and technology sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 1,476 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
2

 

growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Value Stock Risk: A “value” style of investing is subject to the risk that the returns on “value” equity securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize a stock's intrinsic worth.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 11.71% (Q1, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -8.05% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 8.84%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
3

 

  One Year Since Inception
(10/24/12)
Return Before Taxes -2.89% 13.48%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -4.50% 11.85%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.66% 10.22%
S&P 1500 Low Valuation Tilt Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-2.89% 13.87%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000  Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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.
4

 

SPDR® S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks the performance of U.S. equity securities exhibiting price momentum.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.12%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.12%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$12 $39 $68 $154
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 62% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P 1500 Positive Momentum Tilt Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index applies an alternative weighting methodology to the S&P Composite 1500 Index so that stocks with relatively high momentum are overweight relative to the S&P Composite 1500 Index and stocks with relatively low momentum are underweight. The S&P Composite 1500 Index, one of the leading indices of the U.S. equity market, is a capitalization-weighted combination of the large-cap S&P 500 Index, the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. A “momentum” style of investing emphasizes investing in securities that have had higher recent
5

 

price performance compared to other securities. In constructing the Index, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“Index Provider”) estimates the momentum of each stock in the S&P Composite 1500 Index based on its price performance over the 11 months ending one month before the index rebalancing date, and ranks all 1,500 Index constituents in order of momentum. S&P then forms 20 sub-portfolios of approximately equal market capitalization, grouped by momentum. S&P defines a sub-portfolio allocation factor so that a sub-portfolio with relatively high momentum will have a higher allocation factor than a sub-portfolio with relatively low momentum. The weight of each stock in the Index is proportionate to its market capitalization and to its sub-portfolio allocation factor. The Index is rebalanced quarterly on or about the end of January, April, July, and October. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the technology sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 1,497 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Momentum Risk: The Fund employs a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes investing in securities that have had higher recent price performance compared to other securities. This style of investing is subject to the risk that these securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities or that the returns on securities that have previously exhibited price momentum are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Momentum can turn quickly and cause significant variation from other types of investments.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
6

 

Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 10.75% (Q4, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -5.69% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 6.15%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(10/24/12)
Return Before Taxes 3.00% 14.87%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 2.50% 14.25%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.96% 11.53%
S&P 1500 Positive Momentum Tilt Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
3.17% 15.28%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
7

 

Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000  Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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.
8

 

SPDR® Russell 1000® Low Volatility ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of a large cap, low volatility index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.12%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.12%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$12 $39 $68 $154
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 68% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Russell 1000® Low Volatility Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index includes large cap U.S. equity securities and is designed to capture stocks with low volatility. Volatility is a measure of a security's variability in total returns based on its historic behavior. A low volatility index is considered to have a lower return variability than the overall market and can be used by investors to adjust volatility exposure in a portfolio. To construct the Index, the Index starts with the Russell 1000® Index, which measures the performance of the large cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Index captures securities with focused exposure to low volatility, while minimizing exposure to non-target factors. The Index contains no more than 200 securities and is
9

 

reconstituted monthly to maintain its focus on low volatility. Unlike more traditional equity market indexes which seek to track the performance of a specific segment of the equity market, the Index is intended to provide a specific factor exposure. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 306 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Frank Russell Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Low Volatility Risk: Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, a portfolio comprised of low volatility stocks may not produce investment exposure that has lower variability to changes in such stocks' price levels. Low volatility stocks are likely to underperform the broader market during periods of rapidly rising stock prices.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
10

 

growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 8.18% (Q4, 2015)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -3.93% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 9.27%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(2/20/13)
Return Before Taxes 2.35% 12.55%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.42% 10.90%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.70% 9.28%
Russell 1000 Low Volatility Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
2.47% 12.82%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000  Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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

 

SPDR® Russell 2000® Low Volatility ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of a small cap, low volatility index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.12%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.12%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$12 $39 $68 $154
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 62% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Russell 2000® Low Volatility Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index includes small cap U.S. equity securities and is designed to capture stocks with low volatility. Volatility is a measure of a security's variability in total returns based on its historic behavior. A low volatility index is considered to have a lower return variability than the overall market and can be used by investors to adjust volatility exposure in a portfolio. To construct the Index, the Index starts with the Russell 2000® Index, which measures the performance of the small cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Index captures securities with focused exposure to low volatility, while minimizing exposure to non-target factors. The Index contains no more than 400 securities and is
13

 

reconstituted monthly to maintain its focus on low volatility. Unlike more traditional equity market indexes which seek to track the performance of a specific segment of the equity market, the Index is intended to provide a specific factor exposure. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 827 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Frank Russell Company (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Low Volatility Risk: Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, a portfolio comprised of low volatility stocks may not produce investment exposure that has lower variability to changes in such stocks' price levels. Low volatility stocks are likely to underperform the broader market during periods of rapidly rising stock prices.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
14

 

growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk: The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Some securities of smaller issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale, and their values may have significant volatility. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. Returns on investments in securities of small-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 12.53% (Q4, 2014)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -5.81% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 12.78%.
 
 
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Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
2/20/13
Return Before Taxes -1.88% 11.14%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -2.77% 9.87%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.85% 8.21%
Russell 2000 Low Volatility Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-1.79% 11.29%
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 50,000  Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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
General. Please see each Fund's “The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy” section under “Fund Summaries” above for a complete discussion of each Fund's principal investment strategies. A Fund may invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment techniques which are not the principal focus of the Fund 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).
The Adviser seeks to track the performance of each Fund's Index as closely as possible (i.e., obtain a high degree of correlation with the Index). A number of factors may affect a Fund's ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with its Index, and there can be no guarantee that a Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. 
The Adviser will utilize a sampling strategy in managing the Funds. Sampling means that the Adviser uses quantitative analysis to select securities, including securities in the Index, outside of the Index and derivatives that have a similar investment profile as the relevant Index in terms of key risk factors, performance attributes and other economic characteristics. These include industry weightings, market capitalization, and other financial characteristics of securities. The quantity of holdings in a Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. In addition, from time to time, securities are added to or removed from each Index. The Adviser may sell securities that are represented in an Index, or purchase securities that are not yet represented in an Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to an Index. Further, the Adviser may choose to overweight securities in an Index, purchase or sell securities not in an Index, or utilize various combinations of other available techniques, in seeking to track an Index.
Certain of the Funds, as described in the SAI, have adopted a non-fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of their respective net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in investments suggested by their respective names, measured at the time of investment. A Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any change in this 80% investment policy.  The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) may change a Fund's investment strategy, Index and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or in the SAI. The Board may also change a Fund's investment objective without shareholder approval.
Non-Principal Strategies
Certain Other Investments. Each Fund may invest in structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors such as the movement of a particular security or index), swaps, options and futures contracts. Swaps, options and futures contracts and structured notes may be used by a Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
Temporary Defensive Positions. In certain situations or market conditions, a Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies, provided that the alternative is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is in the best interest of the Fund. For example, a Fund may make larger than normal investments in derivatives to maintain exposure to its Index if it is unable to invest directly in a component security.
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. Certain Funds may also invest in reverse repurchase agreements, which are considered borrowings under the 1940 Act. Although 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), and there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, under normal circumstances any borrowings by a Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets.
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Lending of Securities. Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed one-quarter (25%) of the value of its total 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 102% of the market value of that security, marked to market each trading day. 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 additional information regarding certain of 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 unless otherwise noted.
Principal Risks
The table below identifies the principal risks of investing in each Fund.
Fund Name SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF
Equity Investing Risk x x x x
Financial Sector Risk x   x x
Index Tracking Risk x x x x
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk     x  
Liquidity Risk       x
Low Volatility Risk     x x
Market Risk x x x x
Momentum Risk   x    
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk       x
Technology Sector Risk x x    
Unconstrained Sector Risk x x x x
Valuation Risk       x
Value Stock Risk x      
Equity Investing Risk. The market prices of equity securities owned by a Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services. The values of equity securities also may decline due to general industry or
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market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
Index Tracking Risk. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), a Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the return on the sample of securities purchased by a Fund (or the return on securities not included in the Index) to replicate the performance of the Index may not correlate precisely with the return of the Index. Each Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, a Fund may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. Changes in the composition of the Index and regulatory requirements also may impact a Fund's ability to match the return of the Index. The Adviser may apply one or more “screens” or investment techniques to refine or limit the number or types of issuers included in the Index in which a Fund may invest. Application of such screens or techniques may result in investment performance below that of the Index and may not produce results expected by the Adviser. Index tracking risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk. Securities issued by large-capitalization companies may present risks not present in smaller companies. For example, larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies, especially during strong economic periods. Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions 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 securities 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 securities 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. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity a Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
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Low Volatility Risk. Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, a portfolio comprised of low volatility stocks may not produce investment exposure that has lower variability to changes in such stocks' price levels. Low volatility stocks are likely to underperform the broader market during periods of rapidly rising stock prices.
Market Risk. Market prices of investments held by a Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Each 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, 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.
Momentum Risk. The Fund employs a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes investing in securities that have had higher recent price performance compared to other securities. This style of investing is subject to the risk that these securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities or that the returns on securities that have previously exhibited price momentum are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Momentum can turn quickly and cause significant variation from other types of investments.
Non-Diversification Risk. As a “non-diversified” fund, each 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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk. Each Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund will seek to replicate Index returns regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. The Fund generally will buy and will not sell a security included in the Index as long as the security is part of the Index regardless of any sudden or material decline in value or foreseeable material decline in value of the security, even though the Adviser may make a different investment decision for other actively managed accounts or portfolios that hold the security. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index (in absolute terms and by comparison with other indices) and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk. The securities of small-capitalization companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may lack the competitive strength of larger companies, and may depend on a few key employees. In addition, these companies may have been recently organized and may have little or no track record of success. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. The prices of these securities may fluctuate more sharply than those of other securities, and a Fund may experience some difficulty in establishing or closing out positions in these securities at prevailing market prices. There may be less publicly available information about the issuers of these securities or less market interest in these securities than in the case of larger companies, both of which can cause significant price volatility. Some securities of smaller issuers may be illiquid or may be restricted as to resale. A Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet a Fund's obligations. Returns on investments in securities of small-capitalization companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of larger companies.
Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend
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to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk. A Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
Valuation Risk. Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of a Fund's investment portfolio, 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 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when a Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if a Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Value Stock Risk. Value stocks present the risk that they may decline in price or never reach their expected full market value because the market fails to recognize the stock's intrinsic worth. Value stocks may underperform growth stocks and stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors. As a result, at times when it holds substantial investments in value stocks a Fund may underperform other investment portfolios that invest more broadly or that favor different investment styles.
Non-Principal Risks
Each risk discussed below is a non-principal risk of a Fund to the extent it is not identified as a principal risk for such Fund in the preceding “ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION - PRINCIPAL RISKS” section.
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.
Concentration Risk. A Fund's assets will generally be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund's underlying Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
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. The Funds 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
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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.
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.
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 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.
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. Contractual provisions and applicable law may prevent or delay a Fund from exercising its rights to terminate an investment or transaction with a financial institution experiencing financial difficulties, or to realize on collateral, and another institution may be substituted for that financial institution without the consent of a Fund. If the credit rating of a derivatives counterparty declines, a Fund may nonetheless choose or be required to keep existing transactions in place with the counterparty, in which event the Fund would be subject to any increased credit risk associated with those transactions.
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. 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, or
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a custodian, 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. 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. 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.
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.
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts. The net asset value 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. 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 of an Index 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.
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Index Construction Risk. A security included in an Index may not exhibit the characteristic or provide the specific exposure for which it was selected and consequently a Fund's holdings may not exhibit returns consistent with that characteristic or exposure.
Index Licensing Risk. It is possible that the license under which the Adviser or a Fund is permitted to replicate or otherwise use the Index will be terminated or may be disputed, impaired or cease to remain in effect. In such a case, the Adviser may be required to replace the Index with another index which it considers to be appropriate in light of the investment strategy of a Fund. The use of any such substitute index may have an adverse impact on a Fund's performance. In the event that the Adviser is unable to identify a suitable replacement for the relevant Index, it may determine to terminate a Fund.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions 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 securities 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 securities 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. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity a Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
Money Market 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 seeks 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 increase 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 share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), SSGA FM or their affiliates (“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 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 or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
Securities Lending Risk. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value of up to 25% of its total assets. For these purposes, total assets shall include the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan. Such loans may be terminated at any time, and a Fund will receive cash or other obligations as collateral. Any such loans must be continuously secured by collateral in cash or cash equivalents maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by a Fund. In a loan transaction, as compensation for lending its securities, a Fund will receive a portion of the dividends or interest accrued on the securities held as collateral or, in the case of cash collateral, a portion of the income from the investment of such cash. In addition, 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. 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 acquired with cash collateral. A Fund will attempt to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to high quality instruments of short maturity.
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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. 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 and, subject to the supervision 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 the Funds' assets. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser and certain other affiliates of State Street Corporation make up SSGA. SSGA is one of the world's largest institutional money managers and the investment management arm of State Street Corporation. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets and SSGA managed approximately $2.30 trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal business address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
For the services provided to each Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, each Fund paid the Adviser the annual fees based on a percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets as set forth below:
SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF

0.12%
SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF

0.12%
SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF

0.12%
SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF

0.12%
From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee, although it does not currently intend to do so. The Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, distribution fee pursuant to each Fund's Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee's counsel fees), litigation expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and other extraordinary expenses.
A discussion regarding the Board's consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement is provided in the Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.
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 SPDR Series Trust (the “Trust”) have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, with the approval of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, to retain and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated investment sub-advisers for the Funds 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 sub-adviser retained pursuant to the order.
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 each 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
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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 SSGA. Each portfolio management team is overseen by the SSGA Investment Committee.
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund are Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in North America. He is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team and sits on the firm's North America Product Committee and Trade Management Oversight Committee. Mr. Feehily rejoined SSGA in 2010 after spending four years at State Street Global Markets LLC, where he helped to build the Global Exposure Solutions business. This group created and managed portfolios that were designed to meet the short-term market exposure needs of institutional clients. Prior to this, Mr. Feehily had been Head of the U.S. Passive Equity Team within SSGA. He joined State Street in 1992. Mr. Feehily received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Babson College in Finance, Investments, and Economics. He received an MBA in Finance from Bentley College and also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. Mr. Feehily is also a former member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Passive Equity Strategies in North America. Mr. Tucker is responsible for overseeing the management of all equity index strategies and Exchange Traded Funds managed in North America. He is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Previously, Mr. Tucker was head of the Structured Products Group in SSGA's London office, where he was responsible for the management of all index strategies in SSGA's second largest investment center. Mr. Tucker received a BA from Trinity College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. In addition, Mr. Tucker is a member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board and the S&P U.S. Index Advisory Panel. He joined State Street in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and Head of U.S. Equity Strategies for the Global Equity Beta Solutions (GEBS) team, where in addition to overseeing the management of the U.S. equity index strategies, he also serves as a portfolio manager for a number of the group's passive equity portfolios. Previously within GEBS, he served as a portfolio manager and product specialist for synthetic beta strategies, including commodities, buy/write, and hedge fund replication. Prior to joining the GEBS team, Mr. Schneider worked as a portfolio manager in SSGA's Currency Management Group, managing both active currency selection and traditional passive hedging overlay portfolios. He joined State Street in 1996. Mr. Schneider holds a BS in Finance and Investments from Babson College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation and is a member of the CAIA Association.
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 is 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 Markets, LLC (the “Distributor”), part of State Street Corporation, is the distributor of Fund Shares. 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.
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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.
Index/Trademark Licenses/Disclaimers
The Index Providers are not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser, the Funds' Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, Distributor, or any of their respective affiliates. The Adviser (“Licensee”) has entered into license agreements with the Index Providers pursuant to which the Adviser pays a fee to use their respective Indexes. The Adviser is sub-licensing rights to the Indexes to the Funds at no charge.
S&P Indexes: “S&P 1500 Low Valuation Tilt Index” and “S&P 1500 Positive Momentum Tilt Index” (together, the “S&P Indexes”) are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use by the Adviser. “S&P” is a trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and together with the names of the S&P Indexes, have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sub-licensed for use by the Adviser.
THE FUNDS ARE NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR MARKETED BY S&P DOW JONES INDICES LLC, ITS AFFILIATES, AND/OR THIRD PARTY LICENSORS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DOW JONES TRADEMARK HOLDINGS LLC) (COLLECTIVELY, “S&P”). S& P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, CONDITION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE FUNDS OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN SECURITIES GENERALLY OR IN THE FUNDS PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE S&P INDEXES TO TRACK MARKET PERFORMANCE AND/OR TO ACHIEVE THEIR STATED OBJECTIVE AND/OR TO FORM THE BASIS OF A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT STRATEGY, AS APPLICABLE. S&P LICENSES TO THE ADVISER CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES, AS WELL AS THE S&P INDEXES, WHICH ARE DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY S&P WITHOUT REGARD TO THE ADVISER OR THE FUNDS. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF THE ADVISER OR THE OWNERS OF OR INVESTORS IN THE FUNDS INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES. S&P DOW JONES INDICES LLC IS NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR. INCLUSION OF A SECURITY WITHIN AN INDEX IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION BY S&P DOW JONES INDICES TO BUY, SELL, OR HOLD SUCH SECURITY, NOR IS IT CONSIDERED TO BE INVESTMENT ADVICE. S&P IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF THE FUNDS OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH FUND SHARES ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, OR TRADING OF THE FUNDS.
S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ADVISER, OWNERS OF OR INVESTORS IN THE FUNDS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES. S&P MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE AND ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS) RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND THE ADVISOR, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.
Russell Indexes: The SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF and SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF, (the “Products”) are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Frank Russell Company (“Russell”). Russell makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Products or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Products particularly or the ability of the Russell 1000® Low
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Volatility Index and Russell 2000® Low Volatility Index to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. Russell's publication of the Russell 1000 Low Volatility Index and Russell 2000 Low Volatility Index in no way suggests or implies an opinion by Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the securities upon which the Russell 1000 Low Volatility Index and Russell 2000 Low Volatility Index are based. Russell licenses to the Adviser certain trademarks and trade names of Russell and of the Russell 1000 Low Volatility Index and Russell 2000 Low Volatility Index which are determined, composed and calculated by Russell without regard to the SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF and SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF. Russell is not responsible for the Products nor any associated literature or publications and Russell makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. Russell reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate or in any way change the Russell 1000 Low Volatility Index and Russell 2000 Low Volatility Index. Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Products.
RUSSELL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF ANY OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND RUSSELL SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. RUSSELL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE FUNDS, INVESTORS, OWNERS OF THE PRODUCTS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF ANY OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. RUSSELL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO ALL OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL RUSSELL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
SPDR Trademark. The “SPDR” trademark is used under license from Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, an affiliate of The McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (“S&P”). No Fund offered by the Trust or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of any Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly or the ability of the Index on which the Funds are based to track general stock market performance. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance or redemption of Fund Shares. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.
WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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), 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
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value should not be sustained over long periods. Information showing the number of days the market price of Fund Shares was greater than the relevant Fund's net asset value and the number of days it was less than the relevant Fund's net asset value (i.e., premium or discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com.
The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an indicative optimized portfolio value (“IOPV”) relating to the Funds. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of the Funds' net asset value per Fund Share using market data converted into U.S. dollars at the current currency rates. The IOPV price is based on quotes and closing prices from the securities' local market and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market's close. 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, which is calculated only once a day. 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.
Distribution and Service Plan
Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of Fund Shares. No payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made through at least October 31, 2017. Additionally, the implementation of any such payments would have to be approved by the Board prior to implementation. Because these fees would be paid out of a Fund's assets on an on-going basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more over time than paying other types of sales charges.
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.”
Each Fund may earn income dividends from stocks, 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 realize 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 realize 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, are generally distributed to shareholders quarterly, 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 times to improve Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
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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 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.
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 either ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Subject to certain limitations, dividends that are reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income are taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. 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 rates of up to 20%. 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.
In general, dividends may be reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund, which, in general, includes dividend income from taxable U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations (i.e., certain foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, and certain other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States), provided that the Fund satisfies certain holding period requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations and has not hedged its position in the stock in certain ways. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held by a Fund for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning at the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for fewer than 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date. These holding period requirements will also apply to your ownership of Fund Shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. Additionally, dividends paid on Fund Shares on loan will not be treated as qualified dividend income.
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.
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.
If you lend your Fund Shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements you may lose the ability to treat Fund dividends (paid while the Fund Shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. You should consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor to discuss your particular circumstances.
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, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
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.
30

 

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 the Fund and/or defer the 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.
Foreign Income Taxes. Investment income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which may entitle a Fund to a reduced rate of such taxes or exemption from taxes on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax for a Fund in advance since the amount of the assets to be invested within various countries is not known. If more than 50% of the total assets of a Fund at the close of its taxable year consist of certain foreign stocks or securities, the Fund may elect to “pass through” to you certain foreign income taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund. If a Fund in which you hold Fund Shares makes such an election, you will be considered to have received as an additional dividend your share of such foreign taxes, but you may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating your taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating your federal income tax. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If a Fund does not so elect, the Fund will be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Fund.
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.
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 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.
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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.
Investments In Certain Foreign Corporations. A Fund may invest in foreign entities classified as passive foreign investment companies or “PFICs” under the Code. PFIC investments are subject to complex rules that may under certain circumstances adversely affect a Fund. Accordingly, investors should consult their own tax advisors and carefully consider the tax consequences of PFIC investments by a Fund before making an investment in a Fund. Fund dividends attributable to dividends received from PFICs generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income. Additional information pertaining to the potential tax consequences to the Funds, and to the shareholders, from the Funds' potential investment in PFICs can be found in the SAI.
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, after June 30, 2014 (or, in certain cases, after later dates), to distributions payable to such entities and , after December 31, 2018, to redemption proceeds and certain capital gain 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 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 28%. 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.
Other Tax Issues. A Fund may be subject to tax in certain states where the Fund does business. 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 June 12, 1998. 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.
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Management and Organization
Each Fund is a separate, non-diversified series of the Trust, which is an open-end registered management investment company.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, Fund Shares are issued by the respective series of the Trust and the acquisition of Fund Shares by investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
The Trust has received exemptive relief from Section 12(d)(1) to allow registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions as set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.
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. Ernst & Young LLP serves as the independent registered public accounting firm and will audit the Funds' financial statements annually.
Premium/Discount Information
Information showing the number of days the market price of a Fund's shares was greater than a Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a premium) and the number of days it was less than the Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlight tables are intended to help you understand each Fund's financial performance since each Fund's inception. Certain information reflects the performance results for a single Fund Share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in each Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with each Fund's financial highlights and financial statements, is included in the annual report to shareholders, which is available upon request. The financial information included in these tables should be read in conjunction with the financial statements incorporated by reference in the SAI.
33

 

Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
  For the
Period
10/24/12* -
6/30/13
Net asset value, beginning of period

$83.36   $ 84.11   $70.33   $60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
             
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.88   1.74   1.45   0.95
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(1.28)   2.19   15.16   10.31
Total from investment operations

0.60   3.93   16.61   11.26
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.05)   0.10    
Distributions to shareholders from:
             
Net investment income

(1.92)   (1.71)   (1.45)   (0.93)
Net realized gains

(3.10)   (3.07)   (1.38)  
Total distributions

(5.02)   (4.78)   (2.83)   (0.93)
Net asset value, end of period

$78.89   $ 83.36   $84.11   $70.33
Total return(c)

0.87%   4.76%   23.91%   18.85%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
             
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$3,944   $12,504   $8,411   $7,033
Ratios to average net assets:

             
Total expenses

0.13%   0.24%   0.35%   0.35 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

2.37%   2.06%   1.87%   2.12 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

12%   12%   12%   12%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
34

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
  For the
Period
10/24/12* -
6/30/13
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 88.05   $ 83.39   $ 67.80   $ 60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
             
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.58   1.39   1.06   0.79
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

2.72   4.85   15.94   7.75
Total from investment operations

4.30   6.24   17.00   8.54
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.04)   (0.03)   (0.01)   0.06
Distributions to shareholders from:
             
Net investment income

(1.61)   (1.27)   (1.00)   (0.80)
Net realized gains

  (0.28)   (0.40)  
Total distributions

(1.61)   (1.55)   (1.40)   (0.80)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 90.70   $ 88.05   $ 83.39   $ 67.80
Total return(c)

4.93%   7.47%   25.21%   14.39%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
             
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$18,139   $17,611   $12,508   $10,170
Ratios to average net assets:

             
Total expenses

0.12%   0.25%   0.35%   0.35 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

1.82%   1.61%   1.38%   1.78 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

62%   70%   55%   36%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
35

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
  For the
Period
2/20/13* -
6/30/13
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 72.41   $ 72.96   $ 62.81   $60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
             
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.97   1.79   1.63   0.55
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

7.50   2.93   10.80   2.67
Total from investment operations

9.47   4.72   12.43   3.22
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.26   0.11     0.11
Distributions to shareholders from:
             
Net investment income

(1.94)   (1.71)   (1.55)   (0.52)
Net realized gains

(0.35)   (3.67)   (0.73)  
Total distributions

(2.29)   (5.38)   (2.28)   (0.52)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 79.85   $ 72.41   $ 72.96   $62.81
Total return(c)

13.72%   6.50%   20.06%   5.55%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
             
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$67,869   $28,962   $10,944   $9,422
Ratios to average net assets:

             
Total expenses

0.12%   0.15%   0.20%   0.20 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

2.64%   2.41%   2.40%   2.46 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

68%   75%   59%   31%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
36

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
  For the
Period
2/20/13* -
6/30/13
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 77.00   $ 73.85   $ 62.28   $60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
             
Net investment income (loss)(a)

2.23   1.97   1.84   0.72
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.49   3.40   12.33   2.07
Total from investment operations

2.72   5.37   14.17   2.79
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.23   (0.18)   0.20   0.06
Distributions to shareholders from:
             
Net investment income

(2.15)   (1.65)   (1.90)   (0.57)
Net realized gains

(0.10)   (0.39)   (0.90)  
Total distributions

(2.25)   (2.04)   (2.80)   (0.57)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 77.70   $ 77.00   $ 73.85   $62.28
Total return(c)

4.00%   7.06%   23.32%   4.74%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
             
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$66,045   $34,649   $14,770   $9,342
Ratios to average net assets:

             
Total expenses

0.12%   0.18%   0.25%   0.25 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

2.97%   2.59%   2.65%   3.24 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

62%   38%   54%   29%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
37

 

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 and the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, each of which has been or will be filed with the SEC, provide more information about the Funds. The Prospectus and SAI may be supplemented from time to time. 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 Fund's last fiscal year, as applicable.The SAI and the financial statements included in the Trust's annual report to shareholders are incorporated herein by reference (i.e., they are legally part of this Prospectus). These materials may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing to the Distributor, State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com 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 and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room (100 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20549) or on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. You may get copies of this and other information after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Funds in writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, 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.
SPDR4FDSTATPRO The Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-08839.


Table of Contents
Prospectus
October 31, 2016
SPDR® Series Trust    
SPDR® SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (SHE)
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
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 Fund 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 Fund.

 


 

Fund Summary
SPDR® SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index that tracks U.S. companies that are leaders in advancing women through gender diversity on their boards of directors and in management.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.20%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses1 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.20%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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
$20 $64
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on March 7, 2016 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 1% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the SSGA Gender Diversity Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index (including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts and shares of other investment companies), cash
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and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). Futures contracts may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to measure the performance of U.S. large capitalization companies that are “gender diverse,” which are defined as companies that exhibit gender diversity in their senior leadership positions (as set forth below). The Index constituents are a subset of the largest 1,000 U.S. stocks based on market capitalization listed on a U.S. national securities exchange that have a trailing six-month average daily trading volume of at least 250,000 shares as of the Index rebalance determination date. This subset serves as the initial universe of eligible securities for the Index (the “Index Universe”). In constructing the Index, the Index Universe is ranked by gender diversity within each sector according to ratio-based criteria, as determined on an analysis by an independent third party of information included in a company's regulatory filings, press releases and corporate website (“company communications”). Companies are ranked within each sector by the following three gender diversity ratio-based criteria: (i) ratio of female executives and female members of the board of directors to all executives and members of the board of directors; (ii) ratio of female executives to all executives; (iii) ratio of female executives excluding executives who are members of the board of directors to all executives excluding executives who are members of the board of directors. “Executives” comprise each employee disclosed in company communications that holds the position of Vice President and above in the organizational structure of such company, except that “executives” of financial sector companies comprise each employee disclosed in company communications that holds the position of Managing Director or above in the organizational structure of such company. Executives and members of the board of directors of a company collectively constitute the “senior leadership” of such company. For each ratio-based criteria, the highest ranked companies within each sector whose combined sector market capitalization equals 10%, including the first company that brings the combined sector market capitalization above 10%, are eligible for inclusion in the Index. The Index comprises companies that are eligible for inclusion based on the ratio-based criteria and which have at least one female in one of the following positions in the company: Chief Executive Officer, chairperson, or member of the board of directors, as of the most recent Index rebalance determination date.
The Index is weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization at each annual rebalance. The Index rebalance determination date is the last business day in June. Index rebalancings are effective on July 15 or on the next business day following July 15 if July 15 is not a business day. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the health care and industrial sectors, although this may change from time
to time. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 186 securities.
The Index was created and is sponsored by State Street Global Advisors (the “Index Provider” or “SSGA”), an affiliate of the Fund and of SSGA FM, the Fund's Adviser. The Index Provider establishes and maintains rules which are used to determine the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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Gender Diversity Risk: The returns on a portfolio of securities that excludes companies that are not gender diverse may trail the returns on a portfolio of securities that includes companies that are not gender diverse. Investing only in a portfolio of securities that are gender diverse may affect the Fund's exposure to certain types of investments and may adversely impact the Fund's performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor in the market.
Health Care Sector Risk: Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk: Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies. Larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
The Adviser and certain of its affiliates intend to make contributions to a charitable organization, which is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), developed to provide financial support to third party charitable organizations which seek to enhance gender equity through educational efforts. Charitable contributions from the Adviser and certain of its affiliates will be benchmarked to the assets under management of the Fund. The charitable organization will seek to make donations to identified charitable organizations that support continuing educational efforts designed to mitigate gender inequality in corporate America, and will aim to engage with other organizations in an effort to increase the amount of philanthropic dollars available for such initiatives.
The charitable organization will not participate in, or have any influence on the day-to-day operations of, the Fund or the Adviser's management of the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Lynn Blake, Amy Cheng, Melissa Kapitulik and John Tucker.
Lynn Blake, CFA, is an Executive Vice President of the Adviser. She joined the Adviser in 1987.
Amy Cheng is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Team. She joined the Adviser in 2000.
Melissa Kapitulik is a Vice President of the Adviser. She joined the Adviser in 2006.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
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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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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
General. Please see “The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy” section under “Fund Summary” above for a complete discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies. The Fund may invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment techniques which are not the principal focus of the Fund 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).
The Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Fund's Index as closely as possible (i.e., obtain a high degree of correlation with the Index). A number of factors may affect the Fund's ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with its Index, and there can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. 
The Adviser will utilize a sampling strategy in managing the Fund. Sampling means that the Adviser uses quantitative analysis to select securities, including securities in the Index, outside of the Index and derivatives that have a similar investment profile as the Index in terms of key risk factors, performance attributes and other economic characteristics. These include industry weightings, market capitalization, and other financial characteristics of securities. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. In addition, from time to time, securities are added to or removed from the Index. The Adviser may sell securities that are represented in the Index, or purchase securities that are not yet represented in the Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to the Index. Further, the Adviser may choose to overweight securities in the Index, purchase or sell securities not in the Index, or utilize various combinations of other available techniques, in seeking to track the Index.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) may change the Fund's investment strategy, Index and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or in the SAI. The Board may also change the Fund's investment objective without shareholder approval.
Non-Principal Strategies
Certain Other Investments. The Fund may invest in structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors such as the movement of a particular security or index), swaps, options and futures contracts. Swaps, options and futures contracts and structured notes may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
Temporary Defensive Positions. In certain situations or market conditions, the Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies, provided that the alternative is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is in the best interest of the Fund. For example, the Fund may make larger than normal investments in derivatives to maintain exposure to its Index if it is unable to invest directly in a component security.
Borrowing Money. The 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 Fund may also invest in reverse repurchase agreements, which are considered borrowings under the 1940 Act. Although the 1940 Act presently allows the 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), and there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, under normal circumstances any borrowings by the Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets.
Lending of Securities. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed one-quarter (25%) of the value of its total assets via a securities lending program through its securities lending agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street” or “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 the Fund to receive a portion of the income generated by lending its securities and investing the respective collateral. The Fund will receive collateral for each loaned security which is at least equal to 102% of the market value of that security,
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marked to market each trading day. In the securities lending program, the borrower generally has the right to vote the loaned securities; however, the 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 the Fund.
Additional Risk Information
The following section provides additional information regarding certain of the principal risks identified under “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” in the Fund Summary along with additional risk information.
Principal Risks
Counterparty Risk. The 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. The 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, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, resulting in a loss to the Fund. The 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 the 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. Contractual provisions and applicable law may prevent or delay the Fund from exercising its rights to terminate an investment or transaction with a financial institution experiencing financial difficulties, or to realize on collateral, and another institution may be substituted for that financial institution without the consent of the Fund. If the credit rating of a derivatives counterparty declines, the Fund may nonetheless choose or be required to keep existing transactions in place with the counterparty, in which event the Fund would be subject to any increased credit risk associated with those transactions.
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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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.
Equity Investing Risk. The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services. The values of equity securities also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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Gender Diversity Risk. The returns on a portfolio of securities that excludes companies that are not gender diverse may trail the returns on a portfolio of securities that includes companies that are not gender diverse. Investing only in a portfolio of securities that are gender diverse may affect the Fund's exposure to certain types of investments and may adversely impact the Fund's performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor in the market.
Health Care Sector Risk. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
Index Tracking Risk. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the return on the sample of securities purchased by the Fund (or the return on securities not included in the Index) to replicate the performance of the Index may not correlate precisely with the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. Changes in the composition of the Index and regulatory requirements also may impact the Fund's ability to match the return of the Index. The Adviser may apply one or more “screens” or investment techniques to refine or limit the number or types of issuers included in the Index in which the Fund may invest. Application of such screens or techniques may result in investment performance below that of the Index and may not produce results expected by the Adviser. Index tracking risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
Industrial Sector Risk. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk. Securities issued by large-capitalization companies may present risks not present in smaller companies. For example, larger companies may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller and mid-sized companies to competitive challenges or to changes in business, product, financial, or other market conditions. Larger companies may not be able to maintain growth at the high rates that may be achieved by well-managed smaller and mid-sized companies, especially during strong economic periods. Returns on investments in securities of large companies could trail the returns on investments in securities of smaller and mid-sized companies.
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 the 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 the 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
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losses to the Fund. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of leverage may cause the 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 segregation or coverage requirements.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions readily at a favorable time or prices (or at all) or at prices approximating those at which the 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 securities 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 the Fund to value illiquid securities 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. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. The 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity the Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
Market Risk. Market prices of investments held by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. 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, 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 the 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk. The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund will seek to replicate Index returns regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. The Fund generally will buy and will not sell a security included in the Index as long as the security is part of the Index regardless of any sudden or material decline in value or foreseeable material decline in value of the security, even though the Adviser may make a different investment decision for other actively managed accounts or portfolios that hold the security. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index (in absolute terms and by comparison with other indices) and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in frequent trading of its portfolio securities. Fund turnover generally involves a number of direct and indirect costs and expenses to the 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 the 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.
Unconstrained Sector Risk. The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
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Non-Principal Risks
Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The 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.
Concentration Risk. The Fund's assets will generally be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund's underlying Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
Conflicts of Interest Risk. An investment in the 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 the 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. The 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 the 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 the Fund with itself or its affiliates in circumstances where it might not have done so in the absence of that interest.
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 Fund. 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 the 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 the 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 Fund) 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 the Fund. The 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 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.
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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 Fund) and their service providers (including the Adviser) may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions. 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, the Fund, the Adviser, or a custodian, transfer agent, or other affiliated or third-party service provider may adversely affect the Fund or its shareholders. For instance, cyber-attacks or technical malfunctions may interfere with the processing of shareholder or other transactions, affect the 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 the 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 the Fund inaccessible or inaccurate or incomplete. The Fund may also incur substantial costs for cybersecurity risk management in order to prevent cyber incidents in the future. The 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 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. Similar types of cybersecurity risks or technical malfunctions also are present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund's investment in such securities to lose value.
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts. The net asset value of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund's securities holdings. The market prices of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in the 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. 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 of the Index 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 the Fund's net asset value, disruptions to creations and redemptions or market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from the 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.
Index Construction Risk. A security included in the Index may not exhibit the characteristic or provide the specific exposure for which it was selected and consequently the Fund's holdings may not exhibit returns consistent with that characteristic or exposure.
Index Licensing Risk. It is possible that the license under which the Adviser or the Fund is permitted to replicate or otherwise use the Index will be terminated or may be disputed, impaired or cease to remain in effect. In such a case, the Adviser may be required to replace the Index with another index which it considers to be appropriate in light of the investment strategy of the Fund. The use of any such substitute index may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance. In the event that the Adviser is unable to identify a suitable replacement for the relevant Index, it may determine to terminate the Fund.
Money Market 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 seeks 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
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money by investing in such a money market fund. A major or unexpected increase 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 share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), SSGA FM or their affiliates (“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 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 or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
Securities Lending Risk. The Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value of up to 25% of its total assets. For these purposes, total assets shall include the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan. Such loans may be terminated at any time, and the Fund will receive cash or other obligations as collateral. Any such loans must be continuously secured by collateral in cash or cash equivalents maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by the Fund. In a loan transaction, as compensation for lending its securities, the Fund will receive a portion of the dividends or interest accrued on the securities held as collateral or, in the case of cash collateral, a portion of the income from the investment of such cash. In addition, the 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. The Fund will call loans to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the investment is to be voted upon. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the 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, the Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral. The Fund will attempt to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to high quality instruments of short maturity.
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. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the 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 the Fund and, subject to the supervision of the Board, is responsible for the investment management of the Fund. The Adviser provides an investment management program for the Fund and manages the investment of the Fund's assets. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser and certain other affiliates of State Street Corporation make up SSGA. SSGA is one of the world's largest institutional money managers and the investment management arm of State Street Corporation. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets and SSGA managed approximately $2.30 trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal business address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
For the services provided to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an annual fee of 0.20% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
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From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee, although it does not currently intend to do so. The Adviser pays all expenses of the Fund other than the management fee, distribution fee pursuant to the Fund's Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee's counsel fees), litigation expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and other extraordinary expenses.
A discussion regarding the Board's consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement is provided in the Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.
SSGA FM, as the investment adviser for the Fund, may hire one or more sub-advisers to oversee the day-to-day investment activities of the Fund. The sub-advisers are subject to oversight by the Adviser. The Adviser and SPDR® Series Trust (the “Trust”) have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, with the approval of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, to retain and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated investment sub-advisers for the 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 Fund 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 sub-adviser retained pursuant to the order.
The Adviser and certain of its affiliates intend to make contributions to a charitable organization, which is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Code, developed to provide financial support to third party charitable organizations which seek to enhance gender equity through educational efforts. Charitable contributions from the Adviser and certain of its affiliates will be benchmarked to the assets under management of the Fund. The charitable organization will seek to make donations to identified charitable organizations that support continuing educational efforts designed to mitigate gender inequality in corporate America, and will aim to engage with other organizations in an effort to increase the amount of philanthropic dollars available for such initiatives.
The charitable organization will not participate in, or have any influence on the day-to-day operations of, the Fund or the Adviser's management of the Fund.
Portfolio Managers.
The Adviser manages the Fund 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 SSGA. The portfolio management team is overseen by the SSGA Investment Committee.
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Lynn Blake, Amy Cheng, Melissa Kapitulik and John Tucker.
Lynn Blake, CFA, is an Executive Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and Chief Investment Officer of the Global Equity Beta Solutions Group (“GEBS”). In this capacity, she oversees a team of 70 portfolio managers globally, and more than 1,600 portfolios with assets in excess of $1.4 trillion across all equity, index and smart beta strategies. In addition, Ms. Blake is member of SSGA's Fiduciary Committee, Investment Committee, IT Steering Committee and Executive Management Group. She also oversees SSGA's Corporate Governance and Global Proxy Voting as well as the Company Stock Group, which manages fiduciary transactions and company stock investments, including company stock ownership and 401(k) plans. Ms. Blake joined SSGA in 1987. Prior to her current role, Ms. Blake was head of non-US markets of passive equities, responsible for overseeing the management of all non-US equity index strategies, as well as serving as portfolio manager for several equity index portfolios. She holds a BS from the Boston College Carroll School of Management and an MBA in Finance from Northeastern University. She has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society, the CFA Institute and the Boston Security Analyst Society. She also serves on various index advisory boards and committees.
Amy Cheng is a Vice President of SSGA and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Equity Beta Solutions Team where she is responsible for managing various domestic and international strategies. Prior to assuming her current role in May 2008, Ms. Cheng worked in the Global Implementation Group where she performed the day-to-day
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management of active developed and emerging market equity portfolios. She also worked as an Operations Associate responsible for funds managed by the active international equities team. Prior to joining SSGA in 2000, Ms. Cheng worked as a Trust Specialist at Mellon Financial. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Rochester and an MBA from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.
Melissa Kapitulik is a Vice President at SSGA and the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in GEBS where she currently manages several of the firm's commingled U.S. and international strategies, as well as U.S. and international/emerging ETFs and other separately managed domestic and international funds. Additionally, Ms. Kapitulik manages synthetic beta strategies. Prior to her current role, Ms. Kapitulik worked on SSGA's Trident Project RKS implementation. Before joining SSGA, Ms. Kapitulik was a consultant – specializing in accounting system implementations for investment management companies – and was responsible for the design and development of a wide variety of applications. She began her career at PIMCO, where she worked for several years as a trading assistant in Global Fixed Income. Ms. Kapitulik holds a BS in Finance from Villanova University.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Passive Equity Strategies in North America. Mr. Tucker is responsible for overseeing the management of all equity index strategies and Exchange Traded Funds managed in North America. He is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Previously, Mr. Tucker was head of the Structured Products Group in SSGA's London office, where he was responsible for the management of all index strategies in SSGA's second largest investment center. Mr. Tucker received a BA from Trinity College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. In addition, Mr. Tucker is a member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board and the S&P U.S. Index Advisory Panel. He joined State Street in 1988.
Additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers' ownership of the Fund is available in the SAI.
Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. The Adviser serves as Administrator for the Fund. State Street, part of State Street Corporation, is the Sub-Administrator for the Fund and the Custodian for the Fund's assets, and serves as Transfer Agent to the Fund.
Lending Agent. State Street is 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 Markets, LLC (the “Distributor”), part of State Street Corporation, is the distributor of Fund Shares. 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 Fund and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others the Fund's investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, and accountants, who provide services to the Fund. 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.
This Prospectus provides information concerning the Trust and the Fund 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 Fund 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.
Index/Trademark Licenses/Disclaimers
The Index was created and is sponsored by State Street Global Advisors (the “Index Provider” or “SSGA”), an affiliate of the Fund and the Fund's Adviser. SSGA or one or more of its affiliates has entered into a license agreement with the Fund pursuant to which the Fund uses the Index at no charge.
The Index Provider establishes and maintains rules which are used to determine the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index. In order to minimize any potential for conflicts caused by the fact that SSGA acts as Index Provider and its affiliate acts as Advisor to the Fund, SSGA has retained an unaffiliated third party
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to calculate the Index (the “Calculation Agent”). The Calculation Agent, using the rules-based methodology, will calculate, maintain and disseminate the Index on a daily basis. SSGA will monitor the results produced by the Calculation Agent to help ensure that the Index is being calculated in accordance with the rules-based methodology. In addition, SSGA and the Adviser have established policies and procedures designed to prevent non-public information about pending changes to the Index from being used or disseminated in an improper manner. Furthermore, SSGA and the Adviser have established policies and procedures designed to prevent improper use and dissemination of non-public information about the Fund's portfolio strategies.
The Index Provider has no obligation to take the needs of the Fund or the owners of Fund Shares into consideration in establishing and maintaining the Index. The Index Provider does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or performance of the Index or the data included therein and shall have no liability in connection with the Index or Index calculation.
Index Calculation Agent. The Index is calculated by NYSE or its affiliates (“NYSE”). The Fund, which is based on the Index, is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by NYSE, and NYSE makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product.
NYSE MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL NYSE HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
SPDR Trademark. The “SPDR” trademark is used under license from Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, an affiliate of The McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (“S&P”). No Fund offered by the Trust or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Index on which the Fund is based to track general stock market performance. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance or redemption of Fund Shares. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.
WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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), 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 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 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. Information showing the number of days the market price of Fund Shares was greater than the Fund's net asset value and the number of days it was less than the Fund's net asset value (i.e., premium or discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Fund's website at https://www.spdrs.com.
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The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an indicative optimized portfolio value (“IOPV”) relating to the Fund. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of the Fund's net asset value per Fund Share using market data converted into U.S. dollars at the current currency rates. The IOPV price is based on quotes and closing prices from the securities' local market and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market's close. 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, which is calculated only once a day. Neither the Fund 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 Fund does not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions; however, the Fund reserves 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 the Fund's investment strategy, or whether they would cause the 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 the Fund directly, and that most trading in the 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 the Fund's shareholders or (b) any attempts to market time the Fund by shareholders would result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders.
Distribution and Service Plan
The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of Fund Shares. No payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made through at least October 31, 2017. Additionally, the implementation of any such payments would have to be approved by the Board prior to implementation. Because these fees would be paid out of the Fund's assets on an on-going basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more over time than paying other types of sales charges.
Distributions
Dividends and Capital Gains. As a Fund shareholder, you are entitled to your share of the Fund's income and net realized gains on its investments. The Fund pays out substantially all of its net earnings to its shareholders as “distributions.”
The Fund may earn income dividends from stocks, 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.” The Fund will generally realize 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. The Fund will generally realize long-term capital gains or losses whenever it sells or exchanges assets held for more than one year. Net capital gains (the excess of the 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, are generally distributed to shareholders quarterly, but may vary significantly from period to period.
Net capital gains for the Fund are distributed at least annually. Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently or at any other times to improve Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the 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 Fund's portfolio holdings disclosure policy is described in the SAI. In addition, the identities and quantities of the securities held by the Fund are disclosed on the Fund's website.
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Additional Tax Information
The following discussion is a summary of some important U.S. federal tax considerations generally applicable to an investment in the Fund. Your investment in the 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.
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 the Fund. The income dividends and short-term capital gains distributions you receive from the Fund will be taxed as either ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Subject to certain limitations, dividends that are reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income are taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. Any distributions of the 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 rates of up to 20%. Distributions in excess of the 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 Fund's shares, and, in general, as capital gain thereafter.
In general, dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund, which, in general, includes dividend income from taxable U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations (i.e., certain foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, and certain other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States), provided that the Fund satisfies certain holding period requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations and has not hedged its position in the stock in certain ways. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held by the Fund for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning at the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for fewer than 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date. These holding period requirements will also apply to your ownership of Fund Shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. Additionally, dividends paid on Fund Shares on loan will not be treated as qualified dividend income.
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.
If the 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.
If you lend your Fund Shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements you may lose the ability to treat Fund dividends (paid while the Fund Shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. You should consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor to discuss your particular circumstances.
Distributions paid in January, but declared by the 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 Fund will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
A distribution will reduce the 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.
Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. The 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 the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Fund's ability to recognize losses. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund. You should consult your personal tax advisor regarding the application of these rules.
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Foreign Currency Transactions. The 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.
Foreign Income Taxes. Investment income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which may entitle the Fund to a reduced rate of such taxes or exemption from taxes on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax for the Fund in advance since the amount of the assets to be invested within various countries is not known. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund at the close of its taxable year consist of certain foreign stocks or securities, the Fund may elect to “pass through” to you certain foreign income taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund. If the Fund makes such an election, you will be considered to have received as an additional dividend your share of such foreign taxes, but you may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating your taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating your federal income tax. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If the Fund does not so elect, the Fund will be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Fund.
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.
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 Fund Shares (or securities surrendered) have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the 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 the 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 Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, the 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 Fund, the purchaser (or group of purchasers) will not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.
Certain Tax-Exempt Investors. The 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 the 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.
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Non-U.S. Investors. Ordinary income dividends paid by the 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, the Fund may report interest-related dividends to the extent of its net income derived from U.S. source interest and the 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 the 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 and, after December 31, 2018, to redemption proceeds and certain capital gain 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. The 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) 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 28%. 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.
Other Tax Issues. The Fund may be subject to tax in certain states where the Fund does business. Furthermore, in those states which have income tax laws, the tax treatment of the Fund and of Fund shareholders with respect to distributions by the Fund 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 Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Fund under all applicable tax laws.
General Information
The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 12, 1998. If shareholders of the 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
The Fund is a separate, non-diversified series of the Trust, which is an open-end registered management investment company.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, Fund Shares are issued by the respective series of the Trust and the acquisition of Fund Shares by investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
The Trust has received exemptive relief from Section 12(d)(1) to allow registered investment companies to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions as set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.
From time to time, the 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 the Fund.
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Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP serves as counsel to the Trust, including the Fund. Ernst & Young LLP serves as the independent registered public accounting firm and will audit the Fund's financial statements annually.
Premium/Discount Information
Information showing the number of days the market price of the Fund's shares was greater than the Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a premium) and the number of days it was less than the Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Fund's website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlight tables are intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance since its inception. Certain information reflects the performance results for a single Fund Share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund's financial highlights and financial statements, is included in the annual report to shareholders, which is available upon request. The financial information included in these tables should be read in conjunction with the financial statements incorporated by reference in the SAI.
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This Page Intentionally Left Blank
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Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR SSGA
Gender Diversity
Index ETF
  For the
Period
3/8/16* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 60.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.35
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

2.78
Total from investment operations

3.13
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.04
Distributions to shareholders from:
 
Net investment income

(0.35)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 62.82
Total return(c)

5.31%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$270,109
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.20 %(d)
Net investment income (loss)

1.79 %(d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

1%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
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Where to Learn More About the Fund
This Prospectus does not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC with respect to Fund Shares. An SAI and the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, each of which has been or will be filed with the SEC, provide more information about the Fund. The Prospectus and SAI may be supplemented from time to time. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during the Fund's last fiscal year. The SAI and the financial statements included in the Trust's annual report to shareholders are incorporated herein by reference (i.e., they are legally part of this Prospectus). These materials may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing to the Distributor, State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Fund's website at https://www.spdrs.com 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 and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room (100 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20549) or on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. You may get copies of this and other information after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Fund in writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, 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 Fund. 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.
SHESTATPRO The Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-08839.


Table of Contents
Prospectus
October 31, 2016
SPDR® Series Trust    
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF) (BIL)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays TIPS ETF) (IPE)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF) (SIPE)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF) (TIPX)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF) (SST)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF) (ITE)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF) (TLO)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF) (SCPB)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF) (ITR)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF) (LWC)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF) (CBND)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Convertible Securities ETF) (CWB)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF) (MBG)
 
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF) (BNDS)
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Nuveen Barclays Municipal Bond ETF) (TFI)
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF) (SHM)
SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (HYMB)
SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR DB International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF) (WIP)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF) (BWZ)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF) (BWX)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF) (IBND)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF) (EBND)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF) (JNK)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF) (SJNK)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF) (FLRN)
SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF (CJNK)
 
 
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
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.

 


 

Table of Contents
Fund Summaries  
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF 1
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF 5
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF 9
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF 13
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF 17
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF 21
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF 25
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF 29
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF 35
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF 42
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF 48
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF 54
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF 60
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF 65
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF 71
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF 76
SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF 81
SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF 87
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF 93
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF 99
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF 105
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF 112
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF 118
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF 124
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF 130
SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF 136
Additional Strategies Information 142
Additional Risk Information 143
Management 168
Index/Trademark Licenses/Disclaimers 174
Additional Purchase and Sale Information 177
Distribution and Service Plan 178
Distributions 178
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure 179
Additional Tax Information 179
General Information 183
Premium/Discount Information 183
Financial Highlights 183
Where to Learn More About the Funds Back Cover

 


 

Fund Summaries
SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the 1-3 month sector of the United States Treasury Bill market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.1345%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.0000%
Other expenses 0.0016%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.1361%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$14 $44 $77 $174
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 685% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
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Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to 1 month and less than 3 months. The Index includes all publicly issued zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Bills that have a remaining maturity of less than 3 months and more than 1 month, are rated investment grade, and have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. In addition, the securities must be denominated in U.S. dollars and must be fixed rate and non-convertible. Excluded from the Index are certain special issues, such as flower bonds, targeted investor notes, state and local government series bonds, inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury, commonly known as “TIPS,” and coupon issues that have been stripped from bonds included in the Index. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 19 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 0.18 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may limit the ability of the Fund to obtain cash to meet redemptions on a timely basis.  In addition, the Fund, due to
2

 

limitations on investments in any illiquid securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 0.70% (Q1, 2008)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -0.03% (Q2, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 0.09%.
 
 
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Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(5/25/07)
Return Before Taxes -0.11% -0.07% 0.47%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.11% -0.07% 0.30%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.06% -0.06% 0.31%
Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.03% 0.05% 0.58%
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 Todd Bean, Sean Lussier and Jeff St. Peters.
Todd Bean, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the firm's Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2002.
Sean Lussier is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the firm's North America Cash Management Group. He joined the Adviser in 2004.
Jeff St. Peters is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Head of U.S. Cash Management within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 1999.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
4

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays TIPS ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the inflation protected sector of the United States Treasury market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 17% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of the inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury, commonly known as “TIPS.” TIPS are securities issued by the U.S. Treasury that are designed to provide inflation
5

 

protection to investors. The Index includes publicly issued TIPS that have at least 1 year remaining to maturity on the Index rebalancing date, with an issue size equal to or in excess of $500 million. Bonds must be capital-indexed and linked to an eligible inflation index. The securities must be denominated in U.S. dollars and pay coupon and principal in U.S. dollars. The notional coupon of a bond must be fixed or zero. Bonds must settle on or before the Index rebalancing date. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 37 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk: The principal amount of an inflation-indexed security typically increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by a specified index. It is possible that, in a period of declining inflation rates, the Fund could receive at maturity less than the initial principal amount of an inflation-indexed security. Changes in the values of inflation-indexed securities may be difficult to predict, and it is possible that an investment in such securities will have an effect different from that anticipated.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
6

 

growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 5.44% (Q1, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -7.42% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 7.55%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
7

 

  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(5/25/07)
Return Before Taxes -1.87% 2.46% 4.19%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -1.93% 1.77% 3.22%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -1.06% 1.63% 2.91%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-1.72% 2.63% 4.35%
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, James Kramer and Cynthia Moy.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
James Kramer is a Vice President of the Adviser and U.S. Head of Fixed Income Trading. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Cynthia Moy is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group. She 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
8

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the 0-5 year inflation protected sector of the United States Treasury market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses1 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
1 “Other expenses” have been restated to reflect current fees. Amounts do not reflect non-recurring expenses incurred during the prior 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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 39% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year US Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
9

 

The Index is designed to measure the performance of the inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury commonly known as “TIPS” that have a remaining maturity less than 5 years. TIPS are securities issued by the U.S. Treasury that are designed to provide inflation protection to investors. The Index includes publicly issued TIPS that have less than 5 years remaining to maturity on index rebalancing date, with an issue size equal to or in excess of $500 million. The total amount outstanding for each issue is reflected, there are no adjustments made for sums held in the Federal Reserve System Open Market Account (SOMA) account. Bonds must be capital-indexed and linked to a domestic inflation index. The securities must be issued by the U.S. government, denominated in U.S. dollars and pay coupon and principal in U.S. dollars. New bonds/reopening's entering the Index must settle on or before the Index rebalancing date. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar date of each month. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 8 securities and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 0.60 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk: The principal amount of an inflation-indexed security typically increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by a specified index. It is possible that, in a period of declining inflation rates, the Fund could receive at maturity less than the initial principal amount of an inflation-indexed security. Changes in the values of inflation-indexed securities may be difficult to predict, and it is possible that an investment in such securities will have an effect different from that anticipated.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may limit the ability of the Fund to obtain cash to meet redemptions on a timely basis.  In addition, the Fund, due to
10

 

limitations on investments in any illiquid securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 0.58% (Q2, 2015)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -0.70% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 2.89%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold
11

 

Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(2/27/14)
Return Before Taxes -0.12% -1.05%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.12% -1.41%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.07% -0.96%
Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year U.S. Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.06% -0.90%
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, James Kramer and Cynthia Moy.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
James Kramer is a Vice President of the Adviser and U.S. Head of Fixed Income Trading. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Cynthia Moy is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group. She 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 50,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the 1-10 year inflation protected sector of the United States Treasury market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year U.S. Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of the inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury commonly known as “TIPS” that have a remaining maturity greater than or equal to 1 year and less than 10 years.
13

 

TIPS are securities issued by the U.S. Treasury that are designed to provide inflation protection to investors. The Index includes publicly issued TIPS that have at least 1 year and less than 10 years remaining to maturity on the index rebalancing date, with an issue size equal to or in excess of $500 million. The total amount outstanding for each issue is reflected, there are no adjustments made for sums held in the Federal Reserve System Open Market Account (SOMA) account. Bonds must be capital-indexed and linked to a domestic inflation index. The securities must be issued by the U.S. Government and must be denominated in U.S. dollars and pay coupon and principal in U.S. dollars. New bonds/ reopening's entering the Index must settle on or before the index rebalancing date. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar date of each month. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 24 securities.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk: The principal amount of an inflation-indexed security typically increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by a specified index. It is possible that, in a period of declining inflation rates, the Fund could receive at maturity less than the initial principal amount of an inflation-indexed security. Changes in the values of inflation-indexed securities may be difficult to predict, and it is possible that an investment in such securities will have an effect different from that anticipated.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
14

 

Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Highest Quarterly Return: 2.90% (Q2, 2014)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -2.01% (Q3, 2014)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 5.44%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
15

 

  One Year Since Inception
(5/29/13)
Return Before Taxes -0.67% -1.34%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.70% -1.64%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.38% -1.15%
Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-0.53% -1.22%
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, James Kramer and Cynthia Moy.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
James Kramer is a Vice President of the Adviser and U.S. Head of Fixed Income Trading. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Cynthia Moy is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group. She 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
16

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the short term sector of the United States Treasury market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.10%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.10%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$10 $32 $56 $128
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 40% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays 1-5 Year U.S. Treasury Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to 1 year and less than 5 years. The Index includes all publicly issued U.S. Treasury
17

 

securities that are rated investment grade and have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. In addition, the securities must be denominated in U.S. dollars, and must be fixed rate and non-convertible. Excluded from the Index are certain special issues, such as flower bonds, targeted investor notes, state and local government series bonds, inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury, commonly known as “TIPS,” and coupon issues that have been stripped from bonds included in the Index. Also excluded from the Index are structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features, private placements, floating rate securities and Eurobonds. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 153 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 2.82 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
18

 

growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 0.85% (Q1, 2015)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -0.69% (Q4, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 2.14%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
19

 

  One Year Since Inception
(11/30/11)
Return Before Taxes 0.82% 0.63%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.46% 0.39%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.46% 0.38%
Bloomberg Barclays 1-5 Year U.S. Treasury Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.92% 0.74%
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, Joanna Madden and Cynthia Moy.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
Joanna Madden is a Vice President of the Adviser. She joined the Adviser in 2003.
Cynthia Moy is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group. She 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
20

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the 1-10 year sector of the United States Treasury market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.10%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.10%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$10 $32 $56 $128
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate U.S. Treasury Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to 1 year and less than 10 years. The Index includes all publicly issued, U.S. Treasury
21

 

securities that have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to 1 year and less than 10 years, are rated investment grade, and have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. In addition, the securities must be denominated in U.S. dollars and must be fixed rate and non-convertible. Excluded from the Index are certain special issues, such as flower bonds, targeted investor notes, state and local government series bonds, inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury, commonly known as “TIPS,” and coupon issues that have been stripped from bonds included in the Index. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 207 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 4.01 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 6.53% (Q4, 2008)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -2.16% (Q2, 2009)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 3.30%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
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  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(5/23/07)
Return Before Taxes 1.08% 2.00% 3.69%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.56% 1.41% 2.91%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.61% 1.32% 2.59%
Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate U.S. Treasury Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.18% 2.11% 3.78%
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, Cynthia Moy and Joanna Madden.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
Cynthia Moy is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group. She joined the Adviser in 2007.
Joanna Madden is a Vice President of the Adviser. She joined the Adviser in 2003.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the long term (10+ years) sector of the United States Treasury market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.10%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.10%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$10 $32 $56 $128
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 22% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Long U.S. Treasury Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have a remaining maturity of 10 or more years. The Index includes all publicly issued, U.S. Treasury securities that have a remaining
25

 

maturity of 10 or more years, are rated investment grade, and have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. In addition, the securities must be denominated in U.S. dollars and must be fixed rate and non-convertible. Excluded from the Index are certain special issues, such as flower bonds, targeted investor notes, state and local government series bonds, inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury, commonly known as “TIPS,” and coupon issues that have been stripped from bonds included in the Index. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 46 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 18.28 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
26

 

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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 24.55% (Q3, 2011)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -8.29% (Q2, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 14.61%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
27

 

  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(5/23/07)
Return Before Taxes -1.29% 7.62% 7.55%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -2.38% 6.40% 6.19%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.73% 5.43% 5.41%
Bloomberg Barclays Long U.S. Treasury Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-1.21% 7.75% 7.64%
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, Joanna Madden and Cynthia Moy.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
Joanna Madden is a Vice President of the Adviser. She joined the Adviser in 2003.
Cynthia Moy is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group. She 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
28

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the short-term U.S. corporate bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.12%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.12%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$12 $39 $68 $154
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 56% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. 1-3 Year Corporate Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund may use derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index swaps, to obtain investment exposure that the Adviser expects to correlate closely with the Index, or a portion of the Index, and in managing cash flows.
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The Index is designed to measure the performance of the short term U.S. corporate bond market. The Index includes publicly issued U.S. dollar denominated corporate issues that have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to 1 year and less than 3 years, are rated investment grade (must be Baa3/BBB- or higher using the middle rating of Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Inc., or Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC), and have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. In addition, the securities must be denominated in U.S. dollars, fixed rate and non-convertible. The Index includes only corporate sectors. The corporate sectors are Industrial, Utility, and Financial Institutions, which include both U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. The following instruments are excluded from the Index: structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features; private placements; floating rate securities; and Eurobonds. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial and industrial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 1,205 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 1.89 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
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.
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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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be
31

 

less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual
returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
 
 
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Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 1.86% (Q3, 2010)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -0.56% (Q3, 2011)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 2.35%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(12/16/09)
Return Before Taxes 0.80% 1.61% 1.81%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.18% 1.02% 1.19%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.45% 1.00% 1.15%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. 1-3 Year Corporate Bond Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.01% 1.98% 2.36%
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 Kyle Kelly, Frank Miethe and Christopher DiStefano.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Frank Miethe, CFA, is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Passive Fixed Income Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
Christopher DiStefano is a Portfolio Manager within SSGA's Fixed Income, Currency, and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2010.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the intermediate term (1-10 years) sector of the United States corporate bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.12%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.12%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$12 $39 $68 $154
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 26% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Intermediate Corporate Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market
35

 

instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund may use derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index swaps, to obtain investment exposure that the Adviser expects to correlate closely with the Index, or a portion of the Index, and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to measure the performance of U.S. corporate bonds that have a maturity of greater than or equal to 1 year and less than 10 years. The Index is a component of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Index and includes investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable, U.S. dollar denominated debt with $250 million or more of par amount outstanding, issued by U.S. and non-U.S. industrial, utility, and financial institutions. Subordinated issues, securities with normal call and put provisions and sinking funds, medium-term notes (if they are publicly underwritten), 144A securities with registration rights, and global issues that are SEC-registered are included. Structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features, as well as private placements, floating- rate securities, and Eurobonds are excluded from the Index. The Index is rebalanced monthly, on the last business day of the month. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the industrial and financial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 4,010 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 4.42 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
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
36

 

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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks
37

 

associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Restricted Securities Risk: The Fund may hold securities that have not been registered for sale to the public under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the securities may have significant volatility.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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
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or closed out at a discount to the valuation established by the Fund at that time. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 4.07% (Q3, 2010)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -2.53% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 6.02%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Intermediate Corporate Bond Index. Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(2/10/09)
Return Before Taxes 0.92% 3.68% 5.16%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.24% 2.45% 3.82%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.52% 2.34% 3.49%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Intermediate Corporate Bond Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.08% 3.93% 6.43%
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 Kyle Kelly, Frank Miethe and Christopher DiStefano.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Frank Miethe, CFA, is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Passive Fixed Income Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
Christopher DiStefano is a Portfolio Manager within SSGA's Fixed Income, Currency, and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2010.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the long term (10+ years) sector of the United States corporate bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.12%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.12%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$12 $39 $68 $154
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Term Corporate Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of U.S. corporate bonds that have a maturity of greater than or equal to 10 years. The Index is a component of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Index and includes investment
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grade, fixed-rate, taxable, U.S. dollar-denominated debt with $250 million or more of par amount outstanding, issued by U.S. and non-U.S. industrial, utility, and financial institutions. Subordinated issues, securities with normal call and put provisions and sinking funds, medium-term notes (if they are publicly underwritten), 144A securities with registration rights, and global issues that are SEC-registered are included. Structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features, as well as private placements, floating-rate securities, and Eurobonds are excluded from the Index. The Index is rebalanced monthly, on the last business day of the month. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the industrial and financial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 1,838 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 14.31 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the
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Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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Restricted Securities Risk: The Fund may hold securities that have not been registered for sale to the public under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the securities may have significant volatility.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 8.89% (Q3, 2011)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -7.85% (Q2, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 16.96%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.  Prior to December 17, 2010, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of an index different from the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Term Corporate Bond Index. Performance of the Fund prior to December 17, 2010 is therefore based on the Fund's investment strategy to track the prior index.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(3/10/09)
Return Before Taxes -4.51% 5.99% 9.08%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -6.36% 4.00% 6.87%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -2.53% 3.81% 6.27%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Term Corporate Bond Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-4.61% 6.29% 10.26%
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 Kyle Kelly, Frank Miethe and Christopher DiStefano.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Frank Miethe, CFA, is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Passive Fixed Income Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
Christopher DiStefano is a Portfolio Manager within SSGA's Fixed Income, Currency, and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2010.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. corporate bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.16%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.16%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$16 $52 $90 $205
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market
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instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund may use derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index swaps, to obtain investment exposure that the Adviser expects to correlate closely with the Index, or a portion of the Index, and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to measure the performance of the U.S. corporate bond market. The Index includes publicly issued U.S. dollar denominated corporate issues that are rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Inc., or Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, and have $250 million or more of par amount outstanding. Only securities issued by companies with publicly traded equity are eligible for inclusion. In addition, the securities must be denominated in U.S. dollars, fixed rate and non-convertible. The Index includes only corporate sectors. The corporate sectors are Industrial, Utility, and Financial Institutions, which include both U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. The following instruments are excluded from the Index: structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features; subordinated debt; private placements; floating rate securities; and Eurobonds. Individual issuers in the Index are weighted using the following financial ratios: return on assets, interest coverage and current ratio (“factors”). Individual security weights are then calculated by the relative market value of each eligible security issued by the issuer. Monthly maintenance rebalancing to reflect the addition and subtraction of securities occurs on the last business day of each month. Factor rebalancing occurs every six months on the last business day of March and September. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the industrial and financial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 5,266 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 6.54 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
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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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
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Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or
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redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 2.94% (Q3, 2012)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -3.13% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 8.30%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(4/6/11)
Return Before Taxes -1.07% 4.09%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -2.34% 2.69%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -0.59% 2.58%
Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-0.57% 4.48%
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 Patrick Bresnehan, Kyle Kelly and Christopher DiStefano.
Patrick Bresnehan, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and the North America Head of Fixed Income Beta within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Christopher DiStefano is a Portfolio Manager within SSGA's Fixed Income, Currency, and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2010.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Convertible Securities ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks United States convertible securities markets with outstanding issue sizes greater than $500 million.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.40%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.40%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$41 $128 $224 $505
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 30% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Convertible Bond >$500MM Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to represent the market of U.S. convertible securities, such as convertible bonds, with outstanding issue sizes greater than $500 million. Convertible bonds are bonds that can be exchanged, at the option of
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the holder, for a specific number of shares of the issuer's preferred stock (“Preferred Securities”) or common stock. The Index components are a subset of issues in the Barclays Convertible Composite Index. To be included in the Index, a security must meet the following requirements: (i) have an outstanding issue size greater than $500 million; (ii) be a non-called, non-defaulted security; (iii) have at least 31 days until maturity; (iv) be U.S. dollar denominated; and (v) be a registered or a convertible tranche issued under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Index is rebalanced on a monthly basis, at the end of each month. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the technology and consumer staples sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 93 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk: Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies' performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal product companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.
Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities may be subordinate to other debt securities issued by the same issuer. Issuers of convertible securities are often not as strong financially as issuers with higher credit ratings. Convertible securities typically provide yields lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Their values may be more volatile than those of non-convertible securities, reflecting changes in the values of the securities into which they are convertible.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in
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fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk: Generally, Preferred Security holders have no or limited voting rights with respect to the issuing company. In addition, Preferred Securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Dividend payments on a Preferred Security typically must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. In the event an issuer of Preferred Securities experiences economic difficulties, the issuer's Preferred Securities may lose substantial value due to the reduced likelihood that the issuer's board of directors will declare a dividend and the fact that the Preferred Security may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. Further, because many Preferred Securities pay dividends at a fixed rate, their market price can be sensitive to changes in interest rates in a manner similar to bonds — that is, as interest rates rise, the value of the Preferred Securities held by the Fund are likely to decline. In addition, because many Preferred Securities allow holders to convert the Preferred Securities into common stock of the issuer, their market price can be sensitive to changes in the value of the issuer's common stock and, therefore, declining common stock values may also cause the value of the Fund's
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investments to decline. Preferred securities often have call features which allow the issuer to redeem the security at its discretion. The redemption of a Preferred Security having a higher than average yield may cause a decrease in the Fund's yield.
Restricted Securities Risk: The Fund may hold securities that have not been registered for sale to the public under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the securities may have significant volatility.
Technology Sector Risk: Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 10.36% (Q1, 2012)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -13.25% (Q3, 2011)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 9.93%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(4/14/09)
Return Before Taxes -0.46% 6.83% 11.37%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -2.68% 4.95% 9.42%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.59% 4.70% 8.44%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Convertible Bond >$500MM Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-0.28% 7.35% 12.63%
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 Michael Brunell and Christopher DiStefano.
Michael Brunell, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Christopher DiStefano is a Portfolio Manager within SSGA's Fixed Income, Currency, and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2010.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. agency mortgage pass-through sector of the U.S. investment grade bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.20%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Acquired fund fees and expenses1 0.02%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.22%
Less contractual fee waiver2 -0.02%
Net annual Fund operating expenses 0.20%
1 “Acquired fund fees and expenses” are not included in the Fund's financial statements, which provide a clearer picture of a Fund's actual operating costs.
2 SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse expenses in an amount equal to any acquired fund fees and expenses (excluding holdings in acquired funds for cash management purposes, if any). This waiver and/or reimbursement does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any amounts waived or reimbursed. This waiver and/or reimbursement may not be terminated except with the approval of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$23 $71 $124 $280
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 356% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. MBS Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds
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Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. TBA Transactions (as defined below) are included within the above-noted investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of the U.S. agency mortgage pass-through segment of the U.S. investment grade bond market. The term “U.S. agency mortgage pass-through security” refers to a category of pass-through securities backed by pools of mortgages and issued by one of the following U.S. government-sponsored enterprises: Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”); Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”). The Index is formed by grouping the universe of individual fixed rate mortgage backed securities pools into generic aggregates according to the following parameters: (i) agency; (ii) program; (iii) pass-through coupon; and (iv) origination year. Index maturity and liquidity criteria are then applied to these aggregates to determine which qualify for inclusion in the Index. To be included in the Index, securities must be fixed rate, denominated in U.S. dollars, and be part of a cohort that has $1 billion or more of outstanding face value and have a weighted average maturity of at least one year. Excluded from the Index are buydowns, graduated equity mortgages, project loans, manufactured homes (dropped in January 1992), graduated payment mortgages (dropped in January 1995), non-agency (whole loan) securities, jumbo securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last calendar day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 343 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 2.40 years.
Most transactions in mortgage pass-through securities occur through standardized contracts for future delivery in which the exact mortgage pools to be delivered are not specified until a few days prior to settlement, referred to as a “to-be announced transaction” or “TBA Transaction.” In a TBA Transaction, the buyer and seller agree upon general trade parameters such as agency, settlement date, par amount and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to the settlement date. The Fund expects to enter into such contracts on a regular basis, and pending settlement of such contracts, the Fund will invest its assets in liquid, short-term instruments, including shares of money market funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to the risk of significant credit downgrades, illiquidity, and defaults to a greater extent than many other types of fixed-income investments. During periods of falling interest rates, mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be called or prepaid, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security's duration and interest rate sensitivity, and reduce the value of the security. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, and the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
U.S. Government Securities Risk: Certain U.S. government securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury, are not supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and involve increased credit risks.
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Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk: The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued, to-be-announced (“TBA”) or delayed delivery basis and may purchase securities on a forward commitment basis. The purchase price of the securities is typically fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. At the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. Purchase of securities on a when-issued, TBA, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis may give rise to investment leverage, and may result in increased volatility of the Fund's net asset value. Default by, or bankruptcy of, a counterparty to a when-issued, TBA or delayed delivery transaction would expose the Fund to possible losses because of an adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools specified in such transaction.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 3.24% (Q2, 2010)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -2.20% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 3.54%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(1/15/09)
Return Before Taxes 1.22% 2.72% 3.49%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.10% 1.61% 2.30%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.69% 1.63% 2.22%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. MBS Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.51% 2.96% 3.60%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Marc DiCosimo, James Kramer and Michael Przygoda.
Marc DiCosimo, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2013.
James Kramer is a Vice President of the Adviser and U.S. Head of Fixed Income Trading. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Michael Przygoda, CFA, is a Principal of SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team. He joined the Adviser in 2006.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. dollar denominated investment grade bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.08%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.08%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$8 $26 $45 $103
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 105% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. TBA Transactions (as defined below) are included within the above-noted investment policy. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund may use derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index swaps, to obtain investment exposure that the Adviser expects to correlate closely with the Index, or a portion of the Index, and in managing cash flows.
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The Index is designed to measure the performance of the U.S. dollar denominated investment grade bond market, which includes investment grade (must be Baa3/BBB- or higher using the middle rating of Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, and Fitch Inc.) government bonds, investment grade corporate bonds, mortgage pass through securities, commercial mortgage backed securities and asset backed securities that are publicly for sale in the United States. The securities in the Index must have at least 1 year remaining to maturity and must have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. Agency mortgage backed securities must be part of a cohort that has a minimum outstanding balance of $1 billion. Asset backed securities must have a minimum deal size of $500 million and a minimum tranche size of $25 million. For commercial mortgage backed securities, the original aggregate transaction must have a minimum deal size of $500 million, and a minimum tranche size of $25 million; the aggregate outstanding transaction sizes must be at least $300 million to remain in the Index. In addition, the securities must be U.S. dollar denominated, fixed rate, non-convertible, and taxable. Certain types of securities, such as flower bonds, targeted investor notes, and state and local government series bonds are excluded from the Index. Also excluded from the Index are structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features, private placements, floating rate securities and Eurobonds. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 9,908 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 5.51 years.
As of August 31, 2016, approximately 27.7% of the bonds represented in the Index were U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities. U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities are securities issued by entities such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) that are backed by pools of mortgages. Most transactions in mortgage pass-through securities occur through standardized contracts for future delivery in which the exact mortgage pools to be delivered are not specified until a few days prior to settlement, referred to as a “to-be-announced transaction” or “TBA Transaction.” In a TBA Transaction, the buyer and seller agree upon general trade parameters such as agency, settlement date, par amount and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to the settlement date; however, it is not anticipated that the Fund will receive pools, but instead will participate in rolling TBA Transactions. The Fund expects to enter into such contracts on a regular basis. The Fund, pending settlement of such contracts, will invest its assets in high-quality, liquid short term instruments, including shares of affiliated money market funds.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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
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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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Money Market 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 seeks 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 increase 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.
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to the risk of significant credit downgrades, illiquidity, and defaults to a greater extent than many other types of fixed-income investments. During periods of falling interest rates, mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be called or prepaid, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security's duration and interest rate sensitivity, and reduce the value of the security. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, and the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.
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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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
U.S. Government Securities Risk: Certain U.S. government securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury, are not supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and involve increased credit risks.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk: The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued, to-be-announced (“TBA”) or delayed delivery basis and may purchase securities on a forward commitment basis. The purchase price of the securities is typically fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. At the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. Purchase of securities on a when-issued, TBA, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis may give rise to investment leverage, and may result in increased volatility of the Fund's net asset value. Default by, or bankruptcy of, a counterparty to a when-issued, TBA or delayed delivery transaction would expose the Fund to possible losses because of an adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools specified in such transaction.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
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Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 5.90% (Q4, 2008)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -2.38% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 5.76%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(5/23/07)
Return Before Taxes 0.50% 3.11% 4.58%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.59% 2.09% 3.26%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.30% 1.98% 3.05%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.55% 3.25% 4.58%
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 Marc DiCosimo, James Kramer and Michael Przygoda.
Marc DiCosimo, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2013.
James Kramer is a Vice President of the Adviser and U.S. Head of Fixed Income Trading. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Michael Przygoda, CFA, is a Principal of SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team. He joined the Adviser in 2006.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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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 such 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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SPDR® Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Nuveen Barclays Municipal Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. municipal bond market and provides income that is exempt from federal income taxes.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.30%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.30%
Less contractual fee waiver1 -0.07%
Net annual Fund operating expenses 0.23%
1 SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and reimburse certain expenses, until October 31, 2017, so that the Net annual Fund operating expenses of the Fund will be limited to 0.23% of the Fund's average daily net assets before application of any extraordinary expenses or acquired fund fees and expenses. The contractual fee waiver does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any fees the Adviser previously waived. The Adviser may continue the waiver from year to year, but there is no guarantee that the Adviser will do so and after October 31, 2017, the waiver may be cancelled or modified at any time.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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. The Example reflects the Fund's contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement only in the periods for which the contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
$24 $89 $162 $374
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 21% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Managed Money Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management” or the “Sub-Adviser”), the investment sub-adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
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Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Sub-Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. Additionally, the Fund intends to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in investments the income of which is exempt from Federal income tax. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index is designed to track the U.S. long term tax-exempt bond market, including state and local general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, pre-refunded bonds, and insured bonds. The Index is comprised of tax-exempt municipal securities issued by states, cities, counties, districts and their respective agencies. A general obligation bond is secured by the full faith and credit of its issuer. A revenue bond is payable from a specific source of revenue. A pre-refunded bond is a revenue bond that the issuer has allocated funds to fully retire. An insured bond is protected from issuer default or rating downgrade by an insurance company. The Index also includes municipal lease obligations, which are securities issued by state and local governments and authorities to finance the acquisition of equipment and facilities. They may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase contract, a conditional sales contract, or a participation interest in a lease or contract. The Index is a rules-based, market-value weighted index engineered for the tax exempt bond market. All bonds in the Index must be rated Aa3/AA- or higher by at least two of the following statistical ratings agencies: Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, and Fitch Inc. If only two of the three agencies rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the agencies rates the security, the rating must be at least Aa3/AA-. Each Index security must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have been issued within the last five years, and must be at least one year from their maturity date. Bonds subject to alternative minimum tax, hospital bonds, housing bonds, tobacco bonds, and airline bonds, along with remarketed issues, taxable municipal bonds, floaters, and derivatives are all excluded from the Index. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 21,553 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 6.34 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
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Index Tracking Risk: While the Sub-Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Sub-Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Municipal Obligations Risk: Issuers, including governmental issuers, may be unable to pay their obligations as they come due. The values of municipal obligations that depend on a specific revenue source to fund their payment obligations may fluctuate as a result of actual or anticipated changes in the cash flows generated by the revenue source or changes in the priority of the municipal obligation to receive the cash flows generated by the revenue source. In addition, changes in federal tax laws or the activity of an issuer may adversely affect the tax-exempt status of municipal obligations. Loss of tax-exempt status may cause interest received and distributed to shareholders by the Fund to be taxable and may result in a significant decline in the values of such municipal obligations.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Political Risk: A significant restructuring of federal income tax rates or even serious discussion on the topic in Congress could cause municipal bond prices to fall. The demand for municipal securities is strongly influenced by the value of tax-exempt income to investors. Lower income tax rates could reduce the advantage of owning municipals.
Tax Exemption Risk: There is no guarantee that the Fund's income will be exempt from federal or state income taxes. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Fund's acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Fund to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or alternative minimum tax rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to decline in value.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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.
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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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 6.75% (Q3, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -5.25% (Q4, 2010)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 4.55%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(9/11/07)
Return Before Taxes 3.34% 5.30% 4.69%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 3.31% 5.22% 4.63%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 2.93% 4.78% 4.39%
Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Managed Money Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
3.71% 5.60% 5.03%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Nuveen Asset Management serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Trust's Board of Trustees. To the extent that a reference in this Prospectus refers to the Adviser, with respect to the Fund, such reference should also be read to refer to Nuveen Asset Management, where the context requires.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Timothy Ryan and Steven Hlavin.
Timothy T. Ryan, CFA, is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Ryan joined an affiliate of Nuveen Asset Management in 2010.
Steven M. Hlavin is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Hlavin joined an affiliate of Nuveen Asset Management in 2003.
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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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund intends to pay income that is exempt from regular federal income tax, but which may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). To the extent the Fund invests in securities that do not produce income exempt from regular federal income tax and/or the AMT, a portion of the Fund's distributions may be subject to such taxes. Income from municipal securities of states other than the shareholder's state of residence generally will not qualify for tax-free treatment for such shareholder with respect to state and local taxes.
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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SPDR® Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the short term tax exempt municipal bond market and provides income that is exempt from federal income taxes.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.20%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.20%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$20 $64 $113 $255
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Managed Money Municipal Short Term Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management” or the “Sub-Adviser”), the investment sub-adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Sub-Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. Additionally, the Fund intends to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in investments the income of
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which is exempt from Federal income tax. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index is designed to track the publicly traded municipal bonds that cover the U.S. dollar denominated short term tax exempt bond market, including state and local general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, pre-refunded bonds, and insured bonds. A general obligation bond is secured by the full faith and credit of its issuer. A revenue bond is payable from a specific source of revenue. A pre-refunded bond is a revenue bond that the issuer has allocated funds to fully retire. An insured bond is protected from issuer default or rating downgrade by an insurance company. The Index is a rules-based, market-value weighted index. All bonds in the Index must be rated Aa3/AA- or higher by at least two of the following statistical ratings agencies: Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC or Fitch Inc. If only two of the three agencies rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the agencies rates the security, the rating must be at least Aa3/AA-. Each Index security must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate and have a nominal maturity of one to five years. No issuer may constitute more than 10% of the Index. Bonds subject to alternative minimum tax, hospital bonds, housing bonds, tobacco bonds, and airline bonds, along with remarketed issues, taxable municipal bonds, floaters, and derivatives are all excluded from the Index. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 4,218 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 2.91 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Sub-Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Sub-Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Municipal Obligations Risk: Issuers, including governmental issuers, may be unable to pay their obligations as they come due. The values of municipal obligations that depend on a specific revenue source to fund their payment obligations may fluctuate as a result of actual or anticipated changes in the cash flows generated by the revenue source or changes in the priority of the municipal obligation to receive the cash flows generated by the revenue source. In addition, changes in federal tax laws or the activity of an issuer may adversely affect the tax-exempt status of municipal obligations. Loss of tax-exempt status may cause interest received and distributed to shareholders by the Fund to be taxable and may result in a significant decline in the values of such municipal obligations.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Political Risk: A significant restructuring of federal income tax rates or even serious discussion on the topic in Congress could cause municipal bond prices to fall. The demand for municipal securities is strongly influenced by the value of tax-exempt income to investors. Lower income tax rates could reduce the advantage of owning municipals.
Tax Exemption Risk: There is no guarantee that the Fund's income will be exempt from federal or state income taxes. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Fund's acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Fund to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or alternative minimum tax rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to decline in value.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 2.84% (Q4, 2008)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -1.02% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 1.13%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(10/10/07)
Return Before Taxes 1.12% 1.50% 2.50%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.12% 1.49% 2.49%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 1.04% 1.41% 2.29%
Bloomberg Barclays Managed Money Municipal Short Term Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.36% 1.81% 2.93%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Nuveen Asset Management serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Trust's Board of Trustees. To the extent that a reference in this Prospectus refers to the Adviser, with respect to the Fund, such reference should also be read to refer to Nuveen Asset Management, where the context requires.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Timothy Ryan and Steven Hlavin.
Timothy T. Ryan, CFA, is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Ryan joined an affiliate of Nuveen Asset Management in 2010.
Steven M. Hlavin is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Hlavin joined an affiliate of Nuveen Asset Management in 2003.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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Tax Information
The Fund intends to pay income that is exempt from regular federal income tax, but which may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). To the extent the Fund invests in securities that do not produce income exempt from regular federal income tax and/or the AMT, a portion of the Fund's distributions may be subject to such taxes. Income from municipal securities of states other than the shareholder's state of residence generally will not qualify for tax-free treatment for such shareholder with respect to state and local taxes.
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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SPDR® Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. high yield municipal bond market and to provide income that is exempt from federal income taxes.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.50%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.50%
Less contractual fee waiver1 -0.05%
Net annual Fund operating expenses 0.45%
1 SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and reimburse certain expenses, until October 31, 2017, so that the Net annual Fund operating expenses are limited to 0.45% of the Fund's average daily net assets before application of any extraordinary expenses or acquired fund fees and expenses. The contractual fee waiver does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any fees the Adviser previously waived. The Adviser may continue the waiver from year to year, but there is no guarantee that the Adviser will do so and after October 31, 2017, it may be cancelled or modified at any time.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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. The Example reflects the Fund's contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement only in the periods for which the contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
$46 $155 $275 $623
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Municipal Yield Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management” or the “Sub-Adviser”), the investment sub-adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
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Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Sub-Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. Additionally, the Fund intends to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in investments the income of which is exempt from Federal income tax. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund).
The Index is market value-weighted and designed to measure the performance of high yield municipal bonds issued by U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and local governments or agencies, such that interest on the securities is exempt from regular federal income tax, but may be subject to the alternative minimum tax and to state and local income taxes. High yield securities are generally rated below investment grade and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The Index is a sub-set of the S&P Municipal Bond Index and includes publicly issued U.S. dollar denominated, fixed rate, municipal bonds (including private activity bonds) that have a remaining maturity of at least one calendar month. The Index will consist of categories of bonds in the following proportions at each rebalancing: (i) 70% of the Index constituents are non-rated or rated no higher than Ba1 by Moody's Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody's”) or BB+ by Standard & Poor's (“S&P”) or Fitch Inc. (“Fitch”); (ii) 20% of the Index constituents are rated Baa3, Baa2, or Baa1 by Moody's or BBB-, BBB, or BBB+ by S&P or Fitch; and (iii) 10% of the Index constituents are rated A3, A2, or A1 by Moody's or A-, A, or A+ by S&P or Fitch (collectively, each category comprises the “Index Constituents Determination”). Pre-refunded bonds and bonds that have been escrowed to maturity will not be included in the Index. Where the ratings assigned by the three agencies are not consistent, the Index will use the middle rating. If only two agencies assign ratings, the rating defaults to the lower of the two.
If an individual U.S. territory exceeds 10% of the Index weight following the Index Constituents Determination process, a 10% cap is applied to that U.S. territory. Any excess weight above the 10% cap will be redistributed to all states and uncapped U.S. territories (the “Index Weight Cap Process”). The Index Weight Cap Process is repeated for all U.S. territories until no U.S. territory exceeds 10% of the Index weight.
The S&P Municipal Bond Index is a broad-based, market value-weighted index designed to measure the performance of the U.S. municipal bond market. Only bonds with total outstanding amounts of $2,000,000 or more that are held by a mutual fund and priced daily by S&P Capital IQ's Securities Evaluations qualify for inclusion. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 39,274 issues included in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
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. 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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
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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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Sub-Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Sub-Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Municipal Obligations Risk: Issuers, including governmental issuers, may be unable to pay their obligations as they come due. The values of municipal obligations that depend on a specific revenue source to fund their payment obligations may fluctuate as a result of actual or anticipated changes in the cash flows generated by the revenue source or changes in the priority of the municipal obligation to receive the cash flows generated by the revenue source. In addition, changes in federal tax laws or the activity of an issuer may adversely affect the tax-exempt status of municipal obligations. Loss of tax-exempt status may cause interest received and distributed to shareholders by the Fund to be taxable and may result in a significant decline in the values of such municipal obligations.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Political Risk: A significant restructuring of federal income tax rates or even serious discussion on the topic in Congress could cause municipal bond prices to fall. The demand for municipal securities is strongly influenced by the value of tax-exempt income to investors. Lower income tax rates could reduce the advantage of owning municipals.
Private Activity Bonds Risk: Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities, airport, mass transit or port facilities, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal or hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas or electricity. Other types of private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, equipment,
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repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may constitute municipal securities, although the current federal tax laws place limitations on the size of such issues. The credit and quality of private activity bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds are the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor). The Fund's distributions of its interest income from private activity bonds may subject certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax.
Puerto Rico Specific Risk: Because the Fund invests in Puerto Rico municipal securities, the Fund will have exposure to negative political, economic and statutory factors within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Events, including economic and political policy changes, tax base erosion, territory constitutional limits on tax increases, budget deficits and other financial difficulties and changes in the credit ratings assigned to Puerto Rico's municipal issuers, are likely to affect the Fund's performance. During the U.S. recession, tourism declined and had a negative effect on Puerto Rico's economy and tax revenues. Puerto Rico's operating budget has been structurally unbalanced for the past decade and the government has relied on deficit financing for annual operations. In July 2016, Puerto Rico defaulted on $779 million in general obligation debt. Credit rating firms Standard & Poor's, Fitch Ratings, and Moody's Investors Service have continued to downgrade their respective ratings of Puerto Rico's general obligation debt to below investment grade, along with the ratings of certain related Puerto Rico issuers. Additionally, each rating agency, with the exception of Moody's, has maintained a negative outlook on certain Puerto Rico issuers. Downgrades could create additional strain on a commonwealth already facing economic stagnation and fiscal imbalances, including budget deficits, underfunded pensions, high unemployment, significant debt service obligations, and liquidity issues, and could potentially lead to less market demand, less liquidity, wider spreads, and lower prices for Puerto Rico municipal bonds. Despite the enactment of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), aimed at helping Puerto Rico restructure its debt, Puerto Rico's continued financial difficulties could reduce its ability to access financial markets, potentially increasing the likelihood of a restructuring or default for Puerto Rico municipal bonds that may affect the Fund's investments and its performance.
Tax Exemption Risk: There is no guarantee that the Fund's income will be exempt from federal or state income taxes. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Fund's acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Fund to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or alternative minimum tax rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to decline in value.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 6.51% (Q1, 2014)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -5.80% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 7.45%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(4/13/11)
Return Before Taxes 3.71% 8.03%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 3.70% 7.99%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 4.09% 7.42%
S&P Municipal Yield Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
3.97% 8.25%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Nuveen Asset Management serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Trust's Board of Trustees. To the extent that a reference in this Prospectus refers to the Adviser, with respect to the Fund, such reference should also be read to refer to Nuveen Asset Management, where the context requires.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Timothy Ryan and Steven Hlavin.
Timothy T. Ryan, CFA, is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Ryan joined an affiliate of Nuveen Asset Management in 2010.
Steven M. Hlavin is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Hlavin joined an affiliate of Nuveen Asset Management in 2003.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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Tax Information
The Fund intends to pay income that is exempt from regular federal income tax, but which may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). To the extent the Fund invests in securities that do not produce income exempt from regular federal income tax and/or the AMT, a portion of the Fund's distributions may be subject to such taxes. Income from municipal securities of states other than the shareholder's state of residence generally will not qualify for tax-free treatment for such shareholder with respect to state and local taxes.
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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SPDR® Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® DB International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the inflation protected sector of the global bond market outside the United States.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.50%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.50%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$51 $160 $280 $628
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 52% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Citi International Inflation-Linked Securities Select Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market
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instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund may use derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index swaps, to obtain investment exposure that the Adviser expects to correlate closely with the Index, or a portion of the Index, and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to measure the total return performance of inflation-linked bonds outside the United States with fixed-rate coupon payments that are linked to an inflation index. Inflation-protected public obligations of the inflation-linked government bond markets of developed and emerging market countries, commonly known in the United States as TIPS, are securities issued by such governments that are designed to provide inflation protection to investors. The Index includes government debt (direct obligations of the issuer country) but does not include quasi-government debt or corporate debt. To be included in the Index, bonds must be linked to an inflation index and (i) meet a country-specific minimum issue size, depending on the currency in which the issue is denominated; (ii) have a fixed-rate stated coupon; (iii) have at least one year remaining to maturity at the Index rebalancing date; (iv) settle on or before the Index rebalancing date; and (v) rated at least C by Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) or at least Ca by Moody's Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody's) (excluding defaulted issuers).
The Index is a market-value weighted, capped total return index, in which the maximum market capitalization-based weights of each individual country in the Index cannot exceed 22.5% of the total Index weight. The total market weights of countries with more than 4.6% market weight in the Index cannot collectively exceed 45% of the total Index weight. After the country weights are determined, constituents within each country are assigned weights in proportion to their market capitalization. Additionally, an index quality is assigned to each Index bond as of profile fixing. The quality is first mapped to the S&P rating. If a bond is not rated by S&P but is rated by Moody's, the S&P equivalent of the Moody's rating is assigned to the index quality. If a bond is rated as investment-grade by one rating agency and high-yield by the other, the S&P equivalent of the investment-grade rating is assigned to the index quality. If a bond is rated by neither S&P nor Moody's, the bond is not assigned an index quality. When an issuer defaults, is assigned a D rating by S&P, or enters into Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. (or equivalent in its local market), its bonds remain in the Index until the end of the month. The Index is rebalanced monthly, on the last day of the month. Under certain conditions, however, the par amount of a component security within the Index may be adjusted to conform to requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Countries covered in the Index as of August 31, 2016 comprised: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Fund comprised companies located in the United Kingdom and Europe, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 163 securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Citigroup Index LLC (the "Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Currency Risk: The value of the Fund's assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange rates may have significant volatility, and changes in the values of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar may result in substantial declines in the values of the Fund's assets denominated in foreign currencies.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by
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issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
Emerging Markets Risk: Risks of investing in emerging markets include, among others, greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers and issuers, an emerging market country's dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, and less developed legal systems. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as expropriation, nationalization, embargo, and acts of war. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. These risks are generally greater for investments in frontier market countries, which typically have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries.
Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
Europe: Developed and emerging market countries in Europe will be significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary controls of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (“EU”). Changes in regulations on trade, decreasing imports or exports, changes in the exchange rate of the euro and recessions among European countries may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other European countries. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
United Kingdom: The United Kingdom has one of the largest economies in Europe, and the United States and other European countries are substantial trading partners of the United Kingdom. As a result, the British economy may be impacted by changes to the economic condition of the United States and other European countries. The British economy, along with certain other EU economies, experienced a significant economic slowdown during the recent financial crisis, and certain British financial institutions suffered significant losses, were severely under-capitalized and required government intervention to survive. The British economy relies
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heavily on the export of financial services to the United States and other European countries and, therefore, a prolonged slowdown in the financial services sector may have a negative impact on the British economy. Continued governmental involvement or control in certain sectors may stifle competition in certain sectors or cause adverse effects on economic growth.
In June 2016, the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty, depreciation in the value of the British pound, short-term declines in the stock markets and heightened risk of continued economic volatility worldwide. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Brexit may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for these economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments.  In addition, the United Kingdom has been a target of terrorism in the past. Acts of terrorism in the United Kingdom or against British interests abroad may cause uncertainty in the British financial markets and adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk: The principal amount of an inflation-indexed security typically increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by a specified index. It is possible that, in a period of declining inflation rates, the Fund could receive at maturity less than the initial principal amount of an inflation-indexed security. Changes in the values of inflation-indexed securities may be difficult to predict, and it is possible that an investment in such securities will have an effect different from that anticipated.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be
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less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk: Investments in debt securities issued by governments or by government agencies and instrumentalities involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. Many sovereign debt obligations may be rated below investment grade (“junk” bonds). Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by the Fund will likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. In the event of default of sovereign debt, the Fund may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 12.86% (Q3, 2010)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -6.81% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 12.33%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns
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after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares. Effective February 12, 2016, the Fund changed its benchmark index to the Citi International Inflation-Linked Securities Select Index.  Prior to February 12, 2016, the Fund's investment strategy sought to track the total return performance of the DB Global Government ex-U.S. Inflation-Linked Bond Capped Index.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(3/13/08)
Return Before Taxes -10.43% -0.15% 0.11%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -10.67% -1.07% -0.84%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -5.71% -0.39% -0.22%
Citi International Infation-Linked Securities Select Index*
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
N/A N/A N/A
DB Global Government ex-U.S. Inflation-Linked Bond Capped Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-9.79% 0.43% 0.94%
* The Citi International Inflation-Linked Securities Select Index inception date is January 15, 2016.
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, James Kramer and Cynthia Moy.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
James Kramer is a Vice President of the Adviser and U.S. Head of Fixed Income Trading. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Cynthia Moy is a Principal of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group. She 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the short-term (1-3 year remaining maturity) fixed rate, investment grade debt issued by foreign governments of investment grade countries.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.35%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.35%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$36 $113 $197 $443
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 85% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year Global Treasury ex-US Capped Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market
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instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).  The Fund may also enter into forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and/or investment purposes. Futures contracts may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to measure the performance of fixed-rate local currency sovereign debt of investment grade countries outside the United States that have remaining maturities of one to three years. The Index includes government bonds issued by investment grade countries outside the United States, in local currencies, that have remaining maturities of one to three years and are rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB-/BBB- or higher using the middle rating of Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's, Financial Services, LLC and Fitch Inc., respectively). Each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Treasury ex-US Index, screened such that the following countries are included: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom. In addition, the securities in the Index must be fixed-rate and have certain minimum amounts outstanding, depending upon the currency in which the bonds are denominated. The Index is calculated by Bloomberg Index Services Limited using a modified “market capitalization” methodology. This design ensures that each constituent country within the Index is represented in a proportion consistent with its percentage with respect to the total market capitalization of the Index. Component securities in each constituent country are represented in a proportion consistent with their percentage relative to the other component securities in the constituent country. Under certain conditions, however, the par amount of a component security within the Index may be adjusted to conform to requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The securities in the Index are updated monthly, on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Fund comprised companies located in Japan and Europe, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 151 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 1.90 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Currency Risk: The value of the Fund's assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange rates may have significant volatility, and changes in the values of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar may result in substantial declines in the values of the Fund's assets denominated in foreign currencies.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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
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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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
Emerging Markets Risk: Risks of investing in emerging markets include, among others, greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers and issuers, an emerging market country's dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, and less developed legal systems. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as expropriation, nationalization, embargo, and acts of war. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. These risks are generally greater for investments in frontier market countries, which typically have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries.
Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
Europe: Developed and emerging market countries in Europe will be significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary controls of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (“EU”). Changes in regulations on trade, decreasing imports or exports, changes in the exchange rate of the euro and recessions among European countries may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other European countries. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
Japan: The growth of Japan's economy has historically lagged that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent on international trade and has been adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies and the economic conditions of its trading partners. China has become an important trading partner with Japan, yet the countries' political relationship has become strained. Should political tension increase, it could adversely affect the economy, especially the export sector, and destabilize the region as a whole. Japan also remains heavily dependent on oil imports, and higher commodity prices could therefore have a negative impact on the economy. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times and any increase in its value may cause a decline in exports that could weaken the Japanese economy. Japan has, in the past, intervened in the currency markets to attempt to maintain or reduce the value of the yen. Japanese intervention in the currency markets could cause the value of the yen to fluctuate sharply and unpredictably and could cause losses to investors. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons or tsunamis, could occur in Japan or surrounding areas and could negatively affect the Japanese economy and, in turn, the Fund.
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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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk: Investments in debt securities issued by governments or by government agencies and instrumentalities involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. Many sovereign debt obligations may be rated below investment grade (“junk” bonds). Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by the Fund will
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likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. In the event of default of sovereign debt, the Fund may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 9.52% (Q3, 2010)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -6.58% (Q3, 2014)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 6.74%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(1/15/09)
Return Before Taxes -7.45% -3.55% -0.73%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -7.46% -3.80% -0.99%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -4.21% -2.71% -0.61%
Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year Global Treasury ex-US Capped Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-7.10% -3.21% -0.31%
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, James Kramer and Joanna Madden.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
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James Kramer is a Vice President of the Adviser and U.S. Head of Fixed Income Trading. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Joanna Madden is a Vice President of the Adviser. She joined the Adviser in 2003.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the fixed-rate local currency sovereign debt of investment grade countries outside the United States.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.50%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.50%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$51 $160 $280 $628
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 24% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Treasury Ex-US Capped Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market
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instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).  The Fund may also enter into forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and/or investment purposes. Futures contracts may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to track the fixed-rate local currency sovereign debt of investment grade countries outside the United States. The Index includes government bonds issued by investment grade countries outside the United States, in local currencies, that have a remaining maturity of one year or more and are rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB-/BBB- or higher using the middle rating of Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC and Fitch Inc., respectively). Each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Treasury ex-US Index, screened such that the following countries are included: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom. In addition, the securities in the Index must be fixed-rate and have certain minimum amounts outstanding, depending upon the currency in which the bonds are denominated. The Index is calculated by Bloomberg Index Services Limited using a modified “market capitalization” methodology. This design ensures that each constituent country within the Index is represented in a proportion consistent with its percentage with respect to the total market capitalization of the Index. Component securities in each constituent country are represented in a proportion consistent with their percentage relative to the other component securities in the constituent country. Under certain conditions, however, the par amount of a component security within the Index may be adjusted to conform to requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Fund comprised companies located in Japan and Europe, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 1,101 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 8.76 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Currency Risk: The value of the Fund's assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange rates may have significant volatility, and changes in the values of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar may result in substantial declines in the values of the Fund's assets denominated in foreign currencies.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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
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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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
Emerging Markets Risk: Risks of investing in emerging markets include, among others, greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers and issuers, an emerging market country's dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, and less developed legal systems. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as expropriation, nationalization, embargo, and acts of war. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. These risks are generally greater for investments in frontier market countries, which typically have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries.
Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
Europe: Developed and emerging market countries in Europe will be significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary controls of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (“EU”). Changes in regulations on trade, decreasing imports or exports, changes in the exchange rate of the euro and recessions among European countries may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other European countries. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
Japan: The growth of Japan's economy has historically lagged that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent on international trade and has been adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies and the economic conditions of its trading partners. China has become an important trading partner with Japan, yet the countries' political relationship has become strained. Should political tension increase, it could adversely affect the economy, especially the export sector, and destabilize the region as a whole. Japan also remains heavily dependent on oil imports, and higher commodity prices could therefore have a negative impact on the economy. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times and any increase in its value may cause a decline in exports that could weaken the Japanese economy. Japan has, in the past, intervened in the currency markets to attempt to maintain or reduce the value of the yen. Japanese intervention in the currency markets could cause the value of the yen to fluctuate sharply and unpredictably and could cause losses to investors. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons or tsunamis, could occur in Japan or surrounding areas and could negatively affect the Japanese economy and, in turn, the Fund.
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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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk: Investments in debt securities issued by governments or by government agencies and instrumentalities involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. Many sovereign debt obligations may be rated below investment grade (“junk” bonds). Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by the Fund will
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likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. In the event of default of sovereign debt, the Fund may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 11.62% (Q3, 2010)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -5.15% (Q3, 2014)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 12.35%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(10/2/07)
Return Before Taxes -6.99% -0.85% 1.72%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -6.99% -1.50% 1.08%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -3.96% -0.85% 1.12%
Bloomberg Barclays Global Treasury ex-US Capped Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-6.41% -0.31% 2.39%
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 Mahesh Jayakumar, James Kramer and Joanna Madden.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
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James Kramer is a Vice President of the Adviser and U.S. Head of Fixed Income Trading. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
Joanna Madden is a Vice President of the Adviser. She joined the Adviser in 2003.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the investment grade corporate sector of the global bond market outside of the United States.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.50%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.50%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$51 $160 $280 $628
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD >$1B: Corporate Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, State Street Global Advisors Limited (“SSGA LTD” or the “Sub-Adviser”), the investment sub-adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund).  The Fund may also enter into forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and/or investment purposes. Swaps and futures contracts may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
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The Index is designed to be a broad based measure of the global investment grade, fixed rate, fixed income corporate markets outside the United States. The Index is part of the Bloomberg Barclays Global ex-USD Aggregate Bond Index. The securities in the Index must have a $1 billion USD equivalent market capitalization outstanding and at least 1 year remaining. Securities must be fixed rate, although zero coupon bonds and step-ups are permitted. Additionally, securities must be rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB-/BBB- or better) using the middle rating from Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Inc., or Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC. after dropping the highest and lowest available ratings. If only two agencies rate a security, then the more conservative (lower) rating will be used. If only one rating agency rates a security, then that one rating will be used. Excluded from the Index are subordinated debts, convertible securities, floating-rate notes, fixed-rate perpetuals, warrants, linked bonds, and structured products. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 565 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 5.94 years. As of August 31, 2016, the following countries were represented in the Index: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Fund comprised companies located in Europe, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial and industrial sectors, although this may change from time to time.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Currency Risk: The value of the Fund's assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange rates may have significant volatility, and changes in the values of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar may result in substantial declines in the values of the Fund's assets denominated in foreign currencies.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or
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otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Sub-Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Sub-Adviser.
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.
Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
Europe: Developed and emerging market countries in Europe will be significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary controls of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (“EU”). Changes in regulations on trade, decreasing imports or exports, changes in the exchange rate of the euro and recessions among European countries may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other European countries. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Sub-Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Sub-Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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
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to control the U.S. (and other) government budgets. Transportation securities, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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
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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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 6.77% (Q1, 2012)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -9.36% (Q1, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 8.40%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(5/19/10)
Return Before Taxes -10.29% 0.43% 2.00%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -10.29% -0.06% 1.42%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -5.82% 0.16% 1.34%
Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate ex-USD > $1B: Corporate Bond Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-9.89% 0.83% 2.45%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. SSGA LTD, an affiliate of the Adviser, serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Trust's Board of Trustees. To the extent that a reference in this Prospectus refers to the Adviser, with respect to the Fund, such reference should also be read to refer to SSGA LTD, where the context requires.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Richard Darby-Dowman, Paul Brown, and Peter Spano.
Richard Darby-Dowman is a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Team at SSGA LTD. He joined SSGA LTD in October 2006.
Paul Brown is a Portfolio Manager within the Fixed Income Beta Team in London. He joined SSGA LTD in December 2013.
Peter Spano, CFA, is the EMEA Head of Portfolio Management, Fixed Income Beta at SSGA LTD. He joined SSGA LTD in May 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the fixed-rate local currency sovereign debt of emerging market countries.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.50%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.50%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$51 $160 $280 $628
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 44% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays EM Local Currency Government Diversified Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, State Street Global Advisors Limited (“SSGA LTD” or the “Sub-Adviser”), the investment sub-adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Sub-Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by
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SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund).  The Fund may also enter into forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and/or investment purposes. Swaps and futures contracts may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to measure the performance of the fixed-rate local currency sovereign debt of emerging market countries. The Index includes government bonds issued by investment grade and non-investment grade countries outside the United States, in local currencies, that have a remaining maturity of one year or more and are rated B3/B-/B- or higher using the middle rating of Moody's Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC and Fitch Inc., respectively). Each of the component securities in the Index is a constituent of the Bloomberg Barclays EM Local Currency Government Index, screened such that the following countries are included: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand and Turkey. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Fund comprised companies located in Europe, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 462 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 5.44 years.
The Index is calculated by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (as defined below) using a modified “market capitalization” methodology. This design ensures that each constituent country within the Index is represented in a proportion consistent with its percentage with respect to the total market capitalization of the Index. Component securities in each constituent country are represented in a proportion consistent with their percentage relative to the other component securities in the constituent country. Under certain conditions, however, the par amount of a component security within the Index may be adjusted to conform to requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
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. 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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Currency Risk: The value of the Fund's assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange rates may have significant volatility, and changes in the values of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar may result in substantial declines in the values of the Fund's assets denominated in foreign currencies.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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
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income securities, and increased volatility of the fixed income markets. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Sub-Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Sub-Adviser.
Emerging Markets Risk: Risks of investing in emerging markets include, among others, greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers and issuers, an emerging market country's dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, and less developed legal systems. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as expropriation, nationalization, embargo, and acts of war. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. These risks are generally greater for investments in frontier market countries, which typically have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries.
Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
Europe: Developed and emerging market countries in Europe will be significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary controls of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (“EU”). Changes in regulations on trade, decreasing imports or exports, changes in the exchange rate of the euro and recessions among European countries may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other European countries. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Sub-Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Sub-Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk: Investments in debt securities issued by governments or by government agencies and instrumentalities involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. Many sovereign debt obligations may be rated below investment grade (“junk” bonds). Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by the Fund will likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. In the event of default of sovereign debt, the Fund may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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
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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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 6.71% (Q1, 2012)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -9.07% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 14.41%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(2/23/11)
Return Before Taxes -11.98% -1.90%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -11.98% -2.60%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -6.78% -1.61%
Bloomberg Barclays EM Local Currency Government Diversified Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-11.14% -0.99%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. SSGA LTD, an affiliate of the Adviser serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Trust's Board of Trustees. To the extent that a reference in this Prospectus refers to the Adviser, with respect to the Fund, such reference should also be read to refer to SSGA LTD, where the context requires.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Abhishek Kumar, Peter Spano and Nicholas Fischer.
Abhishek Kumar is the Lead Investment Manager for Emerging Market Debt Strategies in the EMEA Fixed Income Beta team at SSGA LTD. He joined SSGA LTD in September 2010.
Peter Spano, CFA, is the EMEA Head of Portfolio Management, Fixed Income Beta at SSGA LTD. He joined SSGA LTD in May 2007.
Nicholas Fischer is a Principal and Portfolio Manager within the Fixed Income Beta team at SSGA LTD. He joined SSGA LTD in 2012.
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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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays High Yield Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. high yield corporate bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.40%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.40%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$41 $128 $224 $505
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 59% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Very Liquid Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund may use derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index swaps, to obtain investment exposure that the Adviser expects to correlate closely with the Index, or a portion of the Index, and in managing cash flows.
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The Index is designed to measure the performance of publicly issued U.S. dollar denominated high yield corporate bonds with above-average liquidity. High yield securities are generally rated below investment grade and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The Index includes publicly issued U.S. dollar denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bonds that have a remaining maturity of at least one year, regardless of optionality, are rated high-yield (Ba1/BB+/BB+ or below) using the middle rating of Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Inc., or Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, respectively, and have $500 million or more of outstanding face value. The three largest bonds of each issuer with a maximum age of five years can be included in the Index. Each index eligible issuer will be capped at two percent. In addition, securities must be registered or issued under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Original issue zero coupon bonds, step-up coupons, and coupons that change according to a predetermined schedule are also included. The Index includes only corporate sectors. The corporate sectors are Industrial, Utility, and Financial Institutions. Excluded from the Index are non-corporate bonds, structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features, private placements, bonds with equity-type features (e.g., warrants, convertibility), floating-rate issues, Eurobonds, defaulted bonds, payment in kind (PIK) securities and emerging market bonds. The Index is issuer capped and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the industrial sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 768 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 4.02 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
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. 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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or
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otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Restricted Securities Risk: The Fund may hold securities that have not been registered for sale to the public under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the securities may have significant volatility.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 22.44% (Q2, 2009)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -18.59% (Q4, 2008)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 12.91%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Five Years Since Inception
(11/28/07)
Return Before Taxes -7.21% 3.53% 4.51%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -9.59% 0.90% 1.27%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -3.98% 1.71% 2.16%
Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Very Liquid Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-5.26% 4.76% 6.91%
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 Michael Brunell, Kyle Kelly and Bradley Sullivan.
Michael Brunell, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
Bradley J. Sullivan, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2015.
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 500,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. high yield short term corporate bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.40%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.40%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$41 $128 $224 $505
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 39% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays US High Yield 350mn Cash Pay 0-5 Yr 2% Capped Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund may use derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index swaps, to obtain investment exposure that the Adviser expects to correlate closely with the Index, or a portion of the Index, and in managing cash flows.
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The Index is designed to measure the performance of short-term publicly issued U.S. dollar-denominated high yield corporate bonds. High yield securities are generally rated below investment-grade and are commonly referred to as “junk” bonds. The Index includes publicly issued U.S. dollar denominated, non-investment-grade, fixed rate, taxable corporate bonds that have a remaining maturity of less than 5 years regardless of optionality, are rated between Caa3/CCC-/CCC- and Ba1/BB+/BB+ using the middle rating of Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch, Inc., or Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, respectively, and have at least a $350 million outstanding par value. The Index includes only corporate sectors. The corporate sectors are Industrial, Utility and Financial Institutions. Excluded from the Index are non-corporate bonds, structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features, bonds with equity-type features (e.g., warrants, convertibility), floating-rate securities and securities that move from fixed to floating-rate, Emerging Market Bonds, defaulted bonds, original issue zero coupon bonds, private placements and payment in kind securities. The Index is issuer-capped and the securities in the Index are updated on the index rebalancing date. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the industrial sector, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 670 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 2.20 years.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
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. 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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
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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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
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Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 2.67% (Q3, 2013)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -5.43% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 11.83%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(3/14/12)
Return Before Taxes -6.56% 1.39%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -8.70% -0.90%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -3.64% 0.15%
Bloomberg Barclays US High Yield 350MN Cash Pay 0-5YR 2% Capped Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-5.15% 2.75%
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 Bradley Sullivan, Michael Brunell, and Kyle Kelly.
Bradley J. Sullivan, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2015.
Michael Brunell, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments 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 300,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF
 (formerly, SPDR® Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF)
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the market for U.S. dollar-denominated, investment grade floating rate notes with maturities greater than or equal to one month and less than five years.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.15%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.15%
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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 Year 5 Year 10
$15 $48 $85 $192
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 28% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Dollar Floating Rate Note < 5 Years Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
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Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment grade floating rate notes. Securities in the Index must have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to one month and less than five years, and have $300 million or more of outstanding face value. In addition, securities in the Index must be rated investment grade (Baa3, BBB- or BBB- by Moody's Investors Service, Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC or Fitch Inc., respectively). The Index consists of debt instruments that pay a variable coupon rate, a majority of which are based on the 3-month LIBOR, with a fixed spread. The Index may include U.S. registered, dollar denominated bonds of non-U.S. corporations, governments and supranational entities. Excluded from the Index are fixed rate bullet bonds, fixed-rate puttable and fixed-rate callable bonds, fixed rate and fixed to floating capital securities, bonds with equity-linked features (e.g. warrants and convertibles), inflation linked bonds and securitized bonds. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last calendar day of each month. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the financial and industrial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 507 securities in the Index, the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 0.14 years and the average credit quality of the securities in the Index was A1/A2.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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
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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.
Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be
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less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk: During periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the coupon rates of variable or floating rate securities may lag behind the changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in coupon rates. Alternatively, during periods of declining interest rates, the coupon rates on such securities will typically readjust downward resulting in a lower yield. In addition, investment in derivative variable rate securities, such as inverse floaters, whose rates vary inversely with market rates of interest, or range floaters or capped floaters, whose rates are subject to periodic or lifetime caps, or in securities that pay a rate of interest determined by applying a multiple to the variable rate involves special risks as compared to investment in a fixed-rate security and may involve leverage. Floating rate notes are generally subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, may trade infrequently, and their value may be impaired when the Fund needs to liquidate such securities.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
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Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 1.85% (Q1, 2012)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -0.22% (Q3, 2015)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 1.21%.
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(11/30/11)
Return Before Taxes 0.21% 1.21%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -0.06% 0.86%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 0.12% 0.79%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Dollar Floating Rate Note < 5 Years Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.36% 1.45%
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 Thomas Connelley, Christopher DiStefano and Kyle Kelly.
Thomas Connelley, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA FM and Senior Portfolio Manager for the Global Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2003.
Christopher DiStefano is a Portfolio Manager within SSGA's Fixed Income, Currency, and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2010.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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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 such 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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SPDR® BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. crossover corporate bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.40%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.40%
Less contractual fee waiver1 -0.10%
Net annual Fund operating expenses 0.30%
1 SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and reimburse certain expenses, until October 31, 2017, so that the Net annual Fund operating expenses of the Fund will be limited to 0.30% of the Fund's average daily net assets before application of any fees and expenses not paid by the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement. Such fees and expenses paid by the Adviser are limited to certain direct operating expenses of the Fund and, therefore, do not include the Fund's “acquired fund fees and expenses,” if any. The contractual fee waiver does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any fees the Adviser previously waived. The Adviser may continue the waiver from year to year, but there is no guarantee that the Adviser will do so and after October 31, 2017, it may be cancelled or modified at any time.
Example:
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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. The Example reflects the Fund's contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement only in the periods for which the contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
$31 $118 $214 $495
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.  During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 36% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the BofA Merrill Lynch US Diversified Crossover Corporate Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors,
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SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). The Fund may use derivatives, including credit default swaps and credit default index swaps, to obtain investment exposure that the Adviser expects to correlate closely with the Index, or a portion of the Index, and in managing cash flows.
The Index is designed to measure the performance of US dollar denominated BBB and BB corporate debt publicly issued in the US domestic market. “Crossover” corporate debt generally means corporate debt rated at levels where the lower end of investment grade debt and the higher end of high yield debt meet. Qualifying securities must be rated BBB1 through BB3, inclusive (based on an average of Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody's”), Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”), or Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC (“S&P”) and must have at least 18 months remaining to final maturity at the time of issuance. Qualifying corporate issuers must have a primary risk exposure to an FX G10 or Western European country, or a territory of the US or a Western European country. Individual securities of qualifying issuers must have a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $250 million. Original issue zero coupon bonds, 144A securities, both with and without registration rights, and pay-in-kind securities, including toggle notes, qualify for inclusion. Callable perpetual securities qualify provided they are at least one month from the first call date. Fixed-to-floating rate securities also qualify provided they are callable within the fixed rate period and are at least one month from the last call prior to the date the bond transitions from a fixed to a floating rate security. Eurodollar securities (USD securities not issued in the US domestic market), Tier 1 subordinated debt, pay-in-kind bonds and toggle notes, taxable and tax-exempt US municipal, warrant-bearing, DRD-eligible and defaulted securities are excluded from the Index. Qualifying constituents are segmented into two groups: those rated between BBB1 and BBB3, inclusive, and those rated between BB1 and BB3, inclusive. Within the two groups, constituents are capitalization-weighted. Each group is then assigned a 50% weight in the overall index; with a 2% cap on each issuer. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index. As of August 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Index comprised companies in the industrial and financial sectors, although this may change from time to time. As of August 31, 2016, there were approximately 4,426 securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately 5.65 years.
The Index is sponsored by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
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. 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.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the
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Fund. If the 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
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.
Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
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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 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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, to the extent that the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Restricted Securities Risk: The Fund may hold securities that have not been registered for sale to the public under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may
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have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the securities may have significant volatility.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual returns of the Index. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-787-2257 or visiting our website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Annual Total Returns (years ended 12/31)*
Highest Quarterly Return: 3.19% (Q1, 2014)
Lowest Quarterly Return: -3.06% (Q2, 2013)
* As of September 30, 2016, the Fund's Calendar Year-To-Date return was 11.40%.
 
 
Average Annual Total Returns (for periods ended 12/31/15)
The after-tax returns presented in the table below are calculated using highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from those shown below. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The returns after taxes can exceed the returns before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit for a shareholder from realizing a capital loss on a sale of Fund Shares.
  One Year Since Inception
(6/18/12)
Return Before Taxes -1.94% 3.54%
Return After Taxes on Distributions -3.65% 1.77%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares -1.08% 1.95%
BofA Merrill Lynch US Diversified Crossover Corporate Index
(Index returns reflect no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
-1.54% 3.89%
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Bradley Sullivan, Michael Brunell and Kyle Kelly.
Bradley J. Sullivan, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2015.
Michael Brunell, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team. He joined the Adviser in 1997.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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
General. Please see each Fund's “The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy” section under “Fund Summaries” above for a complete discussion of each Fund's principal investment strategies. A Fund may invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment techniques which are not the principal focus of the Fund 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).
The Adviser seeks to track the performance of each Fund's Index as closely as possible (i.e., obtain a high degree of correlation with the Index). A number of factors may affect a Fund's ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with its Index, and there can be no guarantee that a Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. 
The Adviser will utilize a sampling strategy in managing the Funds. Sampling means that the Adviser uses quantitative analysis to select securities, including securities in the Index, outside of the Index and derivatives that have a similar investment profile as the relevant Index in terms of key risk factors, performance attributes and other economic characteristics. These include industry weightings, market capitalization, and other financial characteristics of securities. The quantity of holdings in a Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. In addition, from time to time, securities are added to or removed from each Index. The Adviser may sell securities that are represented in an Index, or purchase securities that are not yet represented in an Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to an Index. Further, the Adviser may choose to overweight securities in an Index, purchase or sell securities not in an Index, or utilize various combinations of other available techniques, in seeking to track an Index.
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF, SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF, and SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (each a “Municipal Bond ETF,” collectively the “Municipal Bond ETFs”) have adopted a fundamental investment policy and certain of the other Funds as described in the SAI, have adopted a non-fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of their respective net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in investments suggested by their respective names, measured at the time of investment. A Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any change in this 80% investment policy. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) may change a Fund's investment strategy, Index and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or in the SAI. The Board may also change a Fund's investment objective without shareholder approval.
Non-Principal Strategies
Certain Other Investments. Each Fund may invest in structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors such as the movement of a particular security or index), swaps, options and futures contracts. Swaps, options and futures contracts and structured notes may be used by a Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
Temporary Defensive Positions. In certain situations or market conditions, a Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies, provided that the alternative is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is in the best interest of the Fund. For example, a Fund may make larger than normal investments in derivatives to maintain exposure to its Index if it is unable to invest directly in a component security.
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. Certain Funds may also invest in reverse repurchase agreements, which are considered borrowings under the 1940 Act. Although 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), and there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, under normal circumstances any borrowings by a Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets.
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Lending of Securities. Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed one-quarter (25%) of the value of its total 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 102% of the market value of that security, marked to market each trading day. 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 additional information regarding certain of 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 unless otherwise noted.
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Principal Risks
The table below identifies the principal risks of investing in each Fund.
Fund Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk                
Call/Prepayment Risk x x x x x x x x
Consumer Staples Sector Risk                
Convertible Securities Risk                
Counterparty Risk               x
Credit Risk x x x x x x x x
Currency Risk                
Debt Securities Risk x x x x x x x x
Derivatives Risk               x
Emerging Markets Risk                
Extension Risk x x x x x x x x
Financial Sector Risk               x
Geographic Focus Risk                
Europe                
Japan                
United Kingdom                
Health Care Sector Risk                
Income Risk x x x x x x x x
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk               x
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk   x x x        
Interest Rate Risk x x x x x x x x
Leveraging Risk               x
Liquidity Risk x x x x x x x x
Market Risk x x x x x x x x
Money Market Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk                
Municipal Obligations Risk                
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk               x
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x x x
Political Risk                
Portfolio Turnover Risk x              
Preferred Securities Risk                
Private Activity Bonds Risk                
Puerto Rico Specific Risk                
Reinvestment Risk x x x x x x x x
Restricted Securities Risk                
Settlement Risk               x
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk                
Tax Exemption Risk                
Technology Sector Risk                
Unconstrained Sector Risk                
U.S. Government Securities Risk                
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk x x x x x x x  
Utilities Sector Risk               x
Valuation Risk x x x x x x x x
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk                
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk                
Call/Prepayment Risk x x x x x x x x
Consumer Staples Sector Risk       x        
Convertible Securities Risk       x        
Counterparty Risk x   x     x    
Credit Risk x x x x x x x x
Currency Risk                
Debt Securities Risk x x x x x x x x
Derivatives Risk x   x     x    
Emerging Markets Risk                
Extension Risk x x x x x x x x
Financial Sector Risk x x x          
Geographic Focus Risk                
Europe                
Japan                
United Kingdom                
Health Care Sector Risk                
Income Risk x x x x x x x x
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk x x x          
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk                
Interest Rate Risk x x x x x x x x
Leveraging Risk x   x     x    
Liquidity Risk x x x x x x x x
Market Risk x x x x x x x x
Money Market Risk           x    
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Fund Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk         x x    
Municipal Obligations Risk             x x
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk x x x x        
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x x x
Political Risk             x x
Portfolio Turnover Risk         x x    
Preferred Securities Risk       x        
Private Activity Bonds Risk                
Puerto Rico Specific Risk                
Reinvestment Risk x x x x x x x x
Restricted Securities Risk x x   x        
Settlement Risk x x x x        
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk                
Tax Exemption Risk             x x
Technology Sector Risk       x        
Unconstrained Sector Risk       x        
U.S. Government Securities Risk         x x    
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk                
Utilities Sector Risk x x x          
Valuation Risk x x x x x x x x
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk                
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk         x x    
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Fund Name SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk x         x x x
Call/Prepayment Risk x x x x x x x x
Consumer Staples Sector Risk                
Convertible Securities Risk                
Counterparty Risk   x x x x x x x
Credit Risk x x x x x x x x
Currency Risk   x x x x x    
Debt Securities Risk x x x x x x x x
Derivatives Risk   x x x x x x x
Emerging Markets Risk   x x x   x    
Extension Risk x x x x x x x x
Financial Sector Risk         x   x x
Geographic Focus Risk   x x x x x    
Europe   x x x x x    
Japan     x x        
United Kingdom   x            
Health Care Sector Risk                
Income Risk x x x x x x x x
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk         x   x x
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk   x            
Interest Rate Risk x x x x x x x x
Leveraging Risk   x x x x x x x
Liquidity Risk x x x x x x x x
Market Risk x x x x x x x x
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Fund Name SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF
Money Market Risk                
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk                
Municipal Obligations Risk x              
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk   x x x x x    
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x x x
Political Risk x              
Portfolio Turnover Risk                
Preferred Securities Risk                
Private Activity Bonds Risk x              
Puerto Rico Specific Risk x              
Reinvestment Risk x x x x x x x x
Restricted Securities Risk             x  
Settlement Risk   x x x x x    
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk   x x x   x    
Tax Exemption Risk x              
Technology Sector Risk                
Unconstrained Sector Risk         x      
U.S. Government Securities Risk                
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk                
Utilities Sector Risk             x x
Valuation Risk x x x x x x x x
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk                
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk                
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Fund Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk   x
Call/Prepayment Risk x x
Consumer Staples Sector Risk    
Convertible Securities Risk    
Counterparty Risk   x
Credit Risk x x
Currency Risk    
Debt Securities Risk x x
Derivatives Risk   x
Emerging Markets Risk    
Extension Risk x x
Financial Sector Risk x x
Geographic Focus Risk x x
Europe    
Japan    
United Kingdom    
Health Care Sector Risk    
Income Risk x x
Index Tracking Risk x x
Industrial Sector Risk x x
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk    
Interest Rate Risk x x
Leveraging Risk   x
Liquidity Risk x x
Market Risk x x
Money Market Risk    
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk    
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Fund Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF
Municipal Obligations Risk    
Non-Diversification Risk x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk x x
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x
Political Risk    
Portfolio Turnover Risk    
Preferred Securities Risk    
Private Activity Bonds Risk    
Puerto Rico Specific Risk    
Reinvestment Risk x x
Restricted Securities Risk   x
Settlement Risk x x
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk    
Tax Exemption Risk    
Technology Sector Risk    
Unconstrained Sector Risk x x
U.S. Government Securities Risk    
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk    
Utilities Sector Risk    
Valuation Risk x x
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk x  
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk    
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Below Investment Grade Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment-grade and unrated securities of comparable credit quality (commonly known as “high-yield bonds” or “junk bonds”) lack strong investment 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. 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.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies' performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal products companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer, depending on the terms of the securities) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. Convertible securities may be subordinate to other debt securities issued by the same issuer. Issuers of convertible securities are often not as strong financially as issuers with higher credit ratings. Convertible securities typically provide yields lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Their values may be more volatile than those of non-convertible securities, reflecting changes in the values of the securities into which they are convertible.
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. Contractual provisions and applicable law may prevent or delay a Fund from exercising its rights to terminate an investment or transaction with a financial institution experiencing financial difficulties, or to realize on collateral, and another institution may be substituted for that financial institution without the consent of a Fund. If the credit rating of a derivatives counterparty declines, a Fund may nonetheless choose or be required to keep existing transactions in place with the counterparty, in which event the Fund would be subject to any increased credit risk associated with those transactions.
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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.
Currency Risk. Investments in issuers in different countries are often denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Changes in the values of those currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may have a positive or negative effect on the values of a Fund's investments denominated in those currencies. The values of other currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may fluctuate in response to, among other factors, interest rate changes, intervention (or failure to intervene) by national governments, central banks, or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, the imposition of currency controls, and other political or regulatory developments. Currency values can decrease significantly both in the short term and over the long term in response to these and other developments. Continuing uncertainty as to the status of the Euro and the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (the “EMU”) has created significant volatility in currency and financial markets generally. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU, or any continued uncertainty as to its status, could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of a Fund's portfolio investments.
Debt Securities Risk. The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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. The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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. 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.
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 or Sub-Adviser anticipated or a different or less favorable effect than the Adviser or Sub-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
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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.
Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in emerging markets are generally subject to a greater risk of loss than investments in developed markets. This may be due to, among other things, the possibility of greater market volatility, lower trading volume and liquidity, greater risk of expropriation, nationalization, and social, political and economic instability, greater reliance on a few industries, international trade or revenue from particular commodities, less developed accounting, legal and regulatory systems, higher levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, greater risk of market shut down, and more significant governmental limitations on investment policy as compared to those typically found in a developed market. In addition, issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may have less financial stability than in other countries. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. A Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as embargo and acts of war. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk of price volatility in investments in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar. Settlement and asset custody practices for transactions in emerging markets may differ from those in developed markets. Such differences may include possible delays in settlement and certain settlement practices, such as delivery of securities prior to receipt of payment, which increase the likelihood of a “failed settlement.” Failed settlements can result in losses. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
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.
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.
Geographic Focus Risk. The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
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Europe. The Economic and Monetary Union of the EU requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain EU countries), the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their trading partners. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns or rising government debt levels in several European countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. These events have adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the euro.
Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake and resulting in S&P downgrading the EU's credit rating from “AA+” to “AA” in the days following the vote. The country's referendum vote sparked depreciation in the value of the British pound, short-term declines in the stock markets and heightened risk of continued economic volatility worldwide. Although the precise timeframe for Brexit is uncertain, it is currently expected that the United Kingdom will seek to withdraw from the EU by invoking article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty with an anticipated completion date within two years from notifying the European Council of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
Japan. The growth of Japan's economy has historically lagged that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent on international trade and has been adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies and the economic conditions of its trading partners. China has become an important trading partner with Japan, yet the countries' political relationship has become strained. Should political tension increase, it could adversely affect the economy, especially the export sector, and destabilize the region as a whole. Japan also remains heavily dependent on oil imports, and higher commodity prices could therefore have a negative impact on the economy. The Japanese economy faces several other concerns, including a financial system with large levels of nonperforming loans, over-leveraged corporate balance sheets, extensive cross-ownership by major corporations, a changing corporate governance structure, and large government deficits. These issues may cause a slowdown of the Japanese economy. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times and any increase in its value may cause a decline in exports that could weaken the Japanese economy. Japan has, in the past, intervened in the currency markets to attempt to maintain or reduce the value of the yen. Japanese intervention in the currency markets could cause the value of the yen to fluctuate sharply and unpredictably and could cause losses to investors. Japan has an aging workforce and has experienced a significant population decline in recent years. Japan's labor market appears to be undergoing fundamental structural changes, as a labor market traditionally accustomed to lifetime employment adjusts to meet the need for increased labor mobility, which may adversely affect Japan's economic competitiveness.
The nuclear power plant catastrophe in Japan in March 2011 may have short- and long-term effects on the Japanese economy and its nuclear energy industry. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons or tsunamis, could occur in Japan or surrounding areas and could negatively affect the Japanese economy and, in turn, a Fund.
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United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has one of the largest economies in Europe, and the United States and other European countries are substantial trading partners of the United Kingdom. As a result, the British economy may be impacted by changes to the economic condition of the United States and other European countries. The British economy, along with certain other EU economies, experienced a significant economic slowdown during the recent financial crisis, and certain British financial institutions suffered significant losses, were severely under-capitalized and required government intervention to survive. The British economy relies heavily on the export of financial services to the United States and other European countries and, therefore, a prolonged slowdown in the financial services sector may have a negative impact on the British economy. Continued governmental involvement or control in certain sectors may stifle competition in certain sectors or cause adverse effects on economic growth. In the past, the United Kingdom has been a target of terrorism. Acts of terrorism in the United Kingdom or against British interests abroad may cause uncertainty in the British financial markets and adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which a Fund has exposure.
In a referendum held on June 23, 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. As a result of the referendum, S&P downgraded the United Kingdom's credit rating from “AAA” to “AA” in the days that followed the vote.  The country's referendum vote sparked depreciation in the value of the British pound, short-term declines in the stock markets and heightened risk of continued economic volatility worldwide. Although the precise timeline for Brexit is uncertain, it is currently expected that the United Kingdom will seek to withdraw from the EU by invoking article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty with an anticipated completion date within two years from notifying the European Council of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. In addition, it is possible that measures could be taken to revote on the issue of Brexit, or that portions of the United Kingdom could seek to separate and remain a part of the EU.  Brexit may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for these economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of a Fund's investments.
Health Care Sector Risk. Companies in the health care sector are subject to extensive government regulation and their profitability can be significantly affected by restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure (including price discounting), limited product lines and an increased emphasis on the delivery of healthcare through outpatient services. Companies in the health care sector are heavily dependent on obtaining and defending patents, which may be time consuming and costly, and the expiration of patents may also adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Health care companies are also subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims. In addition, their products can become obsolete due to industry innovation, changes in technologies or other market developments. Many new products in the health care sector require significant research and development and may be subject to regulatory approvals, all of which may be time consuming and costly with no guarantee that any product will come to market.
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.
Index Tracking Risk. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), a Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the return on the sample of securities purchased by a Fund (or the return on securities not included in the Index) to replicate the performance of the Index may not correlate precisely with the return of the Index. Each Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, a Fund may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. Changes in the composition of the Index and regulatory requirements also may impact a Fund's ability to match the return of the Index. The Adviser may apply one or more “screens” or investment techniques to refine or limit the number or types of issuers included in the Index in which a Fund may invest. Application of such screens or techniques may result in investment performance below that of the Index and may not produce results expected by the Adviser. Index tracking risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
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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 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, a 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.
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk. The principal amount of an inflation-indexed security typically increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by a specified index. It is possible that, in a period of declining inflation rates, a Fund could receive at maturity less than the initial principal amount of an inflation-indexed security. Although the holders of U.S. TIPS receive no less than the par value of the security at maturity, if a Fund purchases U.S. TIPS in the secondary market whose principal values have previously been adjusted upward and there is a period of subsequent declining inflation rates, a Fund may receive at maturity less than it invested. Depending on the changes in inflation rates during the period a Fund holds an inflation-indexed security, a Fund may earn less on the security than on a conventional bond. The principal amounts of inflation-indexed securities are typically only adjusted periodically, and changes in the values of the securities may only approximately reflect changes in inflation rates and may occur substantially after the changes in inflation rates in question occur.
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. 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. The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. Changes in governmental policy, including changes in central bank monetary policy, could cause interest rates to rise rapidly, or cause investors to expect a rapid rise in 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.
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 segregation or coverage requirements.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions 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 securities 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 securities accurately. The market for certain investments may become illiquid
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under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity a Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
Market Risk. Market prices of investments held by a Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Each 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, 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.
Money Market 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 seeks 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 increase 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 share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), SSGA FM or their affiliates (“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 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 or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to the risk of significant credit downgrades, illiquidity, and defaults to a greater extent than many other types of fixed income investments. Mortgage-related securities represent a participation in, or are secured by, mortgage loans. Other asset-backed securities are typically structured like mortgage-related securities, but instead of mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets may include, for example, items such as motor vehicle installment sales or installment loan contracts, leases on various types of real and personal property, and receivables from credit card agreements. During periods of falling interest rates, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which typically provide the issuer with the right to prepay the security prior to maturity, may be prepaid, which may result in a Fund having to reinvest the proceeds in other investments at lower interest rates. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may extend because of slower-than expected principal payments. This may lock in a below market interest rate, increase the security's duration and interest rate sensitivity, and reduce the value of the security. As a result, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other debt securities of comparable maturities, although they may have a similar risk of decline in market values during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayment rates are difficult to predict and the potential impact of prepayments on the value of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security depends on the terms of the instrument and can result in significant volatility. The price of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security also depends on the credit quality and adequacy of the underlying assets or collateral. Defaults on the underlying assets, if any, may impair the value of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security. For some asset-backed securities in which a Fund invests, such as those backed by credit card receivables, the underlying cash flows may not be supported by a security interest in a related asset. Moreover, the values of mortgage-related and other asset-backed
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securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset pools, 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 situations, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of securities holders in and to the underlying collateral. There may be legal and practical limitations on the enforceability of any security interest granted with respect to underlying assets, or the value of the underlying assets, if any, may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.
In a “forward roll” transaction, a Fund will sell a mortgage-related security to a bank or other permitted entity and simultaneously agree to purchase a similar security from the institution at a later date at an agreed upon price. The mortgage securities that are purchased will bear the same interest rate as those sold, but generally will be collateralized by different pools of mortgages with different prepayment histories than those sold. The values of such transactions will be affected by many of the same factors that affect the values of mortgage-related securities generally. In addition, forward roll transactions may have the effect of creating investment leverage in a Fund.
Municipal Obligations Risk. The U.S. municipal securities market is volatile and can be significantly affected by adverse tax, legislative, or political changes and the financial condition of the issuers of municipal securities. Municipal obligations include revenue obligations, which are generally backed by the revenues generated from a specific project or facility and include private activity bonds and industrial development bonds. Private activity and industrial development bonds are dependent on the ability of the facility's user to meet its financial obligations and on the value of any real or personal property pledged as security for such payment. Private activity and industrial development bonds, although issued by industrial development authorities, may be backed only by the assets of the non-governmental user. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance projects relating to education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. In addition, municipal securities backed by current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset can be negatively affected by the discontinuance or reduction in the rate of the taxation supporting the project or asset or the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets. If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service determines the issuer of a municipal security has not complied with applicable tax requirements, interest from the security could become taxable, and the security could decline in value. Municipal obligations may also be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk. Certain states and other governmental entities have experienced, and may continue to experience, extreme financial pressures in response to financial and economic and other factors, and may be, or be perceived to be, unable to meet all of their obligations under municipal bonds issued or guaranteed by them; such factors may result in substantial volatility in municipal securities markets and losses to a Fund. Additionally, a Fund's portfolio may have greater exposure to liquidity risk since the markets for such securities may be less liquid than the traditional bond markets. There may also be less information available on the financial condition of issuers of these types of securities than for public corporations. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell such securities, especially on short notice, and these securities may be more difficult for a Fund to value accurately than securities of public corporations.
Non-Diversification Risk. As a “non-diversified” fund, each 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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers entail risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Similar risks may apply to securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange that are issued by entities with significant exposure to non-U.S. countries. In certain countries, legal remedies available to investors may be more limited than those available with regard to U.S. investments. Because non-U.S. securities are normally denominated and traded in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the value of the Fund's assets to the extent they are non-U.S. dollar denominated may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currencies. Income and gains with respect to investments in certain countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, regulatory framework and practices comparable to those in the United States. The securities of some non-U.S. entities are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. entities, and could become subject to sanctions or embargoes that adversely affect a Fund's investment. Non-U.S. transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions and custody costs may be higher than in the U.S. In addition, there may be a possibility of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency
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exchange controls, confiscatory taxation, and diplomatic developments that could adversely affect the values of a Fund's investments in certain non-U.S. countries. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers also are subject to foreign political and economic risk not associated with U.S. investments, meaning that political events (civil unrest, national elections, changes in political conditions and foreign relations, imposition of exchange controls and repatriation restrictions), social and economic events (labor strikes, rising inflation) and natural disasters occurring in a country where a Fund invests could cause the Fund's investments in that country to experience gains or losses. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk. Each Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund will seek to replicate Index returns regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. The Fund generally will buy and will not sell a security included in the Index as long as the security is part of the Index regardless of any sudden or material decline in value or foreseeable material decline in value of the security, even though the Adviser may make a different investment decision for other actively managed accounts or portfolios that hold the security. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index (in absolute terms and by comparison with other indices) and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Political Risk. A significant restructuring of federal income tax rates or even serious discussion on the topic in Congress could cause municipal bond prices to fall. The demand for municipal securities is strongly influenced by the value of tax-exempt income to investors. Lower income tax rates could reduce the advantage of owning municipals.
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.
Preferred Securities Risk. Generally, preferred security holders have no or limited voting rights with respect to the issuing company. In addition, preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Unlike debt securities, dividend payments on a preferred security typically must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. An issuer's board of directors is generally not under any obligation to pay a dividend (even if such dividends have accrued), and may suspend payment of dividends on preferred securities at any time. Therefore, in the event an issuer of preferred securities experiences economic difficulties, the issuer's preferred securities may lose substantial value due to the reduced likelihood that the issuer's board of directors will declare a dividend and the fact that the preferred security may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. Further, because many preferred securities pay dividends at a fixed rate, their market price can be sensitive to changes in interest rates in a manner similar to bonds -- that is, as interest rates rise, the value of the preferred securities held by a Fund are likely to decline. Therefore, to the extent that a Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in fixed rate preferred securities, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly. In addition, because many preferred securities allow holders to convert the preferred securities into common stock of the issuer, their market price can be sensitive to changes in the value of the issuer's common stock and, therefore, declining common stock values may also cause the value of a Fund's investments to decline. Preferred securities often have call features which allow the issuer to redeem the security at its discretion. The redemption of a preferred security having a higher than average yield may cause a decrease in a Fund's yield.
Private Activity Bonds Risk. Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities, airport, mass transit or port facilities, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal or hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas or
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electricity. Other types of private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may constitute municipal securities, although the current federal tax laws place limitations on the size of such issues. The credit and quality of private activity bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds are the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor). The Fund's distributions of its interest income from private activity bonds may subject certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax.
Puerto Rico Specific Risk. Because the Fund invests in Puerto Rico municipal securities, the Fund will have exposure to negative political, economic and statutory factors within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Events, including economic and political policy changes, tax base erosion, territory constitutional limits on tax increases, budget deficits and other financial difficulties and changes in the credit ratings assigned to Puerto Rico's municipal issuers, are likely to affect the Fund's performance. During the U.S. recession, tourism declined and had a negative effect on Puerto Rico's economy and tax revenues. Puerto Rico's operating budget has been structurally unbalanced for the past decade and the government has relied on deficit financing for annual operations. In July 2016, Puerto Rico defaulted on $779 million in general obligation debt. Credit rating firms Standard & Poor's, Fitch Ratings, and Moody's Investors Service have continued to downgrade their respective ratings of Puerto Rico's general obligation debt to below investment grade, along with the ratings of certain related Puerto Rico issuers. Additionally, each rating agency, with the exception of Moody's, has maintained a negative outlook on certain Puerto Rico issuers. Downgrades could create additional strain on a commonwealth already facing economic stagnation and fiscal imbalances, including budget deficits, underfunded pensions, high unemployment, significant debt service obligations, and liquidity issues, and could potentially lead to less market demand, less liquidity, wider spreads, and lower prices for Puerto Rico municipal bonds. Despite the enactment of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), aimed at helping Puerto Rico restructure its debt, Puerto Rico's continued financial difficulties could reduce its ability to access financial markets, potentially increasing the likelihood of a restructuring or default for Puerto Rico municipal bonds that may affect the Fund's investments and its performance.
Reinvestment Risk. Income from a Fund's portfolio 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.
Restricted Securities Risk. A Fund may hold securities that have not been registered for sale to the public under the U.S. federal securities laws pursuant to an exemption from registration. These securities may be less liquid than securities registered for sale to the general public. The liquidity of a restricted security may be affected by a number of factors, including, among others: (i) the creditworthiness of the issuer; (ii) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (iii) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (iv) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (v) the nature of any legal restrictions governing trading in the security; and (vi) the nature of the security and the nature of marketplace trades. There can be no assurance that a liquid trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the securities may have significant volatility.
Settlement Risk. Markets in different countries have different clearance and settlement procedures and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of transactions. Delays in settlement may increase credit risk to a Fund, limit the ability of a Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a sale of securities, hinder the ability of a Fund to lend its portfolio securities, and potentially subject a Fund to penalties for its failure to deliver to on-purchasers of securities whose delivery to a Fund was delayed. Delays in the settlement of securities purchased by a Fund may limit the ability of a Fund to sell those securities at times and prices it considers desirable, and may subject a Fund to losses and costs due to its own inability to settle with subsequent purchasers of the securities from it. A Fund may be required to borrow monies it had otherwise expected to receive in connection with the settlement of securities sold by it, in order to meet its obligations to others. Limits on the ability of a Fund to purchase or sell securities due to settlement delays could increase any variance between a Fund's performance and that of its benchmark index.
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Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk. Investments in debt securities issued by governments or by government agencies and instrumentalities involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. A governmental entity's willingness or ability to pay interest and repay principal in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow, the size of its reserves, its access to foreign exchange, the relative size of its debt service burden to its economy as a whole, and political constraints. A governmental entity may default on its obligations or may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by a Fund will likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. In the event of default of sovereign debt, the Fund may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt. The sovereign debt of many non-U.S. governments, including their sub-divisions and instrumentalities, is rated below investment grade. Sovereign debt risk may be greater for debt securities issued or guaranteed by emerging and/or frontier countries.
Tax Exemption Risk. There is no guarantee that the Fund's income will be exempt from federal or state income taxes. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Fund's acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Fund to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or alternative minimum tax rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to decline in value.
Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk. A Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. U.S. government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds and mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury nor supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. There is no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so. In addition, certain governmental entities have been subject to regulatory scrutiny regarding their accounting policies and practices and other concerns that may result in legislation, changes in regulatory oversight and/or other consequences that could adversely affect the credit quality, availability, or investment character of securities issued by these entities. The value and liquidity of U.S. government securities may be affected adversely by changes in the ratings of those securities. Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury historically have been considered to present minimal credit risk. The downgrade in the long-term U.S. credit rating by at least one major rating agency has introduced greater uncertainty about the ability of the U.S. to repay its obligations. A further credit rating downgrade or a U.S. credit default could decrease the value and increase the volatility of a Fund's investments.
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U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk. U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of a Fund‘s U.S. Treasury obligations to decline. The total public debt of the United States as a percentage of gross domestic product has grown rapidly since the beginning of the recent financial downturn. Although high debt levels do not necessarily indicate or cause economic problems, they may create certain systemic risks if sound debt management practices are not implemented. A high national debt level may increase market pressures to meet government funding needs, which may drive debt cost higher and cause a country to sell additional debt, thereby increasing refinancing risk. A high national debt also raises concerns that a government will not be able to make principal or interest payments when they are due. In the worst case, unsustainable debt levels can cause a decline in the value of the dollar (which may lead to inflation), and can prevent the U.S. government from implementing effective counter-cyclical fiscal policy in economic downturns. U.S. Treasury securities are currently given the top rating by all major ratings agencies except Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, which rates them AA+, one grade below their top rating. Since downgrading U.S. Treasury securities from AAA to AA+ in 2011, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has affirmed its rating. A downgrade of the ratings of U.S. government debt obligations, such as U.S. Treasury obligations, which are often used as a benchmark for other borrowing arrangements, could result in higher interest rates for individual and corporate borrowers, cause disruptions in the international bond markets and have a substantial negative effect on the U.S. economy. A downgrade of U.S. Treasury securities from another ratings agency or a further downgrade below AA+ rating by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services may cause the value of a Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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. Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of a Fund's investment portfolio, 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 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when a Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if a Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
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Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk. Variable or floating rate securities are debt securities with variable or floating interest rates payments. Variable or floating rate securities bear rates of interest that are adjusted periodically according to formulae intended generally to reflect market rates of interest and allow a Fund to participate (determined in accordance with the terms of the securities) in increases in interest rates through upward adjustments of the coupon rates on the securities. However, during periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the coupon rates may lag behind the changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in coupon rates. Alternatively, during periods of declining interest rates, the coupon rates on such securities will typically readjust downward resulting in a lower yield. A Fund may also invest in variable or floating rate equity securities, whose dividend payments vary based on changes in market rates of interest or other factors.
In addition, investment in derivative variable rate securities, such as inverse floaters, whose rates vary inversely with market rates of interest, or range floaters or capped floaters, whose rates are subject to periodic or lifetime caps, or in securities that pay a rate of interest determined by applying a multiple to the variable rate involves special risks as compared to investment in a fixed-rate security and may involve leverage. The extent of increases and decreases in the values of derivative variable rate securities and the corresponding change to the net asset value of the Fund in response to changes in market rates of interest generally may be larger than comparable changes in the value of an equal principal amount of a fixed-rate security having similar credit quality, redemption provisions, and maturity. The markets for such securities may be less developed and may have less liquidity than the markets for conventional securities.
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk. A Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued, TBA or delayed delivery basis and may purchase securities on a forward commitment basis. The purchase price of the securities is typically fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. The prices of the securities so purchased or sold are subject to market fluctuation. At the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. Purchase of securities on a when-issued, TBA, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis may give rise to investment leverage, and may result in increased volatility of a Fund's net asset value. Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty to a when-issued, TBA or delayed delivery transaction would expose a Fund to possible losses because of an adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools specified in such transaction.
Non-Principal Risks
Each risk discussed below is a non-principal risk of a Fund to the extent it is not identified as a principal risk for such Fund in the preceding “ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION - PRINCIPAL RISKS” section.
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.
Concentration Risk. A Fund's assets will generally be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund's underlying Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
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. The Funds 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
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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.
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.
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 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. 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 sub-adviser, or a custodian, 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 and/or the Sub-Adviser have 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. Each Fund relies on third-party service providers for many of its day-to-day operations, and will be subject to the risk
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that the protections and protocols implemented by those service providers will be ineffective to protect the Fund from cyber-attack. 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.
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts. The net asset value 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. 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 of an Index 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 (and Sub-Adviser, as applicable) believe 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.
Index Construction Risk. A security included in an Index may not exhibit the characteristic or provide the specific exposure for which it was selected and consequently a Fund's holdings may not exhibit returns consistent with that characteristic or exposure.
Index Licensing Risk. It is possible that the license under which the Adviser or a Fund is permitted to replicate or otherwise use the Index will be terminated or may be disputed, impaired or cease to remain in effect. In such a case, the Adviser may be required to replace the Index with another index which it considers to be appropriate in light of the investment strategy of a Fund. The use of any such substitute index may have an adverse impact on a Fund's performance. In the event that the Adviser is unable to identify a suitable replacement for the relevant Index, it may determine to terminate a Fund.
Money Market 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 seeks 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 increase 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 share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), SSGA FM or their affiliates (“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 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 or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
Securities Lending Risk. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value of up to 25% of its total assets. For these purposes, total assets shall include the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan. Such loans may be terminated at any time, and a Fund will receive cash or other obligations as collateral. Any such loans must be continuously secured by collateral in cash or cash equivalents maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by a Fund. In a loan transaction, as compensation for lending its
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securities, a Fund will receive a portion of the dividends or interest accrued on the securities held as collateral or, in the case of cash collateral, a portion of the income from the investment of such cash. In addition, 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. 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 acquired with cash collateral. A Fund will attempt to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to high quality instruments of short maturity.
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. 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.
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Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to each Fund and, subject to the supervision 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 the Funds' assets. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser and certain other affiliates of State Street Corporation make up SSGA. SSGA is one of the world's largest institutional money managers and the investment management arm of State Street Corporation. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets and SSGA managed approximately $2.30 trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal business address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
For the services provided to each Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, each Fund paid the Adviser the annual fees based on a percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets as set forth below:
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF

0.1345 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF

0.1500 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF

0.1500 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF

0.1500 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF

0.1000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF

0.1000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF

0.1000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF

0.1200 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate

 
Bond ETF

0.1200 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF

0.1200 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF

0.1600 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF

0.4000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF

0.2000 %(3)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF

0.0800 %(3)
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF

0.3000 %(1)
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal

 
Bond ETF

0.2000 %
SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF

0.5000 %(1)
SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF

0.5000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury

 
Bond ETF

0.3500 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF

0.5000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF

0.5000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF

0.5000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

0.4000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

0.4000 %
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF

0.1500 %
SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF

0.4000 %(2)
   
(1) The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and reimburse certain expenses, until October 31, 2017, so that the Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses of the SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF and SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF are limited to 0.2300% and 0.4500%, respectively, of the applicable Fund's average daily net assets before application of any extraordinary expenses or acquired fund fees and expenses. The Adviser may continue each waiver from year to year, but there is no guarantee that the Adviser will do so and after October 31, 2017, any or all waivers may be cancelled or modified at any time.
(2) The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and reimburse certain expenses, until October 31, 2017, so that the Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses of the SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF is limited to 0.30% of the Fund's average daily net assets before application of any fees and expenses not paid by the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement. Such fees and expenses paid by the Adviser are limited to certain direct operating expenses of the Fund and, therefore, do not include the Fund's acquired fund fees and expenses, if any. The contractual fee waiver does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any fees the Adviser previously waived. The Adviser may continue the waiver after the period, but there is no guarantee that the Adviser will do so and after October 31, 2017, it may be cancelled or modified at any time.
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(3) The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse expenses in an amount equal to any acquired fund fees and expenses (excluding holdings in acquired funds for cash management purposes, if any). This waiver and/or reimbursement does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any amounts waived or reimbursed. This waiver and/or reimbursement may not be terminated except with the approval of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee, although it does not currently intend to do so (except as set forth above). The Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, distribution fee pursuant to each Fund's Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee's counsel fees), litigation expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and other extraordinary expenses.
Investment Sub-Advisers. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the Funds and the Adviser, the Adviser is authorized to engage one or more sub-advisers for the performance of any of the services contemplated to be rendered by the Adviser. The Adviser has retained Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management”) as sub-adviser, to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Municipal Bond ETFs' investments, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Board. The Adviser provides administrative, compliance and general management services to the Municipal Bond ETFs. Nuveen Asset Management is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, LLC (“Nuveen Investments”). On October 1, 2014, Nuveen Investments was acquired by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA-CREF”), a national financial services organization. Nuveen Investments is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TIAA-CREF and operates as a separate subsidiary within TIAA-CREF's asset management business. Nuveen Asset Management offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of mutual fund clients and has extensive experience in managing municipal securities. As of June 30, 2016, Nuveen Asset Management managed approximately $158 billion in assets. Nuveen Asset Management's principal business address is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and Nuveen Asset Management, the Adviser pays Nuveen Asset Management 45% of the advisory fee paid by the Municipal Bond ETFs to the Adviser (after deducting payments to service providers and expenses). The Municipal Bond ETFs are not responsible for the fees paid to Nuveen Asset Management.
The Adviser has retained SSGA LTD, as sub-adviser, to be responsible for the day to day management of the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF's investments, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Board. The Adviser will provide administrative, compliance and general management services to each of the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF. SSGA LTD has been operating since 1990 with experience in managing indexed fixed income portfolios. As of June 30, 2016, SSGA LTD managed approximately $297.2 billion in assets. SSGA LTD's principal business address is 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom E14 5HJ.
In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and SSGA LTD, the Adviser pays SSGA LTD 40% of the advisory fee paid by each of the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF to the Adviser (after deducting payments to the fund service providers and fund expenses). The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF are not responsible for the fees paid to SSGA LTD.
A discussion regarding the Board's consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreements is provided in the Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.
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 SPDR Series Trust (the “Trust”) have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, with the approval of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, to retain and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated investment sub-advisers for the Funds 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
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disclose fees paid to any sub-adviser retained pursuant to the order. Except with respect to the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF and SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF, approval by the Fund's shareholders is required before any authority granted under the exemptive order may be exercised.
Portfolio Managers.
The Adviser and Sub-Advisers manage 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 each 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 SSGA. Each portfolio management team is overseen by the SSGA Investment Committee.
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund are:
Portfolio Managers Fund
Todd Bean, Sean Lussier and Jeff St. Peters

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
Mahesh Jayakumar, James Kramer and Cynthia Moy

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF, SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF
Kyle Kelly, Frank Miethe and Christopher DiStefano

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF
Patrick Bresnehan, Kyle Kelly and Christopher DiStefano

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF
Mahesh Jayakumar, Joanna Madden and Cynthia Moy

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF
Mahesh Jayakumar, James Kramer and Joanna Madden

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF
Marc DiCosimo, James Kramer and Michael Przygoda

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF
Timothy Ryan and Steven Hlavin

Municipal Bond ETFs
Richard Darby-Dowman, Paul Brown and Peter Spano

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF
Abhishek Kumar, Peter Spano and Nicholas Fischer

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF
Thomas Connelley, Christopher DiStefano and Kyle Kelly

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF
Michael Brunell and Christopher DiStefano

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF
Bradley J. Sullivan, Michael Brunell and Kyle Kelly

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF, SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF
Todd Bean, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and SSGA FM and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the firm's U.S. Cash Management Group. He began his career at State Street Corporation in 1999, joining the firm as an analyst in the firm's custody and settlements area. Following a period on the money markets operations staff, Mr. Bean joined the Cash Management Group in 2004. He received Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Government from St. Lawrence University and an MS in Finance from Northeastern University. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute.
Patrick Bresnehan, CFA, is a Managing Director of SSGA and SSGA FM and the North America Head of Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group at SSGA. In his role, he oversees a team of portfolio managers providing clients with a broad range of fixed income index strategies including SPDR ETFs, institutional separate accounts and commingled funds. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. Bresnehan was a Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at PanAgora Asset Management and managed multi-asset class quantitative strategies within the firm's Macro-Strategies Group. Preceding this, he was a Senior Vice President at Fleet Investment Advisors where he was responsible for a team that managed investment-grade strategies for institutional clients. Mr. Bresnehan began his investment management career as a Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Scudder, Stevens and Clark Inc. Mr. Bresnehan received a BA in Economics from Norwich University and an MS in Finance from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. He also holds the FINRA Series 3 license.
Paul Brown is a portfolio manager within the Fixed Income Beta Team in London, having joined the company in December 2013. He is responsible for the management of both government and credit index fixed income portfolios. In addition, he contributes to the management of synthetic beta ETF solutions for clients. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. Brown worked at JPMorgan Asset Management as a portfolio manager where he focused on high grade multi-currency portfolios for segregated clients and pooled funds, as well as strategies for private high net worth investors.
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Previously, he was a Risk Analyst within JPMorgan Asset Management's Risk Management team focusing primarily on investment risk. Mr. Brown graduated from Loughborough University with a B.Sc. (Hons.) Degree in Management Sciences. As part of his degree he completed one year's industrial placement at IBM. He has also obtained the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Mike Brunell, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and has been a member of the Fixed Income portfolio management team since 2004. In his current role as part of the Beta Solutions Group, he is responsible for developing and managing various funds and ETFs against a variety of conventional and custom bond index strategies. Previously, Mr. Brunell was responsible for managing the U.S. Bond Operations group which he had been a member of since 1997. He started his career in the investment management field when he joined the Mutual Fund Custody division of State Street in 1993. In this role he focused on the accounting and the valuation of various domestic and international equity and bond portfolios. Mr. Brunell earned a BS in Business Administration from Saint Michael's College and a MSF degree from Boston College. Additionally he earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the Boston Securities Analyst Society.
Thomas Connelley, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and SSGA FM, and a Senior Portfolio Manager within the Global Fixed Income, Currency and Cash (FICC) group. He is responsible for total rate of return Short Duration strategies such as Ultra Short Term Fixed Income and 1-3 year multi-sector funds that help clients bridge the gap between traditional cash portfolios and longer dated fixed income solutions. Prior to his current role, Mr. Connelley was a Senior Portfolio Manager for the US Cash Management Group where he managed a variety of cash portfolios and securities lending cash collateral pools. Prior to joining SSGA in 2003, Tom was a Portfolio Manager at Standish Mellon Asset Management, where he was responsible for a variety of short- and intermediate-term fixed income mandates. Mr. Connelley received a BS in Management, with a concentration in Finance, from Bryant University. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.
Richard Darby-Dowman is a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Team. He is responsible for the management of both government and credit bond portfolios. In addition, he manages synthetic beta ETF solutions. Previously Mr. Darby-Dowman worked as a Portfolio Manager in the Cash Management Team at SSGA. He was responsible for the management of money market funds and securities lending. Prior to this he worked as an operations specialist providing support to the Cash Management Team. Mr. Darby-Dowman graduated from the University of Surrey with a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Business Computing. He has obtained the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Marc DiCosimo, CFA is a Vice President of SSGA and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the firm in 2013 and is responsible for managing a broad range of fixed income strategies. Previously, Mr. DiCosimo worked at Wellington Management as a Fixed Income Portfolio Analyst on the Mortgage Backed Securities team. Mr. DiCosimo has 15 years of fixed income experience working at Loomis Sayles and Saxon Mortgage Capital. Mr. DiCosimo graduated from The University of Richmond with a degree in accounting. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and is a member of the CFA Institute and Boston Securities Analysts Society.
Christopher DiStefano is a Portfolio Manager within SSGA's Fixed Income, Currency, and Cash Investments Team. He joined the firm in 2010 and is responsible for managing several funds and ETFs within the Investment Grade Credit, Government/Credit, and Short Duration sectors. Prior to his current role, Mr. DiStefano was a member of the Global Graduate Rotational Program at SSGA, a two year cross-functional program engineered to provide candidates with a diverse skill set and a broad perspective. Previously, Mr. DiStefano worked as an engineer within the real estate development and transportation industries. Mr. DiStefano holds an MBA from Boston College, and an MS and BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and Union College respectively.
Nicholas Fischer is a Principal and Portfolio Manager within the Fixed Income Beta Team based in London, where he manages a range of Euro Government and Gilt-focused rates portfolios, and both synthetic and physical ETF solutions. Prior to joining the team in 2014, Mr. Fischer worked as a Portfolio Analyst covering synthetic beta ETF solutions for clients. He joined SSGA LTD in 2012. Previously Mr. Fischer worked as an Operations Analyst for Wells Fargo Fund Administration covering a range of products. Mr. Fischer graduated from Loughborough University in 2010, having read Economics (B.Sc.) at the university.
Steven M. Hlavin is Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Nuveen Asset Management. He manages the Tender Option Bond program that deploys inverse floating rate securities in Nuveen Asset Management's closed and open-end funds. In addition, he develops and assists in executing quantitative strategies for indexing purposes and
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yield curve positioning. He serves as chairman of Nuveen Asset Management's Yield Curve Strategy Committee. Prior to his current position, Mr. Hlavin worked as a senior analyst responsible for the risk management and performance reporting process for Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Hlavin joined an affiliate of Nuveen Asset Management in 2003. Mr. Hlavin earned a BA in finance and accounting and an MBA in finance from Miami University. He has been a speaker at the Leveraging Performance Attribution Analysis for Fixed Income Investments Conference series.
Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM is a Vice President of the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments team at SSGA and has been a member of the team since 2010. In this current role as a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions group, he is responsible for managing several funds and ETF's spanning diverse areas such as US Aggregate strategies, Global Treasuries/Inflation strategies, Government/Credit portfolios, Green bonds and custom or client directed mandates. Through his membership in the Corporate Responsibility Working Group at State Street and other ESG related activities, Mr. Jayakumar is active in the growth of Environmental Finance within the company. He has also held prior roles in State Street Global Markets where he spent time in the Investor Behavior Research Team (IBRT) at State Street Associates working on the research and development of quantitative market indicators. Mr. Jayakumar holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, MS in Computer Science from Boston University and BS in Information Systems from Purdue University. He is a member of the CFA Institute and Boston Security Analysts Society. He has also earned the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation and is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM is a Vice President of SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions group where he primarily manages credit and aggregate bond strategies. Prior to joining the portfolio management team, he worked as an Investment Risk Management Analyst focused on SSGA's fixed income and multi-asset-class products. Mr. Kelly graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Communication and Economics. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and the Financial Risk Manager designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute, the Boston Securities Analyst Society, and the Global Association of Risk Professionals.
James Kramer is a Vice President of SSGA and SSGA FM and U.S Head of Fixed Income Trading. He is responsible for a team of traders that execute all cash bonds and derivative instruments for the Active and Passive Fixed Income Groups. Prior to heading Fixed Income trading, Mr. Kramer was a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Interest Rate Strategies Group at SSGA. His primary responsibilities included the portfolio management of active government and inflation linked strategies. Other responsibilities included directing U.S. interest rate strategies globally for SSGA. Mr. Kramer has a BA in Economics from Fitchburg State College. He started his career at State Street Bank and Trust Company and has been working in the investment industry since 1993.
Abhishek Kumar, CFA, is a Vice President and the lead Portfolio Manager for Emerging Markets within the Fixed Income Beta Team. He leads the Emerging Market Debt team, managing both hard currency and local currency EM funds, and also works to develop new strategies and solutions for clients in EM debt. He joined SSGA in September 2010. Prior to joining the investment management team, Mr. Kumar spent three years at ICICI Bank UK PLC managing global credit portfolios. Mr. Kumar holds a Masters in Management from ESCP Europe Paris, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Equivalent to MBA) from Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, India and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. He is a CFA charter holder and is a member of the CFA Society UK and the CFA Institute.
Sean Lussier is a Vice President of SSGA and SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the firm's North America Cash Management Group. He is responsible for managing several registered taxable and tax-exempt money market funds, as well as US and Canada domiciled separately managed cash and securities lending mandates. He has also been a member of the Global Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group and was responsible for the transition and management of several Canadian Passive Fixed Income strategies. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. Lussier worked as an Account Manager at State Street Bank &Trust where his primary responsibilities were the custody and accounting operations of the SSGA Money Market and Securities Lending Collateral accounts. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Joanna Madden is a Vice President of SSGA and SSGA FM and Portfolio Manager within the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team since 2013. Previously, Ms. Madden was a Portfolio Manager within the US Cash Management Group responsible for short term liquidity investments across all the cash and securities lending portfolios managed in Boston. She joined the Boston group in April 2010 after working as a Portfolio Manager with the London Cash Management Group. Prior to her portfolio management role, she was a Product Analyst for the London Cash
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Management Group where she provided analytical and business support. Before joining SSGA in London, Ms. Madden worked as an Operations Specialist supporting the Boston Cash Management Group. Ms. Madden received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago, Illinois.
Frank Miethe, CFA, is a Principal of SSGA and a Portfolio Manager on the Passive Fixed Income Team. Mr. Miethe joined SSGA in 2010 and has been part of the Portfolio Management team since 2013. He is currently responsible for managing several funds and ETFs within the Investment Grade Credit and Government/Credit sectors. Prior to his role at SSGA, Mr. Miethe worked at State Street Corporation as a Fund Accountant and a Client Operations Associate. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Western New England University and an MBA from Suffolk University. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and Boston Security Analysts Society.
Cynthia Moy is a Principal of SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group. Ms. Moy works in the portfolio management team, where she primarily manages government bond strategies. Ms. Moy is also an analyst in the Government Solutions team, where she is responsible for credit surveillance of housing finance agency bonds. Ms. Moy's prior roles at State Street include work as an analyst in the Stable Value team, the Global Structured Products group, as well as the mutual funds division. Ms. Moy holds a BA in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University.
Peter Spano, CFA, is a Vice President and EMEA Head of Portfolio Management of the Fixed Income Beta team at SSGA LTD. Mr. Spano joined the firm in May 2007. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing a broad range of mandates, including investment grade credit, global rates, high yield, convertible bonds and emerging market debt, delivered through a variety of investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds and separate accounts. Mr. Spano also oversees operational activities for the Fixed Income Beta team. Prior to commencing his current role, Mr. Spano managed a range of government and credit index fixed income portfolios. In addition he had a significant role in managing synthetic beta ETF solutions for clients. Before joining the investment management team, Mr. Spano worked at the National Bank of Slovakia as a Portfolio Manager of the official reserves and as a Front Office Specialist at the European Central Bank. Mr. Spano graduated from the University of Economics in Bratislava with a MSc in Economics. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and obtained the Investment Management Certificate. He is a member of the CFA Society of the UK and the CFA Institute.
Michael Przygoda, CFA, is a Principal of SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team, managing a variety of securitized and custom aggregate bond strategies. Prior to joining the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team, Mr. Przygoda worked as an MBS Trader and a Portfolio Analyst in the Government Solutions team and previously managed the Active Fixed Income Operations team. Mr. Przygoda received his BA in Finance from Stonehill College and his MS in Finance from Suffolk University. Mr. Przygoda has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of both the Boston Security Analysts' Society and the CFA Institute.
Timothy T. Ryan is a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Ryan joined an affiliate of Nuveen Asset Management in 2010. Prior to joining Nuveen Asset Management, Mr. Ryan was a principal of SSGA FM and a Vice President of SSGA and responsible for managing the series of the Trust that invest primarily in municipal securities. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. Ryan was a lead portfolio manager in the municipal bond group at Deutsche Bank Asset Management, formally Scudder Insurance Asset Management. His clients included nuclear decommissioning trusts, insurance portfolios and corporate cash. Mr. Ryan began working at Deutsche Bank in 1991 as a municipal bond analyst covering high yield, transportation, higher education, general obligation, and money market sectors. He joined Deutsche Bank with 8 years of experience as vice president and investment banker at Mesirow Financial and vice president and financial consultant at Speer Financial. Mr. Ryan has a BS from University of Wisconsin and a Master of Management from JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management Northwestern University. Mr. Ryan has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Jeff St. Peters is a Managing Director of SSGA and SSGA FM and Head of U.S. Cash Management within the Global Cash Division. Mr. St. Peters manages a team of portfolio managers that focus on traditional money market and securities lending cash collateral funds. He is also a senior portfolio managers responsible for several securities lending, enhanced cash, offshore, and SSGA's registered money market portfolios for both retail and institutional clients. He has been managing short duration cash and securities lending portfolios at SSGA for over 12 years. Mr. St. Peters is a member of SSGA's Senior Leadership Team. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. St. Peters was employed nearly nine years with Fidelity Investments, the latter years within the Fidelity Management and Research Company, where
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he worked as a trader within the Money Market area of the Fixed Income division. In addition, he held several positions within Fidelity's Investment Technology area, where he assisted in designing and implementing an internal proprietary trading system. Mr. St. Peters has over 22 years of investment experience. He holds a BS in Finance from Bentley College.
Bradley J. Sullivan, CFA, is a Vice President and Sr. Portfolio Manager in State Street Global Advisors on the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team where he manages corporate credit beta portfolios for ETFs, commingled funds and separately managed accounts. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. Sullivan was a Senior Research Analyst at State Street Bank and Trust where he covered the Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Chemicals, Retail and Power/ Utilities sectors for the corporate credit and leveraged loan portfolios. Mr. Sullivan joined State Street in 2013 to launch a multibillion dollar leveraged loan fund within the corporate credit team which managed more than $9B in committed proprietary capital. Prior to joining State Street, Mr. Sullivan was the Assistant Portfolio Manager in the Leveraged Finance Group for MetLife Investments. The team managed more than $12B across leveraged loan and high yield credit portfolios on a total return mandate. Mr. Sullivan joined MetLife Investments in 2007 as a Credit Research Analyst covering the corporate Healthcare, Technology, and Beverage sectors within the Global Fixed Income Research Group. In 2003, Mr. Sullivan received his formal credit training in the Brown Brothers Harriman Banking Analyst Program in Boston on the Medical Technology team. Mr. Sullivan earned his Bachelors of Science Management degree in Accounting and Finance from Tulane University and a Master's in Business Administration from the Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia. Mr. Sullivan is a CFA charterholder.
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 Bank and Trust Company, 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 is 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 Markets, LLC (the “Distributor”), part of State Street Corporation, is the distributor of Fund Shares. 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.
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.
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Products is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of Licensor and the Licensor Indices that are determined, composed and calculated by Licensor without regard to Licensee or the Products. Licensor has no obligation to take the needs of Licensee or the owners of the Products into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Licensor Indices. Licensor is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance of the Products. Licensor has no obligation or liability in connection with the listing, trading, marketing or administration of the Products.
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CITIGROUP INDEX DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, OR FOR ANY COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO, AND CITIGROUP INDEX SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR DELAYS THEREIN. CITIGROUP INDEX MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OR PROSPECTIVE OWNERS OF SHARES OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. CITIGROUP INDEX MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
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AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL CITIGROUP INDEX HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE.
BOFA MERRILL LYNCH INDEX DISCLAIMER
The SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF (the “Product”) is not sponsored, endorsed or promoted by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“BofA Merrill Lynch”). BofA Merrill Lynch has not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Product, nor makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Product or any member of the public regarding the Product or the advisability of investing in the Product, particularly the ability of the BofA Merrill Lynch US Diversified Crossover Corporate Index (the “Index”) to track performance of any market or strategy. BofA Merrill Lynch licenses to SSGA (“Licensee”) certain trademarks and trade names and the Indexes or components thereof. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by BofA Merrill Lynch without regard to the Licensee or the Product or their holders. BofA Merrill Lynch has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the holders of the Product into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. BofA Merrill Lynch is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of the Product to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Product is to be priced, sold, purchased, or redeemed. BofA Merrill Lynch may do business in the ordinary course with the Product.
BOFA MERRILL LYNCH DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND BOFA MERRILL LYNCH SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, UNAVAILABILITY, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. BOFA MERRILL LYNCH MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, HOLDERS OF THE PRODUCT OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. BOFA MERRILL LYNCH MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL BOFA MERRILL LYNCH HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR LOST PROFITS, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
“BofA Merrill Lynch” and the “the BofA Merrill Lynch US Diversified Crossover Corporate IndexSM " are trademarks of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or its affiliates and have been licensed for use by SSGA.
SPDR Trademark. The "SPDR” trademark is used under license from Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, an affiliate of The McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (“S&P”). No Fund offered by the Trust or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of any Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly or the ability of the Index on which the Funds are based to track general stock market performance. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance or redemption of Fund Shares. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.
WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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), 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
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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. Information showing the number of days the market price of Fund Shares was greater than the relevant Fund's net asset value and the number of days it was less than the relevant Fund's net asset value (i.e., premium or discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com.
The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an indicative optimized portfolio value (“IOPV”) relating to the Funds. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of the Funds' net asset value per Fund Share using market data converted into U.S. dollars at the current currency rates. The IOPV price is based on quotes and closing prices from the securities' local market and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market's close. 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, which is calculated only once a day. 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.
Distribution and Service Plan
Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of Fund Shares. No payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made through at least October 31, 2017. Additionally, the implementation of any such payments would have to be approved by the Board prior to implementation. Because these fees would be paid out of a Fund's assets on an on-going basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more over time than paying other types of sales charges.
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.”
Each Fund may earn interest from debt securities and, if participating, securities lending income. In addition, the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF may earn dividend income from Preferred Securities. These amounts, net of expenses and taxes (if applicable), are passed along to Fund shareholders as “income dividend distributions.” Each Fund will generally realize 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
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shareholders. Each Fund will generally realize 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, 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 times to improve Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “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 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.
Taxes On Distributions (Municipal Bond ETFs only). Dividends paid by a Municipal Bond ETF that are reported as exempt-interest dividends will not be subject to regular federal income tax. Each Municipal Bond ETF intends to invest its assets in a manner such that dividend distributions to its shareholders will generally be exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax, although distributions from Municipal Bond ETFs may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals and will not necessarily be exempt from state and local taxation. Dividends paid by a Municipal Bond ETF will be exempt from regular federal income tax to the extent of such Fund's net tax-exempt interest income as long as 50% or more of the value of such Fund's assets at the end of each quarter is invested in state, municipal and other bonds the interest on which is excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes and as long as such Fund reports such dividends as exempt-interest dividends. Each Municipal Bond ETF, however, is able to invest up to 20% of its net assets in taxable securities, the income from which is subject to regular federal income tax.
Because a Municipal Bond ETF may invest in private activity bonds (within the meaning of Section 141 of the Code), the interest on which is not federally tax-exempt to persons who are “substantial users” of the facilities financed by such bonds or “related persons” of such “substantial users,” a Municipal Bond ETF may not be an appropriate investment for shareholders who are considered either a “substantial user” or “related person” within the meaning of the Code. In addition, interest on certain municipal securities that meet the definition of private activity bonds under the Code is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer's alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent a Municipal Bond ETF receives income from private activity bonds, a portion of the dividends paid by it, although otherwise exempt from federal income tax, will be taxable to those shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax regime. Each Municipal Bond ETF will annually supply shareholders with a report indicating the percentage of its income attributable to municipal securities required to be included in calculating the federal alternative minimum tax. In addition, all exempt-interest dividends are required to be included in calculating a corporation's adjusted current earnings for purposes of the alternative minimum tax calculation applicable to corporations.
Exempt-interest dividends from a Municipal Bond ETF are taken into account in determining the taxable portion of any Social Security or railroad retirement benefits that you receive. If you receive Social Security or railroad retirement benefits, you should consult your tax advisor about how an investment in a Municipal Bond ETF may affect the taxation of your benefits.
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Exempt-interest dividends attributable to interest on municipal securities issued by a state or its political subdivisions may be exempt in the hands of a shareholder from income tax imposed by that state, but exempt-interest dividends attributable to interest on municipal securities issued by another state generally will not be exempt from such income tax.
All Funds. In general, your distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) 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 the Funds will generally be taxed as ordinary income. Subject to certain limitations, dividends that are reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income are taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. 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 rates of up to 20%. Although the Municipal Bond ETFs do not seek to realize taxable income or capital gains, they may realize and distribute taxable income or capital gains from time to time as a result of their normal investment activities. 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.
In general, dividends may be reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund, which, in general, includes dividend income from taxable U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations (i.e., certain foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, and certain other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States), provided that the Fund satisfies certain holding period requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations and has not hedged its position in the stock in certain ways. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held by a Fund for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning at the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for fewer than 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date. These holding period requirements will also apply to your ownership of Fund Shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF may hold common stock or Preferred Securities. Thus, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF may report a portion of its distributions as qualified dividend income. Since the other Funds primarily hold investments that do not pay dividends, it is not expected that a substantial portion of the dividends paid by those other Funds will qualify for either the dividends-received deduction for corporations or the favorable income tax rates available to individuals on qualified dividend income. Additionally, dividends paid on fund shares on loan will not be treated as qualified dividend income.
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) but does not include exempt-interest dividends paid by Municipal Bond ETFs. 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.
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.
If you lend your Fund Shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements you may lose the ability to treat Fund dividends (paid while the Fund Shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. You should consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor to discuss your particular circumstances.
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, capital gain distributions and any qualified dividend income shortly after the close of each calendar year.
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.
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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 (For Securities Other Than Municipal Securities). 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.
Market Discount (Municipal Securities). If a Municipal Bond ETF purchases a municipal security at a market discount, any gain realized by the Municipal Bond ETF upon sale or redemption of the municipal security will be treated as taxable interest income to the extent of the market discount, and any gain realized in excess of the market discount will be treated as capital gains.
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 the Fund and/or defer the 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.
Foreign Income Taxes. Investment income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which may entitle a Fund to a reduced rate of such taxes or exemption from taxes on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax for a Fund in advance since the amount of the assets to be invested within various countries is not known. If more than 50% of the total assets of a Fund at the close of its taxable year consist of certain foreign stocks or securities, the Fund may elect to “pass through” to you certain foreign income taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund. If a Fund in which you hold Fund Shares makes such an election, you will be considered to have received as an additional dividend your share of such foreign taxes, but you
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may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating your taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating your federal income tax. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If a Fund does not so elect, the Fund will be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Fund.
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.
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 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.
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, after June 30, 2014 (or, in certain cases, after later dates), to distributions payable to such entities and, after December 31, 2018, to redemption proceeds and certain capital gain 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.
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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 28%. 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.
Other Tax Issues. A Fund may be subject to tax in certain states where the Fund does business. 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 June 12, 1998. 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, non-diversified series of the Trust, which is an open-end registered management investment company.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, Fund Shares are issued by the respective series of the Trust and the acquisition of Fund Shares by investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
The Trust has received exemptive relief from Section 12(d)(1) to allow registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions as set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.
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. Ernst & Young LLP serves as the independent registered public accounting firm and will audit the Funds' financial statements annually.
Premium/Discount Information
Information showing the number of days the market price of a Fund's shares was greater than a Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a premium) and the number of days it was less than the Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlight tables are intended to help you understand each Fund's financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the period since each Fund's inception. Certain information reflects the performance results for a single Fund Share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in each Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with each Fund's financial highlights and financial statements, is included in the annual report to shareholders, which is available upon request. The financial information included in these tables should be read in conjunction with the financial statements incorporated by reference in the SAI.
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Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 45.71   $ 45.76   $ 45.80   $ 45.82   $ 45.85
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.00 (b)   (0.05)   (0.04)   (0.02)   (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

0.04   0.04   (0.04)   0.01   0.01
Total from investment operations

0.04   (0.01)   (0.08)   (0.01)   (0.03)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.04)   (0.04)   0.04   (0.01)   0.00 (b)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

        (0.00) (b)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 45.71   $ 45.71   $ 45.76   $ 45.80   $ 45.82
Total return(d)

0.01%   (0.11)%   (0.09)%   (0.04)%   (0.08)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,883,265   $1,403,188   $979,258   $1,580,101   $1,539,512
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.14%   0.14%   0.14%   0.14%   0.14%
Net investment income (loss)

0.01%   (012)%   (0.09)%   (0.05)%   (0.09)%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

685%   620%   577%   584%   619%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
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Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays TIPS ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 55.87   $ 57.38   $ 55.65   $ 59.59   $ 54.76
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.68   (0.07)   1.00   0.60   1.53
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

1.80   (0.94)   1.51   (3.72)   4.93
Total from investment operations

2.48   (1.01)   2.51   (3.12)   6.46
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.02)   (0.04)   (0.01)   0.01   0.05
Other capital(a)

        0.00 (c)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.24)   (0.46)   (0.77)   (0.83)   (1.68)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 58.09   $ 55.87   $ 57.38   $ 55.65   $ 59.59
Total return(d)

4.42%   (1.84)%   4.52%   (5.32)%   12.03%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$691,343   $653,662   $596,730   $651,133   $732,984
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.17%   0.19%   0.19%   0.19%
Net investment income (loss)

1.21%   (012)%   1.79%   1.00%   2.62%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

17%   18%   20%   20%   23%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
185

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF)
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
  For the
Period
2/26/14* -
6/30/14
Net asset value, beginning of period

$19.52   $20.06   $20.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
         
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.11   (0.34)   0.22
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.18   (0.25)   0.02
Total from investment operations

0.29   (0.59)   0.24
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

  0.18  
Distributions to shareholders from:
         
Net investment income

  (0.13)   (0.18)
Net asset value, end of period

$19.81   $19.52   $20.06
Total return(c)

1.50%   (2.01)%   1.18%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$3,963   $3,904   $6,017
Ratios to average net assets:

         
Total expenses

0.16%   0.15%   0.15% (d)
Net investment income (loss)

0.55%   (176)%   3.21% (d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

39%   26%   10%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
186

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF)
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
  For the
Period
5/29/13* -
6/30/13
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 19.29   $ 19.93   $19.39   $ 20.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
             
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.19   (0.06)   0.21   (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.47   (0.11)   0.45   (0.58)
Total from investment operations

0.66   (0.17)   0.66   (0.61)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.05)   (0.25)   (0.00) (c)   (0.00) (c)
Distributions to shareholders from:
             
Net investment income

(0.01)   (0.22)   (0.12)  
Net asset value, end of period

$ 19.89   $ 19.29   $19.93   $ 19.39
Total return(d)

3.16%   (2.10)%   3.42%   (3.07)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
             
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$23,867   $19,293   $9,963   $11,632
Ratios to average net assets:

             
Total expenses

0.15%   0.15%   0.15%   0.15% (e)
Net investment income (loss)

0.96%   (032)%   1.06%   (1.85)% (e)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

23%   28%   24%   1%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
187

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF)
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
 

Year Ended
6/30/13
  For the
Period
11/30/11* -
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 30.23   $ 30.08   $ 29.95   $30.10   $30.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.28   0.23   0.17   0.12   0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.42   0.12   0.13   (0.15)   0.09
Total from investment operations

0.70   0.35   0.30   (0.03)   0.15
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.00 (c)   0.02   0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)  
Other capital(a)

  0.00 (c)      
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.28)   (0.22)   (0.17)   (0.12)   (0.05)
Net realized gains

(0.00) (c)   (0.00) (c)   (0.00) (c)    
Total Distributions

(0.28)   (0.22)   (0.17)   (0.12)   (0.05)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 30.65   $ 30.23   $ 30.08   $29.95   $30.10
Total return(d)

2.33%   1.23%   1.00%   (0.10)%   0.49%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$91,957   $54,413   $12,033   $5,990   $6,019
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.10%   0.11%   0.12%   0.12%   0.12% (e)
Net investment income (loss)

0.93%   0.76%   0.57%   0.39%   0.34% (e)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

40%   35%   40%   38%   24%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
188

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 60.06   $ 59.72   $ 59.66   $ 61.31   $ 59.42
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.75   0.68   0.69   0.90   1.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

1.58   0.31   0.14   (1.34)   2.07
Total from investment operations

2.33   0.99   0.83   (0.44)   3.14
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.01   0.02   (0.01)   (0.01)   (0.01)
Other capital(a)

0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)     0.00 (c)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.74)   (0.67)   (0.71)   (0.91)   (1.08)
Net realized gains

    (0.05)   (0.29)   (0.16)
Total distributions

(0.74)   (0.67)   (0.76)   (1.20)   (1.24)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 61.66   $ 60.06   $ 59.72   $ 59.66   $ 61.31
Total return(d)

3.92%   1.69%   1.39%   (0.77)%   5.30%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$437,789   $294,311   $167,232   $173,012   $196,216
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.10%   0.12%   0.14%   0.14%   0.14%
Net investment income (loss)

1.24%   1.13%   1.16%   1.48%   1.75%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

33%   27%   32%   32%   35%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
189

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 68.55   $ 66.31   $ 64.34   $ 72.05   $ 56.22
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.80   1.87   1.86   1.75   1.92
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

11.05   2.23   1.91   (7.70)   15.76
Total from investment operations

12.85   4.10   3.77   (5.95)   17.68
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.07   0.04   0.04   (0.01)   0.14
Other capital(a)

  0.00 (c)      
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.81)   (1.90)   (1.84)   (1.75)   (1.99)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 79.66   $ 68.55   $ 66.31   $ 64.34   $ 72.05
Total return(d)

19.14%   6.21%   6.16%   (8.44)%   32.03%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$446,122   $164,531   $86,209   $57,908   $64,844
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.10%   0.11%   0.14%   0.14%   0.14%
Net investment income (loss)

2.46%   2.60%   2.95%   2.49%   2.85%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

22%   18%   24%   20%   22%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
190

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 30.58   $ 30.76   $ 30.53   $ 30.37   $ 30.44
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.48   0.39   0.36   0.40   0.49
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.17   (0.16)   0.29   0.17   (0.06)
Total from investment operations

0.65   0.23   0.65   0.57   0.43
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)   0.02   0.02
Other capital(a)

  0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)   0.01   0.04
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.47)   (0.38)   (0.36)   (0.41)   (0.50)
Net realized gains

  (0.03)   (0.06)   (0.03)   (0.06)
Total distributions

(0.47)   (0.41)   (0.42)   (0.44)   (0.56)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 30.76   $ 30.58   $ 30.76   $ 30.53   $ 30.37
Total return(d)

2.17%   0.74%   2.14%   1.99%   1.63%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$3,965,398   $3,962,876   $3,448,186   $2,940,064   $1,105,432
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.12%   0.12%   0.13%   0.13%   0.13%
Net investment income (loss)

1.56%   1.27%   1.18%   1.30%   1.61%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

56%   46%   43%   46%   50%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
191

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 33.90   $ 34.34   $ 33.53   $ 33.89   $ 33.03
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.91   0.89   0.92   1.00   1.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.81   (0.45)   0.89   (0.31)   0.92
Total from investment operations

1.72   0.44   1.81   0.69   2.04
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.02   0.02   0.00 (c)   0.02   0.02
Other capital(a)

(0.00) (c)   0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)   0.02   0.02
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.91)   (0.90)   (0.92)   (1.02)   (1.12)
Net realized gains

(0.00) (c)     (0.08)   (0.07)   (0.10)
Total distributions

(0.91)   (0.90)   (1.00)   (1.09)   (1.22)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 34.73   $ 33.90   $ 34.34   $ 33.53   $ 33.89
Total return(d)

5.23%   1.34%   5.47%   2.10%   6.41%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,343,962   $752,581   $456,714   $399,041   $281,288
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.12%   0.14%   0.15%   0.15%   0.15%
Net investment income (loss)

2.70%   2.61%   2.72%   2.89%   3.34%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

26%   13%   13%   16%   15%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
192

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 38.38   $ 40.46   $ 37.41   $ 39.92   $ 35.55
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.77   1.75   1.79   1.81   1.92
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

3.60   (2.21)   2.96   (2.60)   4.10
Total from investment operations

5.37   (0.46)   4.75   (0.79)   6.02
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.07)   0.05   0.04   0.01   0.07
Other capital(a)

0.01   0.08   0.06   0.22   0.20
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.77)   (1.75)   (1.80)   (1.82)   (1.92)
Net realized gains

      (0.13)  
Total distributions

(1.77)   (1.75)   (1.80)   (1.95)   (1.92)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 41.92   $ 38.38   $ 40.46   $ 37.41   $ 39.92
Total return(c)

14.31%   (096)%   13.44%   (174)%   18.04%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$150,896   $337,777   $161,829   $97,258   $87,834
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.12%   0.14%   0.15%   0.15%   0.15%
Net investment income (loss)

4.58%   4.29%   4.69%   4.42%   4.97%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

14%   10%   8%   24%   21%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
193

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 31.53   $ 32.28   $ 31.22   $ 32.02   $ 30.52
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.97   0.96   1.08   1.08   1.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

1.04   (0.88)   1.11   (0.81)   1.40
Total from investment operations

2.01   0.08   2.19   0.27   2.51
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.00 (c)   0.01   (0.00) (c)   0.03   0.01
Other capital(a)

0.00 (c)   0.14   0.03   0.08   0.09
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.97)   (0.98)   (1.08)   (1.08)   (1.11)
Net realized gains

    (0.08)   (0.10)  
Total distributions

(0.97)   (0.98)   (1.16)   (1.18)   (1.11)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 32.57   $ 31.53   $ 32.28   $ 31.22   $ 32.02
Total return(d)

6.56%   0.67%   7.28%   1.11%   8.72%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$26,060   $25,220   $32,285   $34,340   $22,417
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.16%   0.16%   0.16%   0.16%   0.16%
Net investment income (loss)

3.09%   2.98%   3.42%   3.34%   3.53%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

20%   8%   22%   11%   17%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
194

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Convertible Securities ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 47.44   $ 50.30   $ 42.54   $ 37.67   $ 41.55
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.82   0.37   (0.00)   (0.19)   0.37
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(1.38)   0.22   9.20   6.39   (2.45)
Total from investment operations

(0.56)   0.59   9.20   6.20   (2.08)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.34   (0.05)   0.14   0.31   (0.00) (c)
Other capital(a)

0.00 (c)   0.01   0.01   0.00 (c)   0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(2.32)   (2.12)   (1.59)   (1.64)   (1.29)
Net realized gains

(1.12)   (1.29)       (0.52)
Total distributions

(3.44)   (3.41)   (1.59)   (1.64)   (1.81)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 43.78   $ 47.44   $ 50.30   $ 42.54   $ 37.67
Total return(d)

(0.13)%   1.27%   22.35%   17.57%   (4.89)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$2,197,606   $3,045,439   $2,862,353   $1,225,259   $783,580
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40%
Net investment income (loss)

1.84%   0.75%   0.00%   (047)%   0.98%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

30%   38%   40%   34%   17%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
195

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 26.93   $ 27.41   $ 26.61   $ 27.68   $ 27.35
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.82   0.79   0.53   0.11   0.41
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.23   (0.22)   0.69   (0.62)   0.85
Total from investment operations

1.05   0.57   1.22   (0.51)   1.26
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.02   (0.01)   0.01   (0.00) (c)   0.00 (c)
Other capital(a)

0.01   0.00 (c)   0.02   0.02   0.02
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.79)   (0.77)   (0.44)   (0.13)   (0.43)
Net realized gains

  (0.27)   (0.01)   (0.45)   (0.52)
Return of Capital

(0.04)        
Total distributions

(0.83)   (1.04)   (0.45)   (0.58)   (0.95)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 27.18   $ 26.93   $ 27.41   $ 26.61   $ 27.68
Total return(d)

4.08%   2.03%   4.75%   (1.80)%   4.82%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$225,585   $150,787   $126,085   $23,951   $38,746
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.20%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%
Net expenses

0.16%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%
Net investment income (loss)

3.05%   2.88%   1.96%   0.40%   1.47%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

356%   221%   379%   544%   1,489%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
196

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 57.49   $ 57.90   $ 56.76   $ 58.57   $ 56.40
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.50   1.44   1.34   0.97   1.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

1.85   (0.45)   1.08   (1.52)   2.68
Total from investment operations

3.35   0.99   2.42   (0.55)   3.94
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.02   0.02   0.01   0.00 (c)   0.04
Other capital(a)

0.01   0.01   0.02   0.01   0.05
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.50)   (1.43)   (1.31)   (0.96)   (1.35)
Net realized gains

      (0.31)   (0.51)
Total distributions

(1.50)   (1.43)   (1.31)   (1.27)   (1.86)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 59.37   $ 57.49   $ 57.90   $ 56.76   $ 58.57
Total return(d)

5.97%   1.77%   4.38%   (0.95)%   7.29%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,377,335   $988,792   $735,309   $669,829   $597,435
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.08%   0.14%   0.19%   0.19%   0.19%
Net expenses

0.07%   0.11%   0.13%   0.13%   0.13%
Net investment income (loss)

2.58%   2.48%   2.35%   1.65%   2.17%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

105%   69%   91%   165%   428%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
197

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Nuveen Barclays Municipal Bond ETF)(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/16(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/15(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/14(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/13(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/12(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 47.52   $ 47.44   $ 46.04   $ 48.32   $ 45.50
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

1.09   1.14   1.18   1.30   1.48
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

3.11   0.06   1.68   (1.74)   2.96
Total from investment operations

4.20   1.20   2.86   (0.44)   4.44
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

0.02   0.02   (0.00) (d)   0.00 (d)   0.02
Other capital(b)

0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)   0.02   0.00 (d)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.10)   (1.14)   (1.18)   (1.30)   (1.50)
Net realized gains

(0.05)     (0.28)   (0.56)   (0.14)
Total distributions

(1.15)   (1.14)   (1.46)   (1.86)   (1.64)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 50.59   $ 47.52   $ 47.44   $ 46.04   $ 48.32
Total return(e)

9.02%   2.56%   6.41%   (1.01)%   9.95%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,950,478   $1,304,277   $1,034,219   $1,084,129   $1,135,596
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.30%   0.30%   0.30%   0.30%   0.30%
Net expenses

0.23%   0.23%   0.23%   0.23%   0.23%
Net investment income (loss)

2.23%   2.37%   2.58%   2.69%   3.14%
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

21%   20%   28%   18%   17%
(a) On March 15, 2016, the SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF underwent a 1-for-2 reverse share split. The per share activity presented here has been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 13.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
198

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF)(a)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 48.50   $ 48.72   $ 48.06   $ 48.78   $ 48.40
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(b)

0.46   0.44   0.46   0.52   0.66
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

0.57   (0.22)   0.66   (0.60)   0.46
Total from investment operations

1.03   0.22   1.12   (0.08)   1.12
Net equalization credits and charges(b)

0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)
Other capital(b)

0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)   0.00 (d)
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.46)   (0.44)   (0.46)   (0.54)   (0.66)
Net realized gains

  (0.00) (d)     (0.10)   (0.08)
Total distributions

(0.46)   (0.44)   (0.46)   (0.64)   (0.74)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 49.07   $ 48.50   $ 48.72   $ 48.06   $ 48.78
Total return(e)

2.13%   0.46%   2.31%   (0.20)%   2.36%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$2,966,297   $2,609,387   $2,219,335   $1,927,465   $1,539,304
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.20%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%   0.20%
Net investment income (loss)

0.94%   0.91%   0.93%   1.07%   1.34%
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

23%   23%   17%   20%   23%
(a) On March 15, 2016, the SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF underwent a 1-for-2 reverse share split. The per share data presented here have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this split. See Note 13.
(b) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(c) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(d) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
199

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 56.21   $ 56.28   $ 54.67   $ 56.05   $ 52.25
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

2.56   2.62   2.72   2.81   3.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

3.53   (0.17)   1.47   (1.49)   3.70
Total from investment operations

6.09   2.45   4.19   1.32   6.82
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.04   0.03   0.05   0.07   0.10
Other capital(a)

0.01   0.01   0.01   0.01   0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(2.55)   (2.56)   (2.64)   (2.70)   (3.01)
Net realized gains

      (0.08)   (0.12)
Total distributions

(2.55)   (2.56)   (2.64)   (2.78)   (3.13)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 59.80   $ 56.21   $ 56.28   $ 54.67   $ 56.05
Total return(c)

11.23%   4.47%   8.16%   2.33%   13.71%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$490,343   $382,259   $275,752   $218,686   $95,283
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%
Net expenses

0.45%   0.45%   0.45%   0.45%   0.45%
Net investment income (loss)

4.48%   4.58%   5.08%   4.84%   5.78%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

23%   38%   21%   7%   24%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
200

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 54.61   $ 62.28   $ 57.56   $ 59.24   $ 61.86
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.39   1.36   1.99   1.86   2.56
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(0.37)   (8.43)   4.20   (1.44)   (3.10)
Total from investment operations

1.02   (7.07)   6.19   0.42   (0.54)
Other capital(a)

0.08   0.10   0.05   0.10   0.05
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.05)   (0.43)   (1.49)   (1.62)   (2.13)
Net realized gains

(0.53)   (0.27)   (0.03)    
Return of capital

      (0.58)  
Total distributions

(0.58)   (0.70)   (1.52)   (2.20)   (2.13)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 55.13   $ 54.61   $ 62.28   $ 57.56   $ 59.24
Total return(c)

2.12%   (11.25)%   10.97%   0.67%   (0.69)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$617,443   $769,996   $959,208   $1,162,731   $1,273,764
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%
Net investment income (loss)

2.63%   2.35%   3.35%   3.00%   4.32%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

52%   36%   19%   43%   40%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
201

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 30.71   $ 36.48   $ 34.67   $ 35.80   $ 39.24
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.17   0.19   0.30   0.40   0.54
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.59   (5.91)   1.53   (1.53)   (2.73)
Total from investment operations

0.76   (5.72)   1.83   (1.13)   (2.19)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

  (0.01)      
Other capital(a)

0.03   0.02   0.01   0.00   0.01
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

  (0.01)   (0.00) (c)   (0.00) (c)   (1.26)
Net realized gains

(0.02)   (0.05)   (0.03)    
Total distributions

(0.02)   (0.06)   (0.03)   (0.00) (c)   (1.26)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 31.48   $ 30.71   $ 36.48   $ 34.67   $ 35.80
Total return(d)

2.56%   (15.67)%   5.32%   (3.14)%   (5.59)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$182,560   $199,591   $273,606   $211,479   $225,523
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%   0.35%
Net investment income (loss)

0.55%   0.59%   0.84%   1.11%   1.47%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

85%   83%   83%   71%   116%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
202

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 52.15   $ 60.67   $ 56.29   $ 59.14   $ 61.84
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.99   0.91   1.20   1.29   1.39
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

4.03   (8.73)   4.09   (2.93)   (1.79)
Total from investment operations

5.02   (7.82)   5.29   (1.64)   (0.40)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

  (0.03)      
Other capital(a)

0.02   0.01   0.01   0.01   0.03
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

  (0.35)   (0.91)   (1.22)   (2.33)
Net realized gains

  (0.33)   (0.01)    
Total distributions

  (0.68)   (0.92)   (1.22)   (2.33)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 57.19   $ 52.15   $ 60.67   $ 56.29   $ 59.14
Total return(c)

9.67%   (13.01)%   9.52%   (2.86)%   (0.58)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$1,675,762   $1,449,792   $2,426,951   $1,891,366   $1,862,925
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%
Net investment income (loss)

1.86%   1.62%   2.05%   2.16%   2.32%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

24%   19%   40%   31%   38%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
203

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 31.34   $ 37.68   $ 34.17   $ 32.34   $ 34.81
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.57   0.49   0.64   0.77   0.97
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.53   (6.50)   3.44   1.43   (2.85)
Total from investment operations

1.10   (6.01)   4.08   2.20   (1.88)
Other capital(a)

(0.00) (c)   0.01   0.05   0.09   0.08
Contribution from custodian

      0.02  
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.00) (c)   (0.33)   (0.60)   (0.46)   (0.67)
Net realized gains

  (0.01)   (0.02)   (0.02)  
Total distributions

(0.00) (c)   (0.34)   (0.62)   (0.48)   (0.67)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 32.44   $ 31.34   $ 37.68   $ 34.17   $ 32.34
Total return(e)

3.54%   (16.02)%   12.32%   7.18% (d)   (5.17)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$139,508   $191,155   $316,502   $184,513   $71,144
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.50%   0.54%   0.55%   0.55%   0.55%
Net investment income (loss)

1.80%   1.43%   1.77%   2.24%   2.95%
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

19%   28%   23%   37%   42%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) If the custodian had not made a contribution during the Year Ended 6/30/13, the total return would have been 7.13%.
(e) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
204

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 27.08   $ 31.25   $ 29.74   $ 30.79   $ 31.74
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.47   1.43   1.51   1.57   1.57
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(0.90)   (5.64)   0.47   (1.13)   (2.55)
Total from investment operations

0.57   (4.21)   1.98   0.44   (0.98)
Other capital(a)

0.09   0.04   0.09   0.14   0.57
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

    (0.56)   (1.54)   (0.54)
Net realized gains

      (0.01)  
Return of capital

      (0.08)  
Total distributions

    (0.56)   (1.63)   (0.54)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 27.74   $ 27.08   $ 31.25   $ 29.74   $ 30.79
Total return(c)

2.44%   (13.35)%   6.77%   1.97%   (1.30)%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$205,272   $97,487   $100,014   $107,055   $197,030
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%
Net investment income (loss)

5.67%   4.94%   5.06%   4.93%   5.13%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)

44%   35%   69%   75%   18%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
205

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF)
  Year Ended
6/30/16
  Year Ended
6/30/15
  Year Ended
6/30/14
  Year Ended
6/30/13
  Year Ended
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 38.34   $ 41.63   $ 39.53   $ 39.16   $ 39.88
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

2.22   2.26   2.38   2.59   2.85
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(3.10)   (3.31)   2.11   0.38   (0.53)
Total from investment operations

(0.88)   (1.05)   4.49   2.97   2.32
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.03   0.01   0.00 (c)   (0.01)   0.06
Other capital(a)

0.01   0.01   0.00 (c)   0.03   0.03
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(2.22)   (2.26)   (2.39)   (2.62)   (2.87)
Net realized gains

    (0.00) (c)     (0.26)
Total distributions

(2.22)   (2.26)   (2.39)   (2.62)   (3.13)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 35.28   $ 38.34   $ 41.63   $ 39.53   $ 39.16
Total return(d)

(1.99)%   (2.50)%   11.72%   7.70%   6.50%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$11,238,281   $9,797,126   $9,762,390   $9,300,031   $10,780,535
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40%
Net investment income (loss)

6.32%   5.71%   5.86%   6.41%   7.38%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

59%   34%   30%   49%   38%
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
206

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF)
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
 

Year Ended
6/30/13
  For the
Period
3/14/12* -
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 28.82   $ 30.86   $ 30.05   $ 29.77   $ 30.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.51   1.51   1.59   1.75   0.56
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(2.02)   (2.04)   0.75   0.23   (0.60)
Total from investment operations

(0.51)   (0.53)   2.34   1.98   (0.04)
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.01)   0.00 (c)   0.07   0.14   0.09
Other capital(a)

0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)   0.04   0.08
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.50)   (1.51)   (1.58)   (1.88)   (0.36)
Net realized gains

    (0.02)    
Total distributions

(1.50)   (1.51)   (1.60)   (1.88)   (0.36)
Net asset value, end of period

$ 26.80   $ 28.82   $ 30.86   $ 30.05   $ 29.77
Total return(d)

(1.61)%   (1.72)%   8.21%   7.40%   0.44%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$3,138,527   $4,237,219   $4,341,352   $1,349,305   $133,966
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40% (e)
Net investment income (loss)

5.66%   5.13%   5.17%   5.75%   6.40% (e)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

39%   39%   44%   54%   16%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
207

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF
(formerly, SPDR Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF)
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
 

Year Ended
6/30/13
  For the
Period
11/30/11* -
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 30.55   $ 30.63   $ 30.47   $ 30.33   $30.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.25   0.17   0.16   0.33   0.30
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

(0.10)   (0.08)   0.14   0.13   0.28
Total from investment operations

0.15   0.09   0.30   0.46   0.58
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.00 (c)   0.00 (c)   0.01   0.02   0.01
Other capital(a)

0.02   0.00 (c)   0.01   0.05  
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(0.24)   (0.17)   (0.16)   (0.39)   (0.26)
Net realized gains

  (0.00) (c)   (0.00) (c)   (0.00) (c)  
Net asset value, end of period

$ 30.48   $ 30.55   $ 30.63   $ 30.47   $30.33
Total return(d)

0.55%   0.29%   1.06%   1.77%   1.95%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$563,854   $387,936   $385,915   $42,655   $9,098
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.15%   0.15%   0.15%   0.15%   0.15% (e)
Net investment income (loss)

0.83%   0.56%   0.51%   1.08%   1.68% (e)
Portfolio turnover rate(f)

28%   21%   12%   11%   5%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(d) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
208

 

Financial Highlights — (Continued)
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF
 

Year Ended
6/30/16
 

Year Ended
6/30/15
 

Year Ended
6/30/14
 

Year Ended
6/30/13
  For the
Period
6/18/12* -
6/30/12
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 25.68   $ 26.58   $ 25.30   $ 25.24   $ 25.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

1.07   1.02   1.03   1.05   0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.28   (0.97)   1.35   (0.16)   0.19
Total from investment operations

1.35   0.05   2.38   0.89   0.24
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

(0.01)   (0.02)     0.06  
Other capital(a)

0.00 (c)   0.07   0.02   0.11  
Distributions to shareholders from:
                 
Net investment income

(1.09)   (0.98)   (1.03)   (1.00)  
Net realized gains

  (0.02)   (0.09)    
Total distributions

(1.09)   (1.00)   (1.12)   (1.00)  
Net asset value, end of period

$ 25.93   $ 25.68   $ 26.58   $ 25.30   $ 25.24
Total return(c)

5.39%   0.42%   9.76%   4.11%   0.95%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$36,296   $43,664   $29,235   $22,770   $10,095
Ratios to average net assets:

                 
Total expenses

0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40% (d)
Net expenses

0.30%   0.30%   0.30%   0.30%   0.30% (d)
Net investment income (loss)

4.27%   3.88%   4.00%   4.01%   3.64% (d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

36%   16%   18%   20%   1%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
209

 


 

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 and the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, each of which has been or will be filed with the SEC, provide more information about the Funds. The Prospectus and SAI may be supplemented from time to time. 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 Fund's last fiscal year, as applicable. The SAI and the financial statements included in the Trust's annual report to shareholders are incorporated herein by reference (i.e., they are legally part of this Prospectus). These materials may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing to the Distributor, State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com 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 and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room (100 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20549) or on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. You may get copies of this and other information after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Funds in writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, 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.
SPDRSERTRFI The Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-08839.


Table of Contents
Prospectus
October 31, 2016
SPDR® Series Trust    
SPDR® Dorsey Wright® Fixed Income Allocation ETF (DWFI)
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
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 Fund 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 Fund.

 


 

Fund Summary
SPDR® Dorsey Wright® Fixed Income Allocation ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation Index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Management fees 0.60%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.00%
Other expenses1 0.00%
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.60%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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
$61 $192
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.  From the Fund's commencement of operations on June 2, 2016 to the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 3% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
The Fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in securities comprising the Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation Index (the “Index”). The Index is comprised of exchange-traded funds advised by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the Fund's investment adviser, or its affiliates. The Fund is a “fund of funds,” meaning that it invests its assets in other exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) eligible for inclusion in the Index rather than in securities of individual companies. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is owned and developed by Dorsey, Wright & Associates (the “Index Provider”) and is constructed pursuant to the Index Provider's proprietary methodology (the “Methodology”). The selection universe for the Index (the “Selection Universe”) includes U.S.-listed fixed income ETFs advised by SSGA FM or its affiliates (“SPDR ETFs”) that are designed to target exposure to fixed income securities, including U.S. and non-U.S. developed and emerging market bonds, treasury bonds, corporate bonds, high yield bonds, inflation-protected bonds, floating rate notes, first
1

 

lien senior secured floating rate bank loans, U.S. nonconvertible preferred stock and other preferred securities, U.S. municipal bonds and U.S. convertible securities. As of August 31, 2016, the Selection Universe consisted of: SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF, SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF, SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF, SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF, SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF and SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF, although this may change from time to time.
The Index is designed to provide targeted exposure to the four SPDR ETFs that offer the greatest potential to outperform the other SPDR ETFs in the Selection Universe. The Methodology ranks each SPDR ETF in the Selection Universe by relative strength and selects the four top-ranked SPDR ETFs for inclusion in the Index. A SPDR ETF's “relative strength” is the measurement of its price momentum as compared to the price momentum of all other SPDR ETFs in the Selection Universe, based on historical daily closing prices inclusive of dividends, since inception, of each SPDR ETF in the universe. A SPDR ETF's relative strength can improve if its historical daily closing prices inclusive of dividends rise more than the other SPDR ETFs in the Selection Universe in an uptrend, or go down less than the other SPDR ETFs in the universe in a downtrend.
The Index is initially equal weighted, with each constituent SPDR ETF representing 25% of the Index's weight. The Index is evaluated on a weekly basis. An Index component will only be removed if its relative strength ranking falls below an acceptable threshold based on the Index Provider's ranking methodology. A SPDR ETF is only added to the Index when a current Index component is removed. When an Index component is removed, the SPDR ETF with the strongest relative strength not currently included in the Index takes its place within the Index. When there is a change to the components of the Index, the Index is rebalanced over a period of three business days (the “Rebalancing Period”) so that each constituent SPDR ETF is equally weighted at 25% of the Index's weight on the third, and final, business day of the Rebalancing Period. The Fund may engage in frequent trading of its portfolio securities in connection with Index rebalancings.
The identities and quantities of the securities held by the Fund are disclosed on a daily basis on the Fund's website at https://www.spdrs.com.
The Index is sponsored by Dorsey, Wright & Associates, which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index. The Index Provider has retained The NASDAQ OMX® Group, Inc. (“NASDAQ OMX®”) to calculate and maintain the Index.
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. General risks associated with the Fund's and the SPDR ETFs' investment policies and investment strategies are discussed below. You will find additional information about each SPDR ETF's risks in its prospectus and SAI. References to “Fund” within a risk discussed below should also be read to refer to one or more SPDR ETFs where the context requires.
Affiliated ETF Risk: To the extent the Fund invests in an affiliated underlying ETF, the Fund's investment performance and risks may be directly related to the investment performance and risks of the affiliated ETF. In addition, the Adviser may have an incentive to take into account the effect on an affiliated ETF in which the Fund may invest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that affiliated ETF. Although the Adviser takes steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund.
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. 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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Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities may be subordinate to other debt securities issued by the same issuer. Issuers of convertible securities are often not as strong financially as issuers with higher credit ratings. Convertible securities typically provide yields lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Their values may be more volatile than those of non-convertible securities, reflecting changes in the values of the securities into which they are convertible.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Currency Risk: The value of the Fund's assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange rates may have significant volatility, and changes in the values of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar may result in substantial declines in the values of the Fund's assets denominated in foreign currencies.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
Emerging Markets Risk: Risks of investing in emerging markets include, among others, greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers and issuers, an emerging market country's dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, and less developed legal systems. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as expropriation, nationalization, embargo, and acts of war. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. These risks are generally greater for investments in frontier market countries, which typically have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries.
Exchange Traded Funds Risk: The Fund is subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities represented by an underlying ETF in which it invests. Also, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of an underlying ETF in which it invests. In addition, the shares of an underlying ETF may trade at a premium or discount to their intrinsic value (i.e., the market value may differ from
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the net asset value of an ETF's shares) for a number of reasons. For example, supply and demand for shares of an underlying ETF or market disruptions may cause the market price of the underlying ETF to deviate from the value of the underlying ETF's investments, which may be exacerbated in less liquid markets.
Geographic Focus Risk: The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions.
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk: The principal amount of an inflation-indexed security typically increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by a specified index. It is possible that, in a period of declining inflation rates, the Fund could receive at maturity less than the initial principal amount of an inflation-indexed security. Changes in the values of inflation-indexed securities may be difficult to predict, and it is possible that an investment in such securities will have an effect different from that anticipated.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Momentum Risk: The Fund employs a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes investing in securities that have had higher recent price performance compared to other securities. This style of investing is subject to the risk that these securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities or that the returns on securities that have previously exhibited price momentum are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Momentum can turn quickly and cause significant variation from other types of investments.
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to the risk of significant credit downgrades, illiquidity, and defaults to a greater extent than many other types of fixed-income investments. During periods of falling interest rates, mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be called or prepaid, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security's duration and interest rate sensitivity, and reduce the value of the security. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, and the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.
Municipal Obligations Risk: Issuers, including governmental issuers, may be unable to pay their obligations as they come due. The values of municipal obligations that depend on a specific revenue source to fund their payment obligations may fluctuate as a result of actual or anticipated changes in the cash flows generated by the revenue source or changes in the priority of the municipal obligation to receive the cash flows generated by the revenue source. In addition, changes in federal tax laws or the activity of an issuer may adversely affect the tax-exempt status of municipal obligations. Loss of tax-exempt status may result in a significant decline in the values of such municipal obligations.
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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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, when the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Preferred Securities Risk: Generally, preferred security holders have no or limited voting rights with respect to the issuing company. In addition, preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Dividend payments on a preferred security typically must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. In the event an issuer of preferred securities experiences economic difficulties, the issuer's preferred securities may lose substantial value due to the reduced likelihood that the issuer's board of directors will declare a dividend and the fact that the preferred security may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. Further, because many preferred securities pay dividends at a fixed rate, their market price can be sensitive to changes in interest rates in a manner similar to bonds — that is, as interest rates rise, the value of the preferred securities held by the Fund are likely to decline. In addition, because many preferred securities allow holders to convert the preferred securities into common stock of the issuer, their market price can be sensitive to changes in the value of the issuer's common stock and, therefore, declining common stock values may also cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline. Preferred securities often have call features which allow the issuer to redeem the security at its discretion. The redemption of a preferred security having a higher than average yield may cause a decrease in the Fund's yield.
Restricted Securities Risk: The Fund may hold securities that have not been registered for sale to the public under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the securities may have significant volatility.
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Senior Loan Risk: Investments in first lien senior secured floating rate bank loans (“Senior Loans”) are subject to credit risk and general investment risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the borrower of a Senior Loan will be unable and/or unwilling to make timely interest payments and/or repay the principal on its obligation. Default in the payment of interest or principal on a Senior Loan will result in a reduction in the value of the Senior Loan and consequently a reduction in the value of the Fund's investments and a potential decrease in the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund. Senior Loans are also subject to the risk that the value of the collateral securing a Senior Loan may decline, be insufficient to meet the obligations of the borrower or be difficult to liquidate. In addition, the Fund's access to the collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, loans held by the Fund may not be considered securities and, therefore, purchasers, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to rely on the strong anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Some Senior Loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate the Senior Loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to lenders, including the Fund, such as invalidation of Senior Loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower. Senior Loans are also subject to high yield securities risks and liquidity risks described above.
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk: Investments in debt securities issued by governments or by government agencies and instrumentalities involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. Many sovereign debt obligations may be rated below investment grade (“junk” bonds). Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by the Fund will likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. In the event of default of sovereign debt, the Fund may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt.
Unconstrained Sector Risk: The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. Greater investment focus on one or more sectors or industries increases the potential for volatility and the risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund's Shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
U.S. Government Securities Risk: Certain U.S. government securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury, are not supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and involve increased credit risks.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk: U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk: During periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the coupon rates of variable or floating rate securities may lag behind the changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in coupon rates. Alternatively, during periods of declining interest rates, the coupon rates on such securities will typically readjust downward resulting in a lower yield. In addition, investment in derivative
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variable rate securities, such as inverse floaters, whose rates vary inversely with market rates of interest, or range floaters or capped floaters, whose rates are subject to periodic or lifetime caps, or in securities that pay a rate of interest determined by applying a multiple to the variable rate involves special risks as compared to investment in a fixed-rate security and may involve leverage. Floating rate notes are generally subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, may trade infrequently, and their value may be impaired when the Fund needs to liquidate such securities.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Tucker, Mike Feehily and Karl Schneider.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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 25,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
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 NAV, Fund Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, tax-exempt interest, 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 such tax-advantaged arrangement may be taxable to you. Distributions attributable to tax-exempt interest received by a SPDR ETF in which the Fund invests may be exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax.
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
General. Please see “The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy” section under “Fund Summary” above for a complete discussion of the Fund's principal investment strategies. The Fund may invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment techniques which are not the principal focus of the Fund 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).
The Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Fund's Index as closely as possible (i.e., obtain a high degree of correlation with the Index). A number of factors may affect the Fund's ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with its Index, and there can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. 
From time to time, securities are added to or removed from the Index. The Adviser may sell securities that are represented in the Index, or purchase securities that are not yet represented in the Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to the Index.
The Fund, as described in the SAI, has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy to invest directly, or indirectly through the underlying ETFs, at least 80% of its respective net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in investments suggested by its name, measured at the time of investment. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any change in this 80% investment policy. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) may change the Fund's investment strategy, Index and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or in the SAI. The Board may also change the Fund's investment objective without shareholder approval.
Non-Principal Strategies
Certain Other Investments. The Fund may invest in structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors such as the movement of a particular security or index), swaps, options and futures contracts. Swaps, options and futures contracts and structured notes may be used by the Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
Temporary Defensive Positions. In certain situations or market conditions, the Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies, provided that the alternative is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is in the best interest of the Fund. For example, the Fund may make larger than normal investments in derivatives to maintain exposure to its Index if it is unable to invest directly in a component security.
Borrowing Money. The 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 Fund may also invest in reverse repurchase agreements, which are considered borrowings under the 1940 Act. Although the 1940 Act presently allows the 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), and there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, under normal circumstances any borrowings by the Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets.
Lending of Securities. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed one-quarter (25%) of the value of its total 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 the Fund to receive a portion of the income generated by lending its securities and investing the respective collateral. The Fund will receive collateral for each loaned security which is at least equal to 102% of the market value of that security, marked to market each trading day. In the securities lending program, the borrower generally has the right to vote the loaned securities; however, the 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 the Fund.
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Additional Risk Information
The following section provides additional information regarding certain of the principal risks identified under “Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund” in the Fund Summary along with additional risk information. General risks associated with the Fund's and the SPDR ETFs' investment policies and investment strategies are discussed below. You will find additional information about each SPDR ETF's risks in its prospectus and SAI.
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Principal Risks
The table below identifies the principal risks of investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with each SPDR ETF's investment policies and investment strategies are identified within the column corresponding to the SPDR ETF. References to “Fund” within a risk discussed in this section should also be read to refer to one or more SPDR ETFs where the context requires.
SPDR ETF Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk       X X    
Call/Prepayment Risk X X X X X X X
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk     X        
Convertible Securities Risk     X        
Counterparty Risk   X   X X X  
Credit Risk X X X X X X X
Currency Risk       X      
Debt Securities Risk X X X X X X X
Depositary Receipts Risk              
Derivatives Risk   X   X X X  
Emerging Markets Risk       X      
Equity Investing Risk              
Extension Risk X X X X X X X
Financial Sector Risk         X X  
Geographic Focus Risk       X      
  Europe       X      
  Japan              
  United Kingdom              
Income Risk X X X X X X X
Index Tracking Risk X X X X X X X
Industrial Sector Risk         X X  
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk              
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SPDR ETF Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF
Interest Rate Risk X X X X X X X
Leveraging Risk   X   X X X  
Lender Liability Risk              
Liquidity Risk X X X X X X X
Management Risk              
Market Risk X X X X X X X
Money Market Risk   X          
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk   X          
Municipal Obligations Risk              
Non-Diversification Risk X X X X X X X
Non-Senior Loans and Other Debt Securities Risk              
Non-U.S. Securities Risk     X X   X  
Passive Strategy/Index Risk X X X X X X X
Political Risk              
Portfolio Turnover Risk X X          
Preferred Securities Risk     X        
Reinvestment Risk X X X X X X X
Restricted Securities Risk     X   X X  
Senior Loan Risk              
Settlement Risk     X X   X  
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk       X      
Tax Exemption Risk              
Technology Sector Risk     X        
Unconstrained Sector Risk     X        
U.S. Government Securities Risk   X          
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk X           X
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SPDR ETF Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF
Utilities Sector Risk         X X  
Valuation Risk X X X X X X X
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk              
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk   X          
12

 

SPDR ETF Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk              
Call/Prepayment Risk X X X X X X X
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk              
Convertible Securities Risk              
Counterparty Risk X X         X
Credit Risk X X X X X X X
Currency Risk X X          
Debt Securities Risk X X X X X X X
Depositary Receipts Risk              
Derivatives Risk X X         X
Emerging Markets Risk   X          
Equity Investing Risk              
Extension Risk X X X X X X X
Financial Sector Risk X   X X     X
Geographic Focus Risk X X X        
  Europe X X          
  Japan   X          
  United Kingdom              
Income Risk X X X X X X X
Index Tracking Risk X X X X X X X
Industrial Sector Risk X   X X     X
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk              
Interest Rate Risk X X X X X X X
Lender Liability Risk              
Leveraging Risk X X         X
Liquidity Risk X X X X X X X
Management Risk              
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SPDR ETF Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
Market Risk X X X X X X X
Money Market Risk              
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk           X  
Municipal Obligations Risk              
Non-Diversification Risk X X X X X X X
Non-Senior Loans and Other Debt Securities Risk              
Non-U.S. Securities Risk X X X X     X
Passive Strategy/Index Risk X X X X X X X
Political Risk              
Portfolio Turnover Risk           X  
Preferred Securities Risk              
Reinvestment Risk X X X X X X X
Restricted Securities Risk       X      
Senior Loan Risk              
Settlement Risk X X X X     X
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk   X          
Tax Exemption Risk              
Technology Sector Risk              
Unconstrained Sector Risk X   X        
U.S. Government Securities Risk           X  
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk         X    
Utilities Sector Risk       X     X
Valuation Risk X X X X X X X
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk     X        
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk           X  
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SPDR ETF Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk     X        
Call/Prepayment Risk X X X X X X  
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk              
Convertible Securities Risk              
Counterparty Risk X         X  
Credit Risk X X X X X X  
Currency Risk X         X  
Debt Securities Risk X X X X X X  
Depositary Receipts Risk             X
Derivatives Risk X         X  
Emerging Markets Risk X         X  
Equity Investing Risk             X
Extension Risk X X X X X X  
Financial Sector Risk             X
Geographic Focus Risk X         X  
  Europe X         X  
  Japan X            
  United Kingdom           X  
Income Risk X X X X X X  
Index Tracking Risk X X   X X X X
Industrial Sector Risk              
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk   X       X  
Interest Rate Risk X X X X X X  
Lender Liability Risk     X        
Leveraging Risk X         X  
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SPDR ETF Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF
Liquidity Risk X X X X X X  
Management Risk     X        
Market Risk X X X X X X X
Money Market Risk              
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk              
Municipal Obligations Risk       X X    
Non-Diversification Risk X X   X X X X
Non-Senior Loans and Other Debt Securities Risk     X        
Non-U.S. Securities Risk X   X     X X
Passive Strategy/Index Risk X X   X X X X
Political Risk       X X    
Portfolio Turnover Risk              
Preferred Securities Risk             X
Reinvestment Risk X X X X X X  
Restricted Securities Risk     X        
Senior Loan Risk     X        
Settlement Risk X   X     X X
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk X         X  
Tax Exemption Risk       X X    
Technology Sector Risk              
Unconstrained Sector Risk             X
U.S. Government Securities Risk              
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk   X          
Utilities Sector Risk              
Valuation Risk X X X X X X  
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SPDR ETF Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk              
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk              
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Affiliated ETF Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in an affiliated ETF , the Fund's investment performance and risks may be directly related to the investment performance and risks of the Affiliated ETF. In addition, the Adviser may have an incentive to take into account the effect on an affiliated ETF in which the Fund may invest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that affiliated ETF. Although the Adviser takes steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Fund.
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment-grade and unrated securities of comparable credit quality (commonly known as “high-yield bonds” or “junk bonds”) lack strong investment 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. 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 the Fund may fall substantially and the 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 the Fund to sell certain securities at prices used in calculating the 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 the 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 the Fund are prepaid. In any such case, the Fund may be forced to invest the prepaid amounts in lower-yielding investments, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their respective profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer, depending on the terms of the securities) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. Convertible securities may be subordinate to other debt securities issued by the same issuer. Issuers of convertible securities are often not as strong financially as issuers with higher credit ratings. Convertible securities typically provide yields lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Their values may be more volatile than those of non-convertible securities, reflecting changes in the values of the securities into which they are convertible.
Counterparty Risk. The 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. The 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, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, resulting in a loss to the Fund. The 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 the 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. Contractual provisions and applicable law may prevent or delay the Fund from exercising its rights to terminate an investment or transaction with a financial institution experiencing financial difficulties, or to realize on collateral, and another institution may be substituted for that financial institution
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without the consent of the Fund. If the credit rating of a derivatives counterparty declines, the Fund may nonetheless choose or be required to keep existing transactions in place with the counterparty, in which event the Fund would be subject to any increased credit risk associated with those transactions.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer, guarantor or liquidity provider of a fixed-income security held by the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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.
Currency Risk. Investments in issuers in different countries are often denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Changes in the values of those currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may have a positive or negative effect on the values of the Fund's investments denominated in those currencies. The values of other currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may fluctuate in response to, among other factors, interest rate changes, intervention (or failure to intervene) by national governments, central banks, or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, the imposition of currency controls, and other political or regulatory developments. Currency values can decrease significantly both in the short term and over the long term in response to these and other developments. Continuing uncertainty as to the status of the Euro and the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (the “EMU”) has created significant volatility in currency and financial markets generally. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU, or any continued uncertainty as to its status, could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Fund's portfolio investments.
Debt Securities Risk. The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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. The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. A rising interest rate environment may cause the value of the Fund's fixed income securities to decrease, a decline in the Fund's income and yield, an adverse impact on the liquidity of the Fund's fixed income securities, and increased volatility of the fixed income markets. 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.
Depositary Receipts Risk. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are typically trust receipts issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that evidence an indirect interest in underlying securities issued by a foreign entity. Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), and other types of depositary receipts are typically issued by non-U.S. banks or financial institutions to evidence an interest in underlying securities issued by either a U.S. or a non-U.S. entity. Investments in non-U.S. issuers through ADRs, GDRs, EDRs, and other types of depositary receipts generally involve risks applicable to other types of investments in non-U.S. issuers. Investments in depositary
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receipts may be less liquid and more volatile than the underlying securities in their primary trading market. If a depositary receipt is denominated in a different currency than its underlying securities, the Fund will be subject to the currency risk of both the investment in the depositary receipt and the underlying security. There may be less publicly available information regarding the issuer of the securities underlying a depositary receipt than if those securities were traded directly in U.S. securities markets. Depositary receipts may or may not be sponsored by the issuers of the underlying securities, and information regarding issuers of securities underlying unsponsored depositary receipts may be more limited than for sponsored depositary receipts. The values of depositary receipts may decline for a number of reasons relating to the issuers or sponsors of the depositary receipts, including, but not limited to, insolvency of the issuer or sponsor. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited or no rights to take action with respect to the underlying securities or to compel the issuer of the receipts to take action.
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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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.
Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in emerging markets are generally subject to a greater risk of loss than investments in developed markets. This may be due to, among other things, the possibility of greater market volatility, lower trading volume and liquidity, greater risk of expropriation, nationalization, and social, political and economic instability, greater reliance on a few industries, international trade or revenue from particular commodities, less developed accounting, legal and regulatory systems, higher levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, greater risk of market shut down, and more significant governmental limitations on investment policy as compared to those typically found in a developed market. In addition, issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may have less financial stability than in other countries. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as embargo and acts of war. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk of price volatility in investments in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar. Settlement and asset custody practices for transactions in emerging markets may differ from those in developed markets. Such differences may include possible delays in settlement and certain settlement practices, such as delivery of securities prior to receipt of payment, which increase the likelihood of a “failed settlement.” Failed settlements can result in losses. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Equity Investing Risk. The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services. The values of equity securities also may decline due to general
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industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Exchange Traded Funds Risk. The Fund is subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities or other assets represented by an underlying ETF in which it invests. Also, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the fees and expenses of an underlying ETF in which it invests. In addition, the shares of an underlying ETF may trade at a premium or discount to their intrinsic value (i.e., the market value may differ from the net asset value of an ETF's shares) for a number of reasons. For example, supply and demand for shares of an underlying ETF or market disruptions may cause the market price of the underlying ETF to deviate from the value of the underlying ETF's investments, which may be exacerbated in less liquid markets.
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.
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.
Geographic Focus Risk. The performance of a fund that is less diversified across countries or geographic regions will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries or regions in which the fund invests, and may be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically-diversified fund.
Europe. The Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (“EU”) requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain EU countries), the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their trading partners. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns or rising government debt levels in several European countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. These events have adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the euro.
Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, in June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave
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the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake and resulting in S&P downgrading the EU's credit rating from “AA+” to “AA” in the days following the vote. The country's referendum vote sparked depreciation in the value of the British pound, short-term declines in the stock markets and heightened risk of continued economic volatility worldwide. Although the precise timeframe for Brexit is uncertain, it is currently expected that the United Kingdom will seek to withdraw from the EU by invoking article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty with an anticipated completion date within two years from notifying the European Council of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terrorist attacks and additional attacks may occur in the future. Such attacks may cause uncertainty in financial markets and may adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
Japan. The growth of Japan's economy has historically lagged that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent on international trade and has been adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies and the economic conditions of its trading partners. China has become an important trading partner with Japan, yet the countries' political relationship has become strained. Should political tension increase, it could adversely affect the economy, especially the export sector, and destabilize the region as a whole. Japan also remains heavily dependent on oil imports, and higher commodity prices could therefore have a negative impact on the economy. The Japanese economy faces several other concerns, including a financial system with large levels of nonperforming loans, over-leveraged corporate balance sheets, extensive cross-ownership by major corporations, a changing corporate governance structure, and large government deficits. These issues may cause a slowdown of the Japanese economy. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times and any increase in its value may cause a decline in exports that could weaken the Japanese economy. Japan has, in the past, intervened in the currency markets to attempt to maintain or reduce the value of the yen. Japanese intervention in the currency markets could cause the value of the yen to fluctuate sharply and unpredictably and could cause losses to investors. Japan has an aging workforce and has experienced a significant population decline in recent years. Japan's labor market appears to be undergoing fundamental structural changes, as a labor market traditionally accustomed to lifetime employment adjusts to meet the need for increased labor mobility, which may adversely affect Japan's economic competitiveness.
The nuclear power plant catastrophe in Japan in March 2011 may have short- and long-term effects on the Japanese economy and its nuclear energy industry. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons or tsunamis, could occur in Japan or surrounding areas and could negatively affect the Japanese economy and, in turn, the Fund.
United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has one of the largest economies in Europe, and the United States and other European countries are substantial trading partners of the United Kingdom. As a result, the British economy may be impacted by changes to the economic condition of the United States and other European countries. The British economy, along with certain other European Union (“EU”) economies, experienced a significant economic slowdown during the recent financial crisis, and certain British financial institutions suffered significant losses, were severely under-capitalized and required government intervention to survive. The British economy relies heavily on the export of financial services to the United States and other European countries and, therefore, a prolonged slowdown in the financial services sector may have a negative impact on the British economy. Continued governmental involvement or control in certain sectors may stifle competition in certain sectors or cause adverse effects on economic growth. In the past, the United Kingdom has been a target of terrorism. Acts of terrorism in the United Kingdom or against British interests abroad may cause uncertainty in the British financial markets and adversely affect the performance of the issuers to which the Fund has exposure.
In a referendum held on June 23, 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. As a result of the referendum, S&P downgraded the United Kingdom's credit rating from “AAA” to “AA” in the days that followed the vote.  The country's referendum vote sparked depreciation in the value of the British pound, short-term declines in the stock markets and
22

 

heightened risk of continued economic volatility worldwide. Although the precise timeline for Brexit is uncertain, it is currently expected that the United Kingdom will seek to withdraw from the EU by invoking article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty with an anticipated completion date within two years from notifying the European Council of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. In addition, it is possible that measures could be taken to revote on the issue of Brexit, or that portions of the United Kingdom could seek to separate and remain a part of the EU.  Brexit may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for these economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments.
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. A reduction in the income earned by the Fund may limit the Fund's ability to achieve its objective.
Index Tracking Risk. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the return on the sample of securities purchased by the Fund (or the return on securities not included in the Index) to replicate the performance of the Index may not correlate precisely with the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. Changes in the composition of the Index and regulatory requirements also may impact the Fund's ability to match the return of the Index. The Adviser may apply one or more “screens” or investment techniques to refine or limit the number or types of issuers included in the Index in which the Fund may invest. Application of such screens or techniques may result in investment performance below that of the Index and may not produce results expected by the Adviser. Index tracking risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
Industrial Sector Risk. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk. The principal amount of an inflation-indexed security typically increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by a specified index. It is possible that, in a period of declining inflation rates, the Fund could receive at maturity less than the initial principal amount of an inflation-indexed security. Although the holders of U.S. TIPS receive no less than the par value of the security at maturity, if the Fund purchases U.S. TIPS in the secondary market whose principal values have previously been adjusted upward and there is a period of subsequent declining inflation rates, the Fund may receive at maturity less than it invested. Depending on the changes in inflation rates during the period the Fund holds an inflation-indexed security, the Fund may earn less on the security than on a conventional bond. The principal amounts of inflation-indexed securities are typically only adjusted periodically, and changes in the values of the securities may only approximately reflect changes in inflation rates and may occur substantially after the changes in inflation rates in question occur.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that the securities held by the Fund will decline in value because of increases in market 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.
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Falling interest rates also create the potential for a decline in the 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. The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. Changes in governmental policy, including changes in central bank monetary policy, could cause interest rates to rise rapidly, or cause investors to expect a rapid rise in 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 the Fund's investments.
Lender Liability Risk. A number of U.S. judicial decisions have upheld judgments of borrowers against lending institutions on the basis of various evolving legal theories, collectively termed “lender liability.” Generally, lender liability is founded on the premise that a lender has violated a duty (whether implied or contractual) of good faith, commercial reasonableness and fair dealing, or a similar duty owed to the borrower or has assumed an excessive degree of control over the borrower resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or its other creditors or shareholders. Because of the nature of its investments, the Portfolio may be subject to allegations of lender liability.
In addition, under common law principles that in some cases form the basis for lender liability claims, if a lender or bondholder (a) intentionally takes an action that results in the undercapitalization of a borrower to the detriment of other creditors of such borrower; (b) engages in other inequitable conduct to the detriment of such other creditors; (c) engages in fraud with respect to, or makes misrepresentations to, such other creditors or (d) uses its influence as a stockholder to dominate or control a borrower to the detriment of other creditors of such borrower, a court may elect to subordinate the claim of the offending lender or bondholder to the claims of the disadvantaged creditor or creditors, a remedy called “equitable subordination.”
Because affiliates of, or persons related to, the Adviser or GSO / Blackstone Debt Funds Management LLC , the investment sub-adviser to the SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF, may hold equity or other interests in obligors of the Fund, the Fund could be exposed to claims for equitable subordination or lender liability or both based on such equity or other holdings.
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 the 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 the 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 the Fund. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of leverage may cause the 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 segregation or coverage requirements.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions readily at a favorable time or prices (or at all) or at prices approximating those at which the 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 securities 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 the Fund to value illiquid securities 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. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. The 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity the Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
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Management Risk. The judgments of an actively-managed fund's adviser 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 such fund to incur losses. There can be no assurance that the investment techniques and decisions of the adviser will produce the desired results.
Market Risk. Market prices of investments held by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. 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, 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 the 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.
Momentum Risk. The Fund employs a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes investing in securities that have had higher recent price performance compared to other securities. This style of investing is subject to the risk that these securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities or that the returns on securities that have previously exhibited price momentum are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Momentum can turn quickly and cause significant variation from other types of investments.
Money Market 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 seeks 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 increase 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 share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), SSGA FM or their affiliates (“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 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 or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to the risk of significant credit downgrades, illiquidity, and defaults to a greater extent than many other types of fixed income investments. Mortgage-related securities represent a participation in, or are secured by, mortgage loans. Other asset-backed securities are typically structured like mortgage-related securities, but instead of mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets may include, for example, items such as motor vehicle installment sales or installment loan contracts, leases on various types of real and personal property, and receivables from credit card agreements. During periods of falling interest rates, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which typically provide the issuer with the right to prepay the security prior to maturity, may be prepaid, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest the proceeds in other investments at lower interest rates. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may extend because of slower-than expected principal payments. This may lock in a below market interest rate, increase the security's duration and interest rate sensitivity, and reduce the value of the security. As a result, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other debt securities of comparable maturities, although they may have a similar risk of decline in market values during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayment rates are difficult to predict and the potential impact of prepayments on the value of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security depends on the terms of the instrument and can result in significant volatility. The price of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security also depends on the credit quality and adequacy of the underlying assets or collateral. Defaults on the underlying assets, if
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any, may impair the value of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security. For some asset-backed securities in which the Fund invests, such as those backed by credit card receivables, the underlying cash flows may not be supported by a security interest in a related asset. Moreover, the values of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset pools, 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 situations, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of securities holders in and to the underlying collateral. There may be legal and practical limitations on the enforceability of any security interest granted with respect to underlying assets, or the value of the underlying assets, if any, may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.
In a “forward roll” transaction, the Fund will sell a mortgage-related security to a bank or other permitted entity and simultaneously agree to purchase a similar security from the institution at a later date at an agreed upon price. The mortgage securities that are purchased will bear the same interest rate as those sold, but generally will be collateralized by different pools of mortgages with different prepayment histories than those sold. The values of such transactions will be affected by many of the same factors that affect the values of mortgage-related securities generally. In addition, forward roll transactions may have the effect of creating investment leverage in the Fund.
Municipal Obligations Risk. The U.S. municipal securities market is volatile and can be significantly affected by adverse tax, legislative, or political changes and the financial condition of the issuers of municipal securities. Municipal obligations include revenue obligations, which are generally backed by the revenues generated from a specific project or facility and include private activity bonds and industrial development bonds. Private activity and industrial development bonds are dependent on the ability of the facility's user to meet its financial obligations and on the value of any real or personal property pledged as security for such payment. Private activity and industrial development bonds, although issued by industrial development authorities, may be backed only by the assets of the non-governmental user. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance projects relating to education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. In addition, municipal securities backed by current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset can be negatively affected by the discontinuance or reduction in the rate of the taxation supporting the project or asset or the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets. If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service determines the issuer of a municipal security has not complied with applicable tax requirements, interest from the security could become taxable, and the security could decline in value. Municipal obligations may also be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk. Certain states and other governmental entities have experienced, and may continue to experience, extreme financial pressures in response to financial and economic and other factors, and may be, or be perceived to be, unable to meet all of their obligations under municipal bonds issued or guaranteed by them; such factors may result in substantial volatility in municipal securities markets and losses to the Fundthe corresponding Fund. Additionally, the Fund's portfolio may have greater exposure to liquidity risk since the markets for such securities may be less liquid than the traditional bond markets. There may also be less information available on the financial condition of issuers of these types of securities than for public corporations. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell such securities, especially on short notice, and these securities may be more difficult for the Fund to value accurately than securities of public corporations.
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.
Non-Senior Loans and Other Debt Securities Risk. Secured loans that are not first lien, loans that are unsecured and debt securities are subject to many of the same risks that affect Senior Loans; however they are often unsecured and/or lower in the issuer's capital structure than Senior Loans, and thus may be exposed to greater risk of default and lower recoveries in the event of a default. This risk can be further heightened in the case of below investment grade instruments. Additionally, most fixed-income securities are fixed-rate and thus are generally more susceptible than floating rate loans to price volatility related to changes in prevailing interest rates.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers entail risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Similar risks may apply to securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange that are issued by entities with significant exposure to non-U.S. countries. In certain countries, legal remedies available to
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investors may be more limited than those available with regard to U.S. investments. Because non-U.S. securities are normally denominated and traded in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the value of the Fund's assets to the extent they are non-U.S. dollar denominated may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currencies. Income and gains with respect to investments in certain countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, regulatory framework and practices comparable to those in the United States. The securities of some non-U.S. entities are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. entities, and could become subject to sanctions or embargoes that adversely affect the Fund's investment. Non-U.S. transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions and custody costs may be higher than in the U.S. In addition, there may be a possibility of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls, confiscatory taxation, and diplomatic developments that could adversely affect the values of the Fund's investments in certain non-U.S. countries. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers also are subject to foreign political and economic risk not associated with U.S. investments, meaning that political events (civil unrest, national elections, changes in political conditions and foreign relations, imposition of exchange controls and repatriation restrictions), social and economic events (labor strikes, rising inflation) and natural disasters occurring in a country where the Fund invests could cause the Fund's investments in that country to experience gains or losses. Certain countries have recently experienced (or currently are expected to experience) negative interest rates on certain fixed-income securities, and similar interest rate conditions may be experienced in other regions.  Investments in fixed-income securities with very low or negative interest rates may magnify the Fund's susceptibility to interest rate risk and diminish yield and performance, and such investments may be subject to heightened volatility and reduced liquidity.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk. The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund will seek to replicate Index returns regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. The Fund generally will buy and will not sell a security included in the Index as long as the security is part of the Index regardless of any sudden or material decline in value or foreseeable material decline in value of the security, even though the Adviser may make a different investment decision for other actively managed accounts or portfolios that hold the security. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index (in absolute terms and by comparison with other indices) and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
Political Risk. A significant restructuring of federal income tax rates or even serious discussion on the topic in Congress could cause municipal bond prices to fall. The demand for municipal securities is strongly influenced by the value of tax-exempt income to investors. Lower income tax rates could reduce the advantage of owning municipals.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in frequent trading of its portfolio securities. Fund turnover generally involves a number of direct and indirect costs and expenses to the 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 the 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.
Preferred Securities Risk. Generally, preferred security holders have no or limited voting rights with respect to the issuing company. In addition, preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Unlike debt securities, dividend payments on a preferred security typically must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. An issuer's board of directors is generally not under any obligation to pay a dividend (even if such dividends have accrued), and may suspend payment of dividends on preferred securities at any time. Therefore, in the event an issuer of preferred securities experiences economic difficulties, the issuer's preferred securities may lose substantial value due to the reduced likelihood that the issuer's board of directors will declare a dividend and the fact that the preferred security may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. Further, because many preferred securities pay dividends at a fixed rate, their market price can be sensitive to changes in interest rates in a manner similar to bonds -- that is, as interest rates rise, the value of the preferred securities held by the Fund are likely to
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decline. Therefore, to the extent that the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in fixed rate preferred securities, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly. In addition, because many preferred securities allow holders to convert the preferred securities into common stock of the issuer, their market price can be sensitive to changes in the value of the issuer's common stock and, therefore, declining common stock values may also cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline. Preferred securities often have call features which allow the issuer to redeem the security at its discretion. The redemption of a preferred security having a higher than average yield may cause a decrease in the Fund's yield.
Reinvestment Risk. Income from the Fund's portfolio 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 the Fund to reinvest the proceeds in lower-yielding securities. A decline in income received by the Fund from its investments is likely to have a negative effect on the yield and total return of the Fund Shares.
Restricted Securities Risk. The Fund may hold securities that have not been registered for sale to the public under the U.S. federal securities laws pursuant to an exemption from registration. These securities may be less liquid than securities registered for sale to the general public. The liquidity of a restricted security may be affected by a number of factors, including, among others: (i) the creditworthiness of the issuer; (ii) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (iii) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (iv) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (v) the nature of any legal restrictions governing trading in the security; and (vi) the nature of the security and the nature of marketplace trades. There can be no assurance that a liquid trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the securities may have significant volatility.
Senior Loan Risk. Investments in Senior Loans are subject to credit risk and general investment risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the borrower of a Senior Loan will be unable and/or unwilling to make timely interest payments and/or repay the principal on its obligation. Default in the payment of interest or principal on a Senior Loan will result in a reduction in the value of the Senior Loan and consequently a reduction in the value of the Fund's investments and a potential decrease in the NAV of the Fund. Senior Loans are also subject to the risk that the value of the collateral securing a Senior Loan may decline, be insufficient to meet the obligations of the borrower or be difficult to liquidate. In addition, the Fund's access to the collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, loans held by the Fund may not be considered securities and, therefore, purchasers, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to rely on the strong anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Some Senior Loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate the Senior Loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to lenders, including the Fund, such as invalidation of Senior Loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower. Senior Loans are also subject to high yield securities risks and liquidity risks described below.
Settlement Risk. Markets in different countries have different clearance and settlement procedures and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of transactions. Delays in settlement may increase credit risk to the Fund, limit the ability of the Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a sale of securities, hinder the ability of the Fund to lend its portfolio securities, and potentially subject the Fund to penalties for its failure to deliver to on-purchasers of securities whose delivery to the Fund was delayed. Delays in the settlement of securities purchased by the Fund may limit the ability of the Fund to sell those securities at times and prices it considers desirable, and may subject the Fund to losses and costs due to its own inability to settle with subsequent purchasers of the securities from it. The Fund may be required to borrow monies it had otherwise expected to receive in connection with the settlement of securities sold by it, in order to meet its obligations to others. Limits on the ability of the Fund to purchase or sell securities due to settlement delays could increase any variance between the Fund's performance and that of its benchmark index.
Sovereign Debt Obligations Risk. Investments in debt securities issued by governments or by government agencies and instrumentalities involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. A governmental entity's willingness or ability to pay interest and repay principal in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow, the size of its reserves, its access to foreign exchange, the relative size of its debt service burden to its economy as a whole, and
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political constraints. A governmental entity may default on its obligations or may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by the Fund will likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. In the event of default of sovereign debt, the Fund may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt. The sovereign debt of many non-U.S. governments, including their sub-divisions and instrumentalities, is rated below investment grade. Sovereign debt risk may be greater for debt securities issued or guaranteed by emerging and/or frontier countries.
Tax Exemption Risk. There is no guarantee that the Fund's income will be exempt from federal or state income taxes. Events occurring after the date of issuance of a municipal bond or after the Fund's acquisition of a municipal bond may result in a determination that interest on that bond is includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to its date of issuance. Such a determination may cause a portion of prior distributions by the Fund to its shareholders to be taxable to those shareholders in the year of receipt. Federal or state changes in income or alternative minimum tax rates or in the tax treatment of municipal bonds may make municipal bonds less attractive as investments and cause them to decline in value.
Technology Sector Risk. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, companies in the technology sector may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.
Unconstrained Sector Risk. The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets within one or more economic sectors or industries, which may change from time to time. When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. U.S. government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds and mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury nor supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. There is no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so. In addition, certain governmental entities have been subject to regulatory scrutiny regarding their accounting policies and practices and other concerns that may result in legislation, changes in regulatory oversight and/or other consequences that could adversely affect the credit quality, availability, or investment character of securities issued by these entities. The value and liquidity of U.S. government securities may be affected adversely by changes in the ratings of those securities. Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury historically have been considered to present minimal credit risk. The downgrade in the long-term U.S. credit rating by at least one major rating agency has introduced greater uncertainty about the ability of the U.S. to repay its obligations. A further credit rating downgrade or a U.S. credit default could decrease the value and increase the volatility of the Fund's investments.
U.S. Treasury Obligations Risk. U.S. Treasury obligations may differ from other fixed income securities in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Similar to other issuers, changes to the financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may cause the value of the Fund‘s U.S. Treasury obligations to decline. The total public debt of the United States as a percentage of gross domestic product has grown rapidly since the beginning of the recent financial downturn. Although high debt levels do not necessarily indicate or cause
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economic problems, they may create certain systemic risks if sound debt management practices are not implemented. A high national debt level may increase market pressures to meet government funding needs, which may drive debt cost higher and cause a country to sell additional debt, thereby increasing refinancing risk. A high national debt also raises concerns that a government will not be able to make principal or interest payments when they are due. In the worst case, unsustainable debt levels can cause a decline in the value of the dollar (which may lead to inflation), and can prevent the U.S. government from implementing effective counter-cyclical fiscal policy in economic downturns. U.S. Treasury securities are currently given the top rating by all major ratings agencies except Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, which rates them AA+, one grade below their top rating. Since downgrading U.S. Treasury securities from AAA to AA+ in 2011, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has affirmed its rating. A downgrade of the ratings of U.S. government debt obligations, such as U.S. Treasury obligations, which are often used as a benchmark for other borrowing arrangements, could result in higher interest rates for individual and corporate borrowers, cause disruptions in the international bond markets and have a substantial negative effect on the U.S. economy. A downgrade of U.S. Treasury securities from another ratings agency or a further downgrade below AA+ rating by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services may cause the value of the Fund's U.S. Treasury obligations to decline.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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. Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk. Variable or floating rate securities are debt securities with variable or floating interest rates payments. Variable or floating rate securities bear rates of interest that are adjusted periodically according to formulae intended generally to reflect market rates of interest and allow the Fund to participate (determined in accordance with the terms of the securities) in increases in interest rates through upward adjustments of the coupon rates on the securities. However, during periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the coupon
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rates may lag behind the changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in coupon rates. Alternatively, during periods of declining interest rates, the coupon rates on such securities will typically readjust downward resulting in a lower yield. The Fund may also invest in variable or floating rate equity securities, whose dividend payments vary based on changes in market rates of interest or other factors.
In addition, investment in derivative variable rate securities, such as inverse floaters, whose rates vary inversely with market rates of interest, or range floaters or capped floaters, whose rates are subject to periodic or lifetime caps, or in securities that pay a rate of interest determined by applying a multiple to the variable rate involves special risks as compared to investment in a fixed-rate security and may involve leverage. The extent of increases and decreases in the values of derivative variable rate securities and the corresponding change to the net asset value of the Fund in response to changes in market rates of interest generally may be larger than comparable changes in the value of an equal principal amount of a fixed-rate security having similar credit quality, redemption provisions, and maturity. The markets for such securities may be less developed and may have less liquidity than the markets for conventional securities.
When-Issued, TBA and Delayed Delivery Securities Risk. The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued, TBA or delayed delivery basis and may purchase securities on a forward commitment basis. The purchase price of the securities is typically fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. The prices of the securities so purchased or sold are subject to market fluctuation. At the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. Purchase of securities on a when-issued, TBA, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis may give rise to investment leverage, and may result in increased volatility of the Fund's net asset value. Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty to a when-issued, TBA or delayed delivery transaction would expose the Fund to possible losses because of an adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools specified in such transaction.
Non-Principal Risks
Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk. The 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.
Concentration Risk. The Fund's assets will generally be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund's underlying Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
Conflicts of Interest Risk. An investment in the 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 the 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. The 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 the 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 the Fund with itself or its affiliates in circumstances where it might not have done so in the absence of that interest.
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 Fund. 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.
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The Adviser may (subject to applicable law) be simultaneously seeking to purchase (or sell) investments for the 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 the Fund. The Adviser or its affiliates, in connection with its other business activities, may acquire material non-public confidential information that may restrict the Adviser from purchasing securities or selling securities for itself or its clients (including the Fund) 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 the Fund. The 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 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 Fund) and their service providers (including the Adviser) may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions. 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, the Fund, the Adviser, a sub-adviser, or a custodian, transfer agent, or other affiliated or third-party service provider may adversely affect the Fund or its shareholders. For instance, cyber-attacks or technical malfunctions may interfere with the processing of shareholder or other transactions, affect the 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 the 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 the Fund inaccessible or inaccurate or incomplete. The Fund may also incur substantial costs for cybersecurity risk management in order to prevent cyber incidents in the future. The 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 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. Similar types of cybersecurity risks or technical malfunctions also are present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund's investment in such securities to lose value.
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts. The net asset value of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund's securities holdings. The market prices of Fund Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in the 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. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading
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market for Fund Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities of the Index 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 the Fund's net asset value, disruptions to creations and redemptions or market volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from the 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.
Index Construction Risk. A security included in the Index may not exhibit the characteristic or provide the specific exposure for which it was selected and consequently the Fund's holdings may not exhibit returns consistent with that characteristic or exposure.
Index Licensing Risk. It is possible that the license under which the Adviser or the Fund is permitted to replicate or otherwise use the Index will be terminated or may be disputed, impaired or cease to remain in effect. In such a case, the Adviser may be required to replace the Index with another index which it considers to be appropriate in light of the investment strategy of the Fund. The use of any such substitute index may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance. In the event that the Adviser is unable to identify a suitable replacement for the relevant Index, it may determine to terminate the Fund.
Money Market 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 seeks 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 increase 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 share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), SSGA FM or their affiliates (“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 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 or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
Securities Lending Risk. The Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value of up to 25% of its total assets. For these purposes, total assets shall include the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan. Such loans may be terminated at any time, and the Fund will receive cash or other obligations as collateral. Any such loans must be continuously secured by collateral in cash or cash equivalents maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by the Fund. In a loan transaction, as compensation for lending its securities, the Fund will receive a portion of the dividends or interest accrued on the securities held as collateral or, in the case of cash collateral, a portion of the income from the investment of such cash. In addition, the 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. The Fund will call loans to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the investment is to be voted upon. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the 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, the Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral. The Fund will attempt to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to high quality instruments of short maturity.
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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. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the 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 the Fund and, subject to the supervision of the Board, is responsible for the investment management of the Fund. The Adviser provides an investment management program for the Fund and manages the investment of the Fund's assets. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation and 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 SSGA. SSGA is one of the world's largest institutional money managers and the investment management arm of State Street Corporation. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets and SSGA managed approximately $2.30 trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal business address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
For the services provided to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an annual fee of 0.60% of the Fund's average daily net assets, which is reduced by any acquired fund fees and expenses attributable to the Fund's investments in other investment companies.
From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee, although it does not currently intend to do so. The Adviser pays all expenses of the Fund other than the management fee, distribution fee pursuant to the Fund's Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee's counsel fees), litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses.
A discussion regarding the Board's consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement is provided in the Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.
SSGA FM, as the investment adviser for the Fund, may hire one or more sub-advisers to oversee the day-to-day investment activities of the Fund. The sub-advisers are subject to oversight by the Adviser. The Adviser and SPDR Series Trust (the “Trust”) have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, with the approval of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, to retain and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated investment sub-advisers for the 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 Fund 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 sub-adviser retained pursuant to the order.
Portfolio Managers.
The Adviser manages the Fund 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 SSGA. The portfolio management team is overseen by the SSGA Investment Committee.
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are John Tucker, Mike Feehily and Karl Schneider.
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John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Passive Equity Strategies in North America. Mr. Tucker is responsible for overseeing the management of all equity index strategies and Exchange Traded Funds managed in North America. He is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Previously, Mr. Tucker was head of the Structured Products Group in SSGA's London office, where he was responsible for the management of all index strategies in SSGA's second largest investment center. Mr. Tucker received a BA from Trinity College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. In addition, Mr. Tucker is a member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board and the S&P U.S. Index Advisory Panel. He joined State Street in 1988.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in North America. He is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team and sits on the firm's North America Product Committee and Trade Management Oversight Committee. Mr. Feehily rejoined SSGA in 2010 after spending four years at State Street Global Markets LLC, where he helped to build the Global Exposure Solutions business. This group created and managed portfolios that were designed to meet the short-term market exposure needs of institutional clients. Prior to this, Mr. Feehily had been Head of the U.S. Passive Equity Team within SSGA. He joined State Street in 1992. Mr. Feehily received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Babson College in Finance, Investments, and Economics. He received an MBA in Finance from Bentley College and also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. Mr. Feehily is also a former member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and Head of U.S. Equity Strategies for the Global Equity Beta Solutions (GEBS) team, where in addition to overseeing the management of the U.S. equity index strategies, he also serves as a portfolio manager for a number of the group's passive equity portfolios. Previously within GEBS, he served as a portfolio manager and product specialist for synthetic beta strategies, including commodities, buy/write, and hedge fund replication. Prior to joining the GEBS team, Mr. Schneider worked as a portfolio manager in SSGA's Currency Management Group, managing both active currency selection and traditional passive hedging overlay portfolios. He joined State Street in 1996. Mr. Schneider holds a BS in Finance and Investments from Babson College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation and is a member of the CAIA Association.
Additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers' ownership of the Fund is available in the SAI.
Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. The Adviser serves as Administrator for the Fund. State Street, part of State Street Corporation, is the Sub-Administrator for the Fund and the Custodian for the Fund's assets, and serves as Transfer Agent to the Fund.
Lending Agent. State Street is 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 Markets, LLC (the “Distributor”), part of State Street Corporation, is the distributor of Fund Shares. 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 Fund and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others the Fund's investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, and accountants, who provide services to the Fund. 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.
This Prospectus provides information concerning the Trust and the Fund 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 Fund 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.
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Index/Trademark Licenses/Disclaimers
The Index Provider is not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser, the Fund's Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, Distributor, or any of their respective affiliates. The Adviser (“Licensee”) has entered into a license agreement with the Index Provider pursuant to which the Adviser pays a fee to use the Index. The Adviser is sub-licensing rights to the Index to the Fund at no charge.
Dorsey Wright & Associates, LLC (collectively with its parent companies and affiliates, “Dorsey Wright”) licenses to the Adviser certain Dorsey Wright trademarks and trade names, and the Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation Index (“Index”), for use by the Adviser. Such trademarks, trade names and Index have been created and developed by Dorsey Wright without regard to and independently of the Adviser, its business, its development of this product, and/or any prospective investor. The Adviser has arranged with Dorsey Wright to license the Index for possible inclusion in products which the Adviser independently develops and promotes. The licensing of any index to the Adviser is not an offer to purchase or sell, or a solicitation or an offer to buy any securities. A determination that any portion of an investor's portfolio should be devoted to any product developed by the Adviser with reference to a Dorsey Wright index is a determination made solely by the investment adviser serving the investor or the investor himself, not Dorsey Wright or the Adviser.
The Fund is not sponsored, issued or advised by Dorsey Wright. Dorsey Wright makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of trading in the Fund. Dorsey Wright licenses to the Adviser certain trademarks and trade names of Dorsey Wright and the Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by Dorsey Wright without regard to the Adviser or the Fund. Dorsey Wright has no obligation to take the needs of the Adviser or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. Dorsey Wright is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be listed or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash.
DORSEY WRIGHT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND DORSEY WRIGHT SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. DORSEY WRIGHT MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ADVISER, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. DORSEY WRIGHT MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL DORSEY WRIGHT HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS BETWEEN DORSEY WRIGHT AND THE ADVISER.
SPDR Trademark. The “SPDR” trademark is used under license from Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, an affiliate of The McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (“S&P”). No Fund offered by the Trust or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Index on which the Fund is based to track general stock market performance. S& P is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance or redemption of Fund Shares. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.
WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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), Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Exchange
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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 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 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. Information showing the number of days the market price of Fund Shares was greater than the Fund's net asset value and the number of days it was less than the Fund's net asset value (i.e., premium or discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Fund's website at https://www.spdrs.com.
The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an indicative optimized portfolio value (“IOPV”) relating to the Fund. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of the Fund's net asset value per Fund Share using market data converted into U.S. dollars at the current currency rates. The IOPV price is based on quotes and closing prices from the securities' local market and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market's close. 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, which is calculated only once a day. Neither the Fund 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 Fund does not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions; however, the Fund reserves 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 the Fund's investment strategy, or whether they would cause the 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 the Fund directly, and that most trading in the 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 the Fund's shareholders or (b) any attempts to market time the Fund by shareholders would result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders.
Distribution and Service Plan
The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of Fund Shares. No payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made through at least October 31, 2017. Additionally, the implementation of any such payments would have to be approved by the Board prior to implementation. Because these fees would be paid out of the Fund's assets on an on-going basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more over time than paying other types of sales charges.
Distributions
Dividends and Capital Gains. As a Fund shareholder, you are entitled to your share of the Fund's income and net realized gains on its investments. The Fund pays out substantially all of its net earnings to its shareholders as “distributions.”
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The Fund may earn interest from debt securities and, if participating, securities lending income. The Fund will generally realize 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. The Fund will generally realize long-term capital gains or losses whenever it sells or exchanges assets held for more than one year. Net capital gains (the excess of the 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, are generally distributed to shareholders monthly, but may vary significantly from period to period.
Net capital gains for the Fund are distributed at least annually. Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently or at any other times to improve Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “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 Fund's portfolio holdings disclosure policy is described in the SAI. In addition, the identities and quantities of the securities held by the Fund are disclosed on the Fund's website.
Additional Tax Information
The following discussion is a summary of some important U.S. federal tax considerations generally applicable to an investment in the Fund. Your investment in the 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.
Taxes on Distributions. In general, your taxable distributions are subject to federal income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in the Fund. The taxable income dividends and short-term capital gains distributions you receive from the Fund will be taxed as either ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Subject to certain limitations, dividends that are reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income are taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. Any distributions of the 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 rates of up to 20%. Dividends that are reported as exempt-interest dividends will not be subject to regular federal income tax. Distributions in excess of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of your basis in Fund Shares, and, in general, as capital gain thereafter.
In general, dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund, which, in general, includes dividend income a SPDR ETF in which the Fund invests receives from taxable U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations (i.e., certain foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, and certain other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States), provided that the SPDR ETF satisfies certain holding period requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations and has not hedged its position in the stock in certain ways. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held by the SPDR ETF for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning at the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for fewer than 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date. These holding period requirements will also apply to your ownership of Fund Shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. Additionally, dividends paid on fund shares on loan will not be treated as qualified dividend income.
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Because a SPDR ETF may invest in “private activity bonds,” the interest on which is not federally tax-exempt to persons who are “substantial users” of the facilities financed by such bonds or “related persons” of such “substantial users,” the Fund may not be an appropriate investment for shareholders who are considered either “substantial users” or “related persons” within the meaning of the Code. In addition, interest on certain municipal securities that meet the definition of private activity bonds under the Code is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer's alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent a SPDR ETF receives income from private activity bonds, a portion of any exempt-interest dividend attributable to that income, although otherwise exempt from federal income tax, will be taxable to those shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax regime. The Fund will annually supply shareholders with a report indicating the percentage of its income attributable to municipal securities required to be included in calculating the federal alternative minimum tax. In addition, all exempt interest dividends are required to be included in calculating a corporation's adjusted current earnings for purposes of the alternative minimum tax calculation applicable to corporations.
Exempt-interest dividends from the Fund are taken into account in determining the taxable portion of any Social Security or rail road retirement benefits that you receive. If you receive Social Security or railroad benefits, you should consult your tax advisor about how an investment in the Fund may affect the taxation of your benefits.
Exempt-interest dividends attributable to interest on municipal securities issued by a state or its political subdivisions may be exempt in the hands of a shareholder from income tax imposed by that state, but exempt-interest dividends attributable to interest on municipal securities issued by another state generally will not be exempt from such income tax.
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 (other than exempt-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.
If the 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.
If you lend your Fund Shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements you may lose the ability to treat Fund dividends (paid while the Fund Shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. You should consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor to discuss your particular circumstances.
Distributions paid in January, but declared by the 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 Fund will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
A distribution will reduce the 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 SPDR ETF in zero coupon or other discount securities will result in income to the SPDR ETF 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 SPDR ETF 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 SPDR ETF, the SPDR ETF may recognize income without receiving a commensurate amount of cash. The SPDR ETF‘s share of such income is included in determining the amount that the SPDR ETF 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 SPDR ETF 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 SPDR ETF level.
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Inflation-Indexed Bonds. Special rules apply to any investments by a SPDR ETF in inflation-indexed bonds. Generally, all stated interest on such bonds is recorded as income by the SPDR ETF 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 the SPDR ETF's OID in a taxable year with respect to a bond will increase the SPDR ETF's taxable income for such year without a corresponding receipt of cash until the bond matures. As a result, the SPDR ETF may need to use other sources of cash to satisfy its distributions 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 the SPDR ETF'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 SPDR ETF to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the SPDR ETF's disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.
Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. The SPDR ETFs 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 the SPDR ETFs are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the SPDR ETFs and/or defer the SPDR ETFs' ability to recognize losses. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund. You should consult your personal tax advisor regarding the application of these rules.
Foreign Currency Transactions. The SPDR ETF'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.
Foreign Income Taxes. Investment income received by a SPDR ETF from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which may entitle a SPDR ETF to a reduced rate of such taxes or exemption from taxes on such income. The Fund may elect to “pass through” to you certain foreign income taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the SPDR ETF in which it invests. If the Fund makes such an election, you will be considered to have received as an additional dividend your share of such foreign taxes, but you may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating your taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating your federal income tax. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If the Fund does not so elect, the Fund may be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the SPDR ETFs.
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 will be disallowed to the extent of exempt-interest dividends received with respect to those Fund Shares, and to the extent not disallowed will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such Fund Shares.
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
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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 Fund Shares (or securities surrendered) have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the 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 the 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 Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, the 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 Fund, the purchaser (or group of purchasers) will not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.
Non-U.S. Investors. Ordinary income dividends paid by the 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, the Fund may report interest-related dividends to the extent of its net income derived from U.S.-source interest and the 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 the 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 and, after December 31, 2018, to redemption proceeds and certain capital gain 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. The 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 28%. 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.
Other Tax Issues. The Fund may be subject to tax in certain states where the Fund does business. Furthermore, in those states which have income tax laws, the tax treatment of the Fund and of Fund shareholders with respect to distributions by the Fund 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 Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Fund under all applicable tax laws.
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General Information
The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 12, 1998. If shareholders of the 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
The Fund is a separate, non-diversified series of the Trust, which is an open-end registered management investment company.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, Fund Shares are issued by the respective series of the Trust and the acquisition of Fund Shares by investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
The Trust has received exemptive relief from Section 12(d)(1) to allow registered investment companies to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions as set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.
From time to time, the 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 the Fund.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP serves as counsel to the Trust, including the Fund. Ernst & Young LLP serves as the independent registered public accounting firm and will audit the Fund's financial statements annually.
Premium/Discount Information
Information showing the number of days the market price of the Fund's shares was greater than the Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a premium) and the number of days it was less than the Fund's NAV per Fund Share (i.e., at a discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Fund's website at https://www.spdrs.com.
Financial Highlights
The financial highlight table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance since the Fund's inception. Certain information reflects the performance results for a single Fund Share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund's financial highlights and financial statements, is included in the annual report to shareholders, which is available upon request. The financial information included in these tables should be read in conjunction with the financial statements incorporated by reference in the SAI.
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Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period
  SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed
Income Allocation ETF
  For the
Period
6/2/16* -
6/30/16
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 25.00
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
Net investment income (loss)(a)

0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

0.56
Total from investment operations

0.61
Net equalization credits and charges(a)

0.10
Net asset value, end of period

$ 25.71
Total return(c)

2.85%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
 
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)

$15,428
Ratios to average net assets:

 
Total expenses

0.60% (d)
Net expenses

0.21% (d)
Net investment income (loss)

2.23% (d)
Portfolio turnover rate(e)

3%
* Commencement of operations.
(a) Per share numbers have been calculated using average shares outstanding, which more appropriately presents the per share data for the year.
(b) Amounts shown in this caption for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund.
(c) Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares at net asset value on the first day and a sale at net asset value on the last day of each period reported. Distributions are assumed, for the purpose of this calculation, to be reinvested at net asset value per share on the respective payment dates of each Fund. Total return for periods of less than one year is not annualized. Broker commission charges are not included in this calculation.
(d) Annualized.
(e) Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind processing of creations or redemptions.
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Where to Learn More About the Fund
This Prospectus does not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC with respect to Fund Shares. The SAI and the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, each of which has been or will be filed with the SEC, provide more information about the Fund. The Prospectus and SAI may be supplemented from time to time. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during the Fund's last fiscal year. The SAI and the financial statements included in the Trust's annual report to shareholders are incorporated herein by reference (i.e., they are legally part of this Prospectus). These materials may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing to the Distributor, State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Fund's website at https://www.spdrs.com 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 and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room (100 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20549) or on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. You may get copies of this and other information after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Fund in writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, 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 Fund. 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.
DWFISTATPRO The Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-08839.


Table of Contents

SPDR® SERIES TRUST (THE “TRUST”)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dated October 31, 2016

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. With respect to each of the Trust’s series listed below, this SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectuses dated October 31, 2016, as may be revised from time to time. Each of the foregoing prospectuses may be referred to herein as a “Prospectus.”

 

EQUITY ETFs    TICKER    FIXED INCOME ETFs    TICKER

SPDR RUSSELL 3000® ETF

   THRK    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS 1-3 MONTH T-BILL ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS 1-3 MONTH T-BILL ETF)    BIL

SPDR RUSSELL 1000® ETF

   ONEK    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS TIPS ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS TIPS ETF    IPE

SPDR RUSSELL 2000® ETF

   TWOK    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS 0-5 YEAR TIPS ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS 0-5 YEAR TIPS ETF)    SIPE

SPDR RUSSELL 1000 YIELD FOCUS ETF

   ONEY    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS 1-10 YEAR TIPS ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS 1-10 YEAR TIPS ETF)    TIPX

SPDR RUSSELL 1000 MOMENTUM FOCUS ETF

   ONEO    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM TREASURY ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS SHORT TERM TREASURY ETF)    SST

SPDR RUSSELL 1000 LOW VOLATILITY FOCUS ETF

   ONEV    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERMEDIATE TERM TREASURY ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS INTERMEDIATE TERM TREASURY ETF)    ITE

SPDR S&P® 500 BUYBACK ETF

   SPYB    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS LONG TERM TREASURY ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS LONG TERM TREASURY ETF)    TLO

SPDR S&P 500 GROWTH ETF

   SPYG    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS SHORT TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF)    SCPB

SPDR S&P 500 VALUE ETF

   SPYV    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERMEDIATE TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS INTERMEDIATE TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF)    ITR

SPDR S&P 500 HIGH DIVIDEND ETF

   SPYD    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS LONG TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS LONG TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF)    LWC
SPDR S&P 500 FOSSIL FUEL RESERVES FREE ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR S&P 500 FOSSIL FUEL FREE ETF)    SPYX    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS ISSUER SCORED CORPORATE BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS ISSUER SCORED CORPORATE BOND ETF)    CBND
SPDR S&P 1000 ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR RUSSELL SMALL CAP COMPLETENESS® ETF)    SMD    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES ETF)    CWB

SPDR S&P 400 MID CAP GROWTH ETF

   MDYG    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS MORTGAGE BACKED BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS MORTGAGE BACKED BOND ETF)    MBG

SPDR S&P 400 MID CAP VALUE ETF

   MDYV    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS AGGREGATE BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS AGGREGATE BOND ETF)    BNDS

 

1


Table of Contents
EQUITY ETFs    TICKER    FIXED INCOME ETFs    TICKER
SPDR S&P 600 SMALL CAP ETF    SLY    SPDR NUVEEN BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS MUNICIPAL BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR NUVEEN BARCLAYS MUNICIPAL BOND ETF)    TFI

SPDR S&P 600 SMALL CAP GROWTH ETF

   SLYG    SPDR NUVEEN BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM MUNICIPAL BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR NUVEEN BARCLAYS SHORT TERM MUNICIPAL BOND ETF)    SHM

SPDR S&P 600 SMALL CAP VALUE ETF

   SLYV    SPDR NUVEEN S&P HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL BOND ETF    HYMB

SPDR GLOBAL DOW ETF

   DGT    SPDR CITI INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT INFLATION-PROTECTED BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR DB INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT INFLATION-PROTECTED BOND ETF)    WIP

SPDR DOW JONES REIT ETF

   RWR    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM INTERNATIONAL TREASURY BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS SHORT TERM INTERNATIONAL TREASURY BOND ETF)    BWZ

SPDR S&P BANK ETF

   KBE    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERNATIONAL TREASURY BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS INTERNATIONAL TREASURY BOND ETF)    BWX

SPDR S&P CAPITAL MARKETS ETF

   KCE    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE BOND ETF)    IBND

SPDR S&P INSURANCE ETF

   KIE    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS EMERGING MARKETS LOCAL BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS EMERGING MARKETS LOCAL BOND ETF)    EBND

SPDR S&P REGIONAL BANKING ETF

   KRE    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS HIGH YIELD BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS HIGH YIELD BOND ETF)    JNK

SPDR MORGAN STANLEY TECHNOLOGY ETF

   MTK    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM HIGH YIELD BOND ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS SHORT TERM HIGH YIELD BOND ETF)    SJNK

SPDR S&P DIVIDEND ETF

   SDY    SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INVESTMENT GRADE FLOATING RATE ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR BARCLAYS INVESTMENT GRADE FLOATING RATE ETF)    FLRN

SPDR S&P AEROSPACE & DEFENSE ETF

   XAR    SPDR BOFA MERRILL LYNCH CROSSOVER CORPORATE BOND ETF    CJNK

SPDR S&P BIOTECH ETF

   XBI      

SPDR S&P HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT ETF

   XHE      

SPDR S&P HEALTH CARE SERVICES ETF

   XHS      

SPDR S&P HOMEBUILDERS ETF

   XHB      

SPDR S&P INTERNET ETF

   XWEB      

SPDR S&P METALS & MINING ETF

   XME      

SPDR S&P OIL & GAS EQUIPMENT & SERVICES ETF

   XES      
SPDR S&P OIL & GAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION ETF    XOP      

SPDR S&P PHARMACEUTICALS ETF

   XPH      

SPDR S&P RETAIL ETF

   XRT      

SPDR S&P SEMICONDUCTOR ETF

   XSD      

SPDR S&P SOFTWARE & SERVICES ETF

   XSW      

SPDR S&P TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE ETF

   XTH      

SPDR S&P TELECOM ETF

   XTL      

SPDR S&P TRANSPORTATION ETF

   XTN      

 

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EQUITY ETFs    TICKER    FIXED INCOME ETFs    TICKER

SPDR S&P 1500 VALUE TILT ETF

   VLU      

SPDR S&P 1500 MOMENTUM TILT ETF

   MMTM      

SPDR RUSSELL 1000 LOW VOLATILITY ETF

   LGLV      

SPDR RUSSELL 2000 LOW VOLATILITY ETF

   SMLV      
SPDR MSCI USA STRATEGICFACTORSSM ETF (FORMERLY, SPDR MSCI USA QUALITY MIX ETF)    QUS      

SPDR WELLS FARGO® PREFERRED STOCK ETF

   PSK      

SPDR FACTSET INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ETF

   XITK      

Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for each ETF: NYSE Arca, Inc.

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 Trust’s Annual Reports to Shareholders dated June 30, 2016 may be obtained without charge by writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, the Trust’s principal underwriter (referred to herein as “Distributor” or “Principal Underwriter”), State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Trust’s website at https://www.spdrs.com or by calling 1-866-787-2257. The Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, financial highlights and financial statements of the Funds included in the Trust’s Annual Reports to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information.

SPDRSERIESSAI

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

General Description of the Trust

     5   

Investment Policies

     6   

Special Considerations and Risks

     20   

Investment Restrictions

     24   

Exchange Listing and Trading

     26   

Management of the Trust

     26   

Brokerage Transactions

     47   

Book Entry Only System

     51   

Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

     78   

Determination of Net Asset Value

     85   

Dividends and Distributions

     85   

Taxes

     86   

Capital Stock and Shareholder Reports

     93   

Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     94   

Local Market Holiday Schedules

     94   

Financial Statements

     102   

Appendix A—Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

     A-1   

Appendix B—Nuveen Asset Management’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

     B-1   

 

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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 Equity ETFs and Fixed Income ETFs (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”). The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 12, 1998. The offering of each Fund’s shares (“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The investment objective of each Fund is to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return (or in the case of the Fixed Income ETFs, the price and yield performance) of a specified market index (each an “Index” and together the “Indexes”). SSGA Funds Management, Inc. serves as the investment adviser for each Fund (the “Adviser”) and certain funds are sub-advised by a sub-adviser as further described herein (each, a “Sub-Adviser”). To the extent that a reference in this SAI refers to the “Adviser”, such reference should also be read to refer to the Sub-Adviser where the context requires.

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 either in exchange for (i) a basket of securities included in its Index (“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 either for (i) portfolio securities and a specified cash payment or (ii) cash (subject to applicable legal requirements). A Creation Unit of each Equity ETF consists of 50,000 Shares and a Creation Unit of each Fixed Income ETF consists of 100,000 Shares, except that a Creation Unit of the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF consists of 50,000 Shares, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF consists of 300,000 Shares and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF consists of 500,000 Shares.

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.

The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 TIPS ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “TIPS ETFs.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF may sometimes be collectively referred to herein as the “Treasury ETFs.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Aggregate Bond ETF.” The SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF, SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF, and SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Municipal Bond ETFs.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF and the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “International Treasury Bond ETFs.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Convertible Securities ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Mortgage Backed Bond ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “High Yield Bond ETFs.” The SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Preferred Stock ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “International Corporate Bond ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Corporate Bond ETFs.”

 

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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. The securities of a particular issuer may constitute a greater portion of an Index of each Fund and, therefore, the securities may constitute a greater portion of a Fund’s portfolio. 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.

Although each Fund is non-diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act, each Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a “regulated investment company” for purposes of the 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 severely limit the investment flexibility of a Fund and may make it less likely that a Fund will meet its investment objectives.

ASSET-BACKED AND COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

Asset-backed securities are securities backed by installment contracts, credit-card receivables or other assets. Commercial mortgage-backed securities are securities backed by commercial real estate properties. Both asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of assets in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are made on a regular basis. The payments are, in effect, “passed through” to the holder of the securities (net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities). The average life of asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities varies with the maturities of the underlying instruments and, as a result of prepayments, can often be less than the original maturity of the assets underlying the securities. For this and other reasons, an asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed security’s stated maturity may be shortened, and the security’s total return may be difficult to predict precisely.

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).

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.

 

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COMMERCIAL PAPER

Each Fund may invest in 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.

COMMON STOCKS

Risks inherent in investing in equity securities include the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities and therefore a decrease in the value of Shares of the Fund). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions 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 or banking crises.

CONCENTRATION

Each Fund’s investments will generally be concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund’s underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries. The securities of issuers in particular industries may dominate the benchmark Index of a Fund and consequently a Fund’s investment portfolio. This may adversely affect a Fund’s performance or subject its Shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by less concentrated investment companies. The Trust’s general policy is to exclude securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities when measuring industry concentration.

In pursuing its objective, each Fund may hold the securities of a single issuer in an amount exceeding 10% of the market value of the outstanding securities of the issuer, subject to restrictions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. In particular, as a Fund’s size grows and its assets increase, it will be more likely to hold more than 10% of the securities of a single issuer if the issuer has a relatively small public float as compared to other components in its benchmark Index.

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING INVESTMENT IN MUNICIPAL SECURITIES ISSUED BY PUERTO RICO

Each Fund may invest in Puerto Rico municipal bonds and, therefore, may be impacted by political, economic, or regulatory developments that affect issuers in Puerto Rico and their ability to pay principal and interest on their obligations. Puerto Rico, the fourth largest of the Caribbean islands, is located approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Miami, Florida. Puerto Rico’s constitutional status is that of a territory of the United States, and, pursuant to the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution, the ultimate source of power over Puerto Rico is the U.S. Congress. Residents of Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States but do not vote in national elections.

Puerto Rico’s economy, historically dominated by government and manufacturing employment, has been in recession since 2006. Gross National Product (GNP) fell annually between 2006 and 2011, declining a total of 11.5%, and then stabilized in 2012 and 2013. The Puerto Rico Planning Board reports that GNP contracted by 0.69% and 0.60% in 2014 and 2015, respectively. A contraction of 1.2% is forecast for 2016 and a 2.0% decline is forecasted for fiscal year 2017. As of July 2016, the island’s unemployment rate was 11.4%, well above the national average. Unemployment has improved marginally as the rate was over 15% for all of 2010 and 2011, but recent declines are partially attributed to a shrinking labor force, not job creation. Unemployment has not been below 10% in the last ten years. High unemployment and weak job growth have encouraged an increase in outmigration of Puerto Rican residents to the mainland U.S. since 2006. Between 2010 and 2015 the population fell nearly 7%, and by 2012 there were more Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. mainland than on the island. Puerto Rico’s Planning Board estimates the population will continue to fall about 1% per year through 2020, further depleting economic growth prospects.

Protracted economic decline and population losses have directly impacted Puerto Rico’s tax base and operating budget. Puerto Rico’s operating budget has been structurally unbalanced for the past decade and the government has relied on deficit financing for annual operations. Structural operating deficits have incrementally improved annually since 2009, but have not been eliminated. A balanced budget was originally projected for the fiscal year 2016. That budget relied on a significant increase in the sales tax to 11.5% from 7%, which took effect on April 1, 2016, a new 4% surcharge on businesses, and substantial expenditure reductions. The fiscal year 2016 budget included a total $1.4 billion for debt service, equivalent to approximately 15% of general fund expenditures. However, through the first eight months of fiscal year 2016, Puerto Rico’s general fund revenues (unaudited) were $196 million below the original budget projections.

 

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Recent borrowing has contributed to Puerto Rico’s out-sized debt burden, which is very high in comparison to most states. Net tax-supported debt as a percentage of personal income is 87.5%, in comparison to the national median of 2.5%, based on Moody’s 2015 and 2016 State Debt Medians Reports. Between 2000 and 2016, Puerto Rico’s public debt grew from $24.2 billion to over $72 billion, an increase of over 200%. When all public sector debt is included, the island estimates total debt is over 100% of gross national product, well over the national median of 2.2%. The island’s enormous debt burden is largely attributed to a decade of financing annual operating costs with long term debt. Puerto Rico issues debt under many different securities, but many of the security pledges are ultimately dependent on the island’s General Fund, creating an interdependency between credits.

In 2014, Puerto Rico’s Governor, Alejandro Garcĺa Padilla declared that Puerto Rico’s “debt is not payable” and Puerto Rico would no longer borrow to address annual budget deficits. Debt restructuring legislation passed in mid-2014 aimed at restructuring public corporations was deemed unconstitutional by a federal court in February 2015 and again on appeal in July 2015. In response to the court ruling, the island’s representative in Washington, D.C. introduced a bill allowing Puerto Rico’s public corporations to be eligible for Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing, which was struck down in federal court and ultimately by the Supreme Court on June 13, 2016.

On June 30, 2016, the President of the United States signed into law the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), aimed at helping Puerto Rico restructure its debt. PROMESA requires an independent fiscal oversight board for the Puerto Rico and provides a legal framework for debt restructuring if consensual negotiated settlements with creditors cannot be reached. The oversight board is tasked with developing and implementing a five-year fiscal plan for each covered government entity. Fiscal plans would be required to provide estimates of revenues and expenditures, ensure funding for essential public services, provide adequate funding pensions, eliminate any structural deficits, provide for a sustainable debt burden, and improve fiscal governance, accountability and internal controls. The fiscal plan must also include a debt sustainability analysis and provide for capital investments necessary to promote economic growth.

Following Puerto Rico’s default on $779 million in general bond obligations in July 2016, Standard & Poor’s downgraded all of the government’s ratings to D with a negative outlook. Fitch downgraded Puerto Rico’s general obligation and related ratings to D from C with a negative outlook. Moody’s last downgraded Puerto Rico’s general obligation rating to Caa3 from Caa2 in July 2015. However, in July 2016, Moody’s revised its outlook on Puerto Rico from negative to developing in the wake of the enactment of PROMESA.

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES ISSUED BY GREECE

Recent geopolitical events in the European Union (“EU”), specifically in Greece, may disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. This may lead to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally. Those events as well as other changes in Eurozone economic and political conditions could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of a Fund’s investments. Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely affect markets, issuers, and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries.

There is uncertainty as to which scenario may unfold but discussions have centered around possible default, implementation of capital controls and a potential exit from the Eurozone. Each of these scenarios has potential implications to the markets and a Fund’s investments.

Greece’s ability to repay its sovereign debt is in question, and the possibility of default is not unlikely, which could limit its ability to borrow in the future. Greece has been required to impose austerity measures on its population in order to receive financial aid from the International Monetary Fund and EU member countries. Any implementation of capital controls could further exacerbate current economic issues in Greece.

A default or debt restructuring by any European country, including Greece, would adversely impact holders of that country’s debt, and sellers of credit default swaps linked to that country’s creditworthiness (which may be located in other countries). These events may have an adverse effect on the value and exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country in Europe, including EU member countries that do not use the euro and non-EU member countries.

In October 2016, after fulfilling 15 conditions on matters such as selling state assets and improving bank governance, Greece received an additional €2.8 billion loan payout from the euro-area finance ministers, who concluded the country had made progress in overhauling its economy. However, it is still possible that Greece may exit the European Monetary Union, which would result in immediate devaluation of the Greek currency and potential for default. If this were to occur, Greece would face significant risks related to the process of full currency redenomination as well as the resulting instability of Europe in general, which would have a severe adverse effect on the value of securities held by a Fund.

 

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If Greece opts to leave the Eurozone, the economic consequences could be severe for Greece and harmful to its trading partners and banks and others around the world that hold Greek debt. The outcome of the current situation cannot be predicted at this time. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks 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 stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, 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 stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline 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 stocks rise 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 stocks. 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.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

Each Fund may conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward basis (i.e., by entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies). Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a fee for such conversions, they do realize a profit based on the difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the counterparty desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Forward contracts are customized transactions that generally require a specific amount of a currency to be delivered at a specific exchange rate on a specific date or range of dates in the future although the Fund may also enter into non-deliverable currency forward contracts (“NDFs”) that contractually require the netting of the parties’ liabilities. Forwards, including NDFs, can have substantial price volatility. 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. At the discretion of the Adviser, the Funds may enter into forward currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes to help reduce the risks and volatility caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, or to gain exposure to certain currencies in an effort to track the composition of the applicable Index. When used for hedging purposes, they tend to limit any potential gain that may be realized if the value of the Fund’s foreign holdings increases because of currency fluctuations.

FUTURES CONTRACTS, OPTIONS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS

Each Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in derivatives, including exchange-traded futures on Treasuries or Eurodollars, U.S. exchange-traded or OTC put and call options contracts and exchange-traded or OTC swap agreements (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, excess return swaps, and credit default swaps). A Fund will segregate cash and/or appropriate liquid assets if required to do so by SEC or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulation or interpretation.

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. Futures contracts are standardized as to maturity date and underlying instrument and are traded on futures exchanges.

A Fund is required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or U.S. government securities 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.

 

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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 margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin 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. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position (“buying” a contract which has previously been “sold,” or “selling” a contract previously “purchased”) in an identical contract to terminate the position. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract position is opened or closed.

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.

Regulations under the Commodities Exchange Act. Each Fund intends to use futures and options in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). A Fund may use exchange-traded futures and options, together with positions in cash and money market instruments, to simulate full investment in its underlying Index. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts may not be currently available for an Index. Under such circumstances, the Adviser may seek to utilize other instruments that it believes to be correlated to the applicable Index components or a subset of the components. The Trust, on behalf of a Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 so that the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.

Restrictions on the Use of Futures and Options. In connection with its management of the Funds, the Adviser has claimed an exclusion from registration as a commodity pool operator under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 and, therefore, is not subject to the registration and regulatory requirements of the CEA. Each Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures and options thereon to the extent allowed by the CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with a Fund’s policies. Each Fund would take steps to prevent its futures positions from “leveraging” its securities holdings. When it has a long futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank, assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position. When it has a short futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position).

Swap Agreements. Each Fund may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate, index and total return swap agreements. Swap agreements 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 agreements 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.

In the case of a credit default swap (“CDS”), the contract gives one party (the buyer) the right to recoup the economic value of a decline in the value of debt securities of the reference issuer if the credit event (a downgrade or default) occurs. This value is obtained by delivering a debt security of the reference issuer to the party in return for a previously agreed payment from the other party (frequently, the par value of the debt security). As the seller of a CDS contract, a Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to debt obligations. In return, the Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, a Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

CDSs may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. A Fund will segregate assets necessary to meet any accrued payment obligations when it is the buyer of CDSs. In cases where a Fund is a seller of a CDS, if the CDS is physically settled, the Fund will be required to segregate the full notional amount of the CDS. Such segregation will not limit a Fund’s exposure to loss.

 

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CDS agreements involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, illiquidity risk associated with a particular issuer, and credit risk, each of which will be similar in either case, CDSs are subject to the risk of illiquidity within the CDS market on the whole, as well as counterparty risk. A Fund will enter into CDS agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. A Fund will only enter into CDSs for purposes of better tracking the performance of its Index.

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.

HIGH YIELD SECURITIES

Investment in high yield securities 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 the 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 the 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. However, an Index seeks to include primarily high yield securities that the Index provider believes have greater liquidity than the broader high yield securities market as a whole.

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.

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 Sates. 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, a Fund’s investment restrictions and the Trust’s exemptive relief, a Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are 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 one quarter (25%) of the value of its total 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. 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 will 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 short-term instruments either directly on behalf of the lending Fund or through one or more joint accounts or money market funds, which may include those managed by the Adviser.

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 of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) who administer the lending program for the Funds in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. In such capacity, the lending agent causes the delivery of loaned securities from a Fund to borrowers, arranges for the return of loaned securities to the Fund at the termination of a loan, requests deposit of collateral, monitors the daily value of the loaned securities and collateral, requests that borrowers add to the collateral when required by the loan agreements, and provides recordkeeping and accounting services necessary for the operation of the program. 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 a Fund 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.

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. 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 10% 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

 

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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.

MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES

The term “U.S. agency mortgage pass-through security” refers to a category of pass-through securities backed by pools of mortgages and issued by one of several U.S. government-sponsored enterprises: the Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or FHLMC. In the basic mortgage pass-through structure, mortgages with similar issuer, term and coupon characteristics are collected and aggregated into a “pool” consisting of multiple mortgage loans. The pool is assigned a CUSIP number and undivided interests in the pool are traded and sold as pass-through securities. The holder of the security is entitled to a pro rata share of principal and interest payments (including unscheduled prepayments) from the pool of mortgage loans.

An investment in a specific pool of pass-through securities requires an analysis of the specific prepayment risk of mortgages within the covered pool (since mortgagors typically have the option to prepay their loans). The level of prepayments on a pool of mortgage securities is difficult to predict and can impact the subsequent cash flows and value of the mortgage pool. In addition, when trading specific mortgage pools, precise execution, delivery and settlement arrangements must be negotiated for each transaction. These factors combine to make trading in mortgage pools somewhat cumbersome.

For the foregoing and other reasons, the Aggregate Bond ETF and Mortgage Backed Bond ETF seek to obtain exposure to U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities primarily through the use of “to-be-announced” or “TBA transactions.” “TBA” refers to a commonly used mechanism for the forward settlement of U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities, and not to a separate type of mortgage-backed security. Most transactions in mortgage pass-through securities occur through the use of TBA transactions. TBA transactions generally are conducted in accordance with widely-accepted guidelines which establish commonly observed terms and conditions for execution, settlement and delivery. In a TBA transaction, the buyer and seller decide on general trade parameters, such as agency, settlement date, par amount, and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to settlement date. Each Fund intends to use TBA transactions in several ways. For example, each Fund expects that it will regularly enter into TBA agreements and “roll over” such agreements prior to the settlement date stipulated in such agreements. This type of TBA transaction is sometimes known as a “TBA roll.” In a “TBA roll” a Fund generally will sell the obligation to purchase the pools stipulated in the TBA agreement prior to the stipulated settlement date and will enter into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage pass-through securities. In addition, a Fund may enter into TBA agreements and settle such transactions on the stipulated settlement date by accepting actual receipt or delivery of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities stipulated in the TBA agreement.

Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty to a TBA transaction would expose a Fund to possible loss because of adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities specified in the TBA transaction. To minimize this risk, a Fund will enter into TBA transactions only with established counterparties (such as major broker-dealers) and the Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of such counterparties. In addition, a Fund may accept assignments of TBA transactions from Authorized Participants (as defined below) from time to time. A Fund’s use of “TBA rolls” may cause the Fund to experience higher portfolio turnover, higher transaction costs and to pay higher capital gain distributions to shareholders (which may be taxable) than the other Funds described herein.

The Aggregate Bond ETF and Mortgage Backed Bond ETF intend to invest cash pending settlement of any TBA transactions in money market instruments, repurchase agreements, commercial paper (including asset-backed commercial paper) or other high-quality, liquid short-term instruments, which may include money market funds affiliated with the Adviser.

MUNICIPAL SECURITIES

Municipal securities are securities issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. Municipal securities share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. The municipal securities which the Funds may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax-exempt industrial development bonds generally are also revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor).

 

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Some longer-term municipal securities give the investor the right to “put” or sell the security at par (face value) within a specified number of days following the investor’s request—usually one to seven days. This demand feature enhances a security’s liquidity by shortening its effective maturity and enables it to trade at a price equal to or very close to par. If a demand feature terminates prior to being exercised, a Fund would hold the longer-term security, which could experience substantially more volatility.

The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, than non-municipal securities. There may also be less information available on the financial condition of issuers of municipal securities than for public corporations. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, and municipal securities may be more difficult for the Funds to value accurately than securities of public corporations. A Fund that invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal securities, such as the Municipal Bond ETF’s, may have greater exposure to liquidity risk than a fund that invests in non-municipal securities. In addition, the municipal securities market is generally characterized as a buy and hold investment strategy. As a result, the accessibility of municipal securities in the market is generally greater closer to the original date of issue of the securities and lessens as the securities move further away from such issuance date.

Municipal securities are subject to credit and market risk. Generally, prices of higher quality issues tend to fluctuate more with changes in market interest rates than prices of lower quality issues and prices of longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices of shorter maturity issues.

Prices and yields on municipal securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money-market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal security market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. A number of these factors, including the ratings of particular issues, are subject to change from time to time. Information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal securities may not be as extensive as that which is made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. As a result, municipal securities may be more difficult to value than securities of public corporations.

Obligations of issuers of municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. Congress or state legislatures may seek to extend the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. In addition, municipal securities are subject to the risk that their tax treatment could be changed by Congress or state legislatures, thereby affecting the value of outstanding municipal securities. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their municipal securities may be materially affected or their obligations may be found to be invalid or unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for municipal securities or certain segments thereof, or of materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of a Fund’s municipal securities in the same manner.

Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation. Also included within the general category of municipal securities described in the Municipal Bond ETFs’ Prospectus are municipal leases, certificates of participation in such lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations (hereinafter collectively called “Municipal Lease Obligations”) of municipal authorities or entities. Although a Municipal Lease Obligation does not constitute a general obligation of the municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged, a Municipal Lease Obligation is ordinarily backed by the municipality’s covenant to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the Municipal Lease Obligation. However, certain Municipal Lease Obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, a Fund’s ability to recover under the lease in the event of non-appropriation or default will be limited solely to the repossession of the leased property, without recourse to the general credit of the lessee, and disposition or releasing of the property might prove difficult.

Municipal Insurance. A municipal security may be covered by insurance that guarantees the bond’s scheduled payment of interest and repayment of principal. This type of insurance may be obtained by either (i) the issuer at the time the bond is issued (primary market insurance), or (ii) another party after the bond has been issued (secondary market insurance).

Both primary and secondary market insurance guarantee timely and scheduled repayment of all principal and payment of all interest on a municipal security in the event of default by the issuer, and cover a municipal security to its maturity, enhancing its credit quality and value.

 

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Municipal security insurance does not insure against market fluctuations or fluctuations in a Fund’s share price. In addition, a municipal security insurance policy will not cover: (i) repayment of a municipal security before maturity (redemption), (ii) prepayment or payment of an acceleration premium (except for a mandatory sinking fund redemption) or any other provision of a bond indenture that advances the maturity of the bond, or (iii) nonpayment of principal or interest caused by negligence or bankruptcy of the paying agent. A mandatory sinking fund redemption may be a provision of a municipal security issue whereby part of the municipal security issue may be retired before maturity.

Because a significant portion of the municipal securities issued and outstanding is insured by a small number of insurance companies, an event involving one or more of these insurance companies could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the securities insured by that insurance company and on the municipal markets as a whole.

Municipal Market Disruption Risk. The value of municipal securities may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal securities holders in the event of a bankruptcy. Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal securities are introduced before Congress from time to time. Proposals also may be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal fund’s distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of municipal securities and the value of a municipal fund’s holdings would be affected, and the Trustees would reevaluate a Municipal Bond ETF’s investment objectives and policies. Municipal bankruptcies are relatively rare, and certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such bankruptcies are unclear and remain untested. Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state. These legal uncertainties could affect the municipal securities market generally, certain specific segments of the market, or the relative credit quality of particular securities. Any of these effects could have a significant impact on the prices of some or all of the municipal securities held by a Fund.

OTHER SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS

In addition to repurchase agreements, 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 Standard & Poor’s (“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 risks; 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, and compliance with many of these amendments were required in October 2016. 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.

PREFERRED SECURITIES

Preferred securities pay fixed or adjustable rate dividends to investors, and have “preference” over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of a company’s assets. This means that a company must pay dividends on preferred stock before paying any dividends on its common stock. In order to be payable, distributions on preferred securities must be declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Income payments on typical preferred securities currently outstanding are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accrue even if not declared by the board of directors or otherwise made payable. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on the preferred securities in which a Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

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.

 

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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 a Fund would be unable to acquire securities paying comparable rates with the redemption proceeds.

RATINGS

An investment grade rating means the security or issuer is rated investment grade by Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, Inc., Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, 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 or applicable Sub-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 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 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.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (“REITs”)

REITs pool investor’s funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate loans or interests. A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to shareholders if it complies with several requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets, and income and a requirement that it distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its taxable income (other than net capital gains) for each taxable year. REITs can generally be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs. Equity REITs, which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property, derive their income primarily from rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs, which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages, derive their income primarily from interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. The Funds will not invest in real estate directly, but only in securities issued by real estate companies. However, the Funds may be subject to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate (in addition to securities markets risks) to the extent they invest in the securities of companies in the real estate industry. These include declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, dependency on management skill, heavy cash flow dependency, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds, overbuilding, extended vacancies of properties, increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, losses due to costs resulting from the clean-up of environmental problems, liability to third parties for damages resulting from environmental problems, casualty or condemnation losses, limitations on rents, changes in neighborhood values, the appeal of properties to tenants and changes in interest rates. Investments in REITs may subject Fund shareholders to duplicate management and administrative fees.

In addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Equity and Mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for the beneficial tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code, or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting investments.

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.

 

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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 securities, 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.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES

Restricted Securities are securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, but which can be offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Institutional markets for restricted securities have developed as a result of the promulgation of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, which provides a “safe harbor” from Securities Act registration requirements for qualifying sales to institutional investors. When Rule 144A restricted securities present an attractive investment opportunity and meet other selection criteria, a Fund may make such investments whether or not such securities are “illiquid” depending on the market that exists for the particular security. The Board has delegated the responsibility for determining the liquidity of Rule 144A restricted securities that a Fund may invest in to the Adviser. In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser may consider the following factors: the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace in which it trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer).

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’s exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings. Although there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, the Funds do not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 10% of their respective total assets.

SOVEREIGN DEBT OBLIGATIONS

Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. Government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. Government.

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.

 

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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 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 (Farmer Mac). 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 Agreement 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 will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount of $3 billion. The U.S. Treasury stated that the purpose of the change was to wind down Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and to benefit taxpayers. At the start of 2013, the unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired—Fannie Mae’s bailout is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion. In August 2013, President Obama announced his proposal to shut down Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae as part of a plan to overhaul the U.S.’s mortgage finance system. Until further action is taken, the actions of the U.S. Treasury are intended to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Treasury initiatives will be successful.

U.S. REGISTERED SECURITIES OF FOREIGN ISSUERS

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 investment 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 denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities market, 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. The Fund may invest in unsponsored Depositary Receipts. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts.

 

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VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES

Variable rate securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by entities such as (1) US Government, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, (2) corporations, (3) financial institutions, (4) insurance companies or (5) 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. The Funds 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 US 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.

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND OBLIGATIONS

Variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”) are short-term tax exempt fixed income instruments whose yield is reset on a periodic basis. VRDO securities tend to be issued with long maturities of up to 30 or 40 years; however, they are considered short-term instruments because they include a put feature which coincides with the periodic yield reset. For example, a VRDO whose yield resets weekly will have a put feature that is exercisable upon seven days’ notice. VRDOs are put back to a bank or other entity that serves as a liquidity provider, who then tries to resell the VRDOs or, if unable to resell, holds them in its own inventory. VRDOs are generally supported by either a Letter of Credit or a Stand-by Bond Purchase Agreement to provide credit enhancement.

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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 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.

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, will be subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.

The principal trading market for some of the securities in an Index 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.

 

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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(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.

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 Funds do not plan to use futures and options contracts, when available, in this manner. 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 imperfect or even negative correlation to its benchmark Index if the index underlying the futures contracts differs from the benchmark Index or if the futures contracts do not track the benchmark Index as expected. There is also 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 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, 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.

 

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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 each Fund is not a member of a clearing house, and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, the 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. A Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or which SSGA 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 are 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 securities. 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.

 

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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 Fund Shares.

 

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies with respect to each Fund. These restrictions cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of a 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, each Fund may not:

 

1. Concentrate its investments in securities of issuers in the same industry, except as may be necessary to approximate the composition of the Fund’s underlying Index;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 Fund;

 

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 Fund;

 

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 Fund 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 Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the Fund’s 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 Fund.

 

7. With respect to the SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF, the SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF, and the SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its assets in investments the income of which is exempt from federal income tax.

In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, each Fund observes the following restrictions, which may be changed by the Board without a shareholder vote. Each Fund 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 Fund in accordance with its views;

 

2. Hold illiquid assets in excess of 15% of its net assets. An illiquid asset is any asset which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the investment; or

 

3. With respect to each Fund, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise its relevant Index. Securities that have economic characteristics substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index are included within this 80% investment policy for Fixed Income ETFs.

 

4. With respect to each High Yield Bond ETF, invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in bonds that are rated below investment grade. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

5. With respect to the Aggregate Bond ETF, Corporate Bond ETFs, SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF and SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in debt securities. Prior to any change in a Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

6. With respect to the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in U.S. Treasury bills. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

7. With respect to the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in U.S. Treasury securities. Prior to any change in a Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

 

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.

 

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8. With respect to each International Treasury Bond ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in government bonds. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

9. With respect to the TIPS ETFs, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in inflation-indexed debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury Department and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

10. With respect to the Mortgage Backed Bond ETF, invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in mortgage backed bonds. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice. For purposes of this policy, TBA Transactions are considered mortgage backed securities.

 

11. With respect to the Convertible Securities ETF, invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in convertible securities. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

12. With respect to the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF, invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in investment grade floating rate securities. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

13. With respect to the International Corporate Bond ETF and each Corporate Bond ETF, invest, under normal circumstances, less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in corporate bonds. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

14. With respect to SPDR Global Dow ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF, each Fund will not invest in securitized instruments (including asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, or asset-backed commercial paper) or sweep excess cash into any non-governmental money market fund.

 

15. With respect to the SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF, under normal circumstances invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of companies that do not own fossil fuel reserves. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice.

 

16. With respect to the SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF, under normal circumstances invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of technology hardware companies. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice.

 

17. With respect to the SPDR S&P Internet ETF, under normal circumstances invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of internet companies. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice.

The Funds define the foregoing terms in accordance with the definition of such terms per the applicable Index. 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 and illiquid securities 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 a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays). With respect to the limitation on illiquid securities, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the limitations as soon as reasonably practicable.

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 a Fund’s total assets at the time of the loan, and (3) enter into reverse repurchase agreements. However, under normal circumstances any borrowings by the Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund’s 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, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation. 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 Commodity Exchange Act 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 Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may invest in companies that deal in real estate (including REITs) or in instruments that are backed or secured by real estate.

 

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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. The 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, but is not required to, remove the Shares of a Fund from listing if: (1) following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Shares for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (2) the value of its underlying Index or portfolio of securities on which the Fund is based is no longer calculated or available; (3) the “indicative optimized portfolio value” (“IOPV”) of the Fund is no longer calculated or available; or (4) such other event shall occur or condition exists that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. In addition, the Exchange will remove the Shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Trust or 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.

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.”

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, Sub-Advisers, 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 (e.g., a Sub-Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of a Fund’s portfolio investments) 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 and, if applicable, Sub-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 and Sub-Adviser provide 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.

 

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The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser and Sub-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 Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, respectively, the Board meets with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s adherence to the 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 and any Sub-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 Funds 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 and Sub-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 Fund, 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 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 the Fund’s Adviser, Sub-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 six members of the Board of Trustees, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”). Frank Nesvet, 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 (greater than 75%) 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 (and classes of shares) 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.

 

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TRUSTEES

 

NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

 

POSITION(S)

WITH
FUNDS

  TERM OF
OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST

5 YEARS

  NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE†
 

OTHER

DIRECTORSHIPS

HELD BY

TRUSTEE

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES          

FRANK NESVET

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1943

 

Independent Trustee,

Chairman, Trustee Committee Chair

  Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

September
2000

  Retired.   206   None.

DAVID M. KELLY

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1938

  Independent Trustee, Audit Committee Chair   Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since
September
2000

  Retired.   206   Chicago Stock Exchange (Former Director, retired); Penson Worldwide Inc. (Former Director, retired).

BONNY EUGENIA BOATMAN

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1950

  Independent Trustee   Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

April
2010

  Retired.   206   None.

DWIGHT D. CHURCHILL

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1953

  Independent Trustee   Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

April
2010

 

Self-employed

consultant since 2010;

CEO and President,

CFA Institute (June

2014-January 2015).

  206   Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (Director).

CARL G. VERBONCOEUR

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1952

  Independent Trustee   Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

April
2010

 

Self-employed

consultant since 2009.

  206   The Motley Fool Funds Trust (Trustee).
INTERESTED TRUSTEE          

JAMES E. ROSS*

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1965

 

Interested

Trustee

  Term:

Unlimited

Served as

Trustee:
since

April
2010

 

Chairman and

Director, SSGA

Funds Management,

Inc. (2005-present); Director, State Street Global Markets, LLC (2013 -present);

Executive Vice President and

Principal, State Street

Global Advisors

(2006-present);

President, SSGA

Funds Management,

Inc. (2005 - 2012).

  294   None.

 

For the purpose of determining the number of portfolios overseen by the Trustees, “Fund Complex” comprises registered investment companies for which SSGA Fund Management, Inc. serves as investment adviser.
* Mr. Ross is an Interested Trustee because of his employment with the Adviser and ownership interest in an affiliate of the Adviser. Mr. Ross previously served as an Interested Trustee from November 2005 to December 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

OFFICERS

 

NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH FUNDS

   TERM OF
OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
  

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

ELLEN M. NEEDHAM

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1967

   President    Term: Unlimited

Served: since

October 2012

   President and Director, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2001 - present)*; Senior Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (1992 - present).*

ANN M. CARPENTER

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1966

   Vice President; Deputy Treasurer    Term: Unlimited

Served: since

August 2012

   Chief Operating Officer, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2005 - Present)*; Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (2005 - present).*

MICHAEL P. RILEY

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1969

  

Vice

President

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2005

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (2005 - present).*

JOSHUA A. WEINBERG

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1978

  

Chief Legal

Officer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since
February 2015

   Vice President and Managing Counsel, State Street Global Advisors (2011 -present); Clerk, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2013-present); Associate, Financial Services Group, Dechert LLP (2006 - 2011).

CHRISTOPHER A. MADDEN

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Hundred Summer Street, SUM0703

Boston, MA 02111

1967

   Secretary    Term: Unlimited

Served: since

August 2013

   Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2013 -present); Counsel, Atlantic Fund Services (2009 - 2013).*

PATRICIA A. MORISETTE

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Hundred Summer Street, SUM 0703

Boston, MA 02111

1973

  

Assistant

Secretary

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2015

   Vice President and Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2014 - present); Assistant Vice President and Counsel, John Hancock Financial Services (2011 - 2013); Independent legal consultant (2009 -2011); Associate, Bingham McCutchen LLP (2003 - 2009).*,. **

BRUCE S. ROSENBERG

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

   Treasurer    Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (July 2015 – present); Director, Credit Suisse (April 2008 - July 2015).

 

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Table of Contents

NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH FUNDS

   TERM OF
OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
  

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

CHAD C. HALLETT

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1969

  

Deputy

Treasurer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (November 2014 - present); Vice President, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2001 - November 2014).*

DANIEL FOLEY

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

  

Assistant

Treasurer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (April 2007 - present).*

SUJATA UPRETI

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

  

Assistant

Treasurer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (May 2015 – present); Assistant Director, Cambridge Associates, LLC (July 2014 - January 2015); Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon (July 2012 -August 2013); Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (September 2003 - July 2012).

BRIAN HARRIS

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1973

  

Chief

Compliance

Officer;

Anti-Money Laundering

Officer; Code of Ethics Compliance Officer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

November 2013

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (June 2013 - present)*; Senior Vice President and Global Head of Investment Compliance, BofA Global Capital Management (2010 - 2013); Director of Compliance, AARP Financial Inc. (2008 -2010).

 

* Served in various capacities and/or with various affiliated entities during noted time period.
** Served in various capacities and/or with unaffiliated mutual funds or closed-end funds for which State Street Bank and Trust Company or its affiliates act as a provider of services 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. Nesvet should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a financial services consulting company, serving on the boards of other investment companies, and serving as chief financial officer of a major financial services company; his knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of the Trust since 2000.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Kelly should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, his previous directorship experience, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of the Trust since 2000.

 

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The Board has concluded that Ms. Boatman should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as Managing Director of the primary investment division of one of the nation’s leading financial institutions and her knowledge of the financial services industry. Ms. Boatman was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Churchill should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the CFA Institute, serving as the Head of the Fixed Income Division of one of the nation’s leading mutual fund companies and provider of financial services and his knowledge of the financial services industry. Mr. Churchill was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in 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. Mr. Verboncoeur was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

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 the Trust since 2005 (Mr. Ross did not serve as Trustee from December 2009 until April 2010).

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

No officer, director or employee of the Adviser, its parent or subsidiaries receives any compensation from the Trust for serving as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. The Trust, SSGA Master Trust, SSGA Active Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds (together with the Trust, the “Trusts”) pay, in the aggregate, each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $210,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $50,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $20,000. Prior to July 1, 2016, each Independent Trustee received an annual fee of $200,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board received an additional annual fee of $50,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of $20,000. The Trust also reimburses each Independent Trustee 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.

The table below shows the compensation that the Independent Trustees received during the Trust’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

NAME OF INDEPENDENT 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)
 

Frank Nesvet

   $ 250,128         N/A         N/A       $ 335,000   

Bonny Boatman

   $ 212,766         N/A         N/A       $ 285,000   

Dwight Churchill

   $ 206,278         N/A         N/A       $ 276,250   

David M. Kelly

   $ 227,729         N/A         N/A       $ 305,000   

Carl Verboncoeur

   $ 205,318         N/A         N/A       $ 275,000   

 

(1) The Fund Complex includes the Trust.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Kelly serves as Chairman. 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 five (5) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

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Trustee Committee. The Board has established a Trustee Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Nesvet 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 six (6) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

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OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES

As of October 1, 2016, neither the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities in the Adviser, Sub-Advisers, Principal Underwriter or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or Principal Underwriter.

The following table shows, as of December 31, 2015, 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
 

Independent Trustees:

     

Frank Nesvet

  None   None     None   

David M. Kelly

  None   None     None   

Bonny Eugenia Boatman

  None   None     None   

Dwight D. Churchill

  None   None     None   

Carl G. Verboncoeur

  SPDR S&P Dividend ETF   $10,001 - $50,000     $10,001 - $50,000   

Interested Trustee:

     

James Ross

 

SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF

SPDR S&P 1000 ETF

SPDR Russell 1000 ETF

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF

SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF

 

$1 to $10,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$50,001 - $100,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$10,001 - $50,000

$10,001 - $50,000

Over $100,000

Over $100,000

$10,001 - $50,000

Over $100,000

Over $100,000

    Over $100,000   

CODES OF ETHICS

The Trust, the Adviser (which includes applicable reporting personnel of the Distributor) and the Sub-Advisers each have adopted a code of ethics as required by applicable law, which is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Advisers 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.

 

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PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board believes that the voting of proxies on securities held by each Fund is an important element of the overall investment process. As such, the Board has delegated the responsibility to vote such proxies to the Adviser for all Funds, other than the Municipal ETFs which are sub-advised by Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management”) and the International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF, for which it has delegated responsibility to their sub-adviser, State Street Global Advisors Limited (“SSGA LTD”). The Adviser’s proxy voting policy is attached at the end of this SAI. SSGA LTD’s proxy voting policy is substantially and materially the same as the Adviser’s proxy voting policy. 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.spdrs.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES—Municipal Bond ETFs

The Municipal Bond ETFs invest their assets primarily in municipal bonds and cash management securities. On rare occasions a Fund may acquire, directly or through a special purpose vehicle, equity securities of a municipal bond issuer whose bonds the Fund already owns when such bonds have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate significantly in credit quality. The purpose of acquiring equity securities generally will be to acquire control of the municipal bond issuer and to seek to prevent the credit deterioration or facilitate the liquidation or other workout of the distressed issuer’s credit problem. In the course of exercising control of a distressed municipal issuer, Nuveen Asset Management may pursue the Fund’s interests in a variety of ways, which may entail negotiating and executing consents, agreements and other arrangements, and otherwise influencing the management of the issuer. Nuveen Asset Management does not consider such activities proxy voting for purposes of Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

In the rare event that a municipal issuer were to issue a proxy or that a Fund were to receive a proxy issued by a cash management security, Nuveen Asset Management would either engage an independent third party to determine how the proxy should be voted or vote the proxy with the consent, or based on the instructions, of the Fund’s Board or its representative. A member of Nuveen Asset Management’s legal department would oversee the administration of the voting, and ensure that records were maintained in accordance with Rule 206(4)-6, reports were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Form N-PX, and the results provided to the Fund’s Board and made available to shareholders as required by applicable rules.

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 Fund Shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). The basket represents one Creation Unit of a Fund. The Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Advisers 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 Depositary 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.

THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

SSGA FM acts as investment adviser to the Trust and, subject to the supervision of the Board, is responsible for the investment management of each Fund. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets. The Adviser’s principal address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The Adviser, a Massachusetts corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), 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

 

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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 60 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 supervision 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 willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser performs certain oversight and supervisory functions with respect to Nuveen Asset Management and SSGA LTD as sub-advisers to their respective Funds, including: (i) conduct periodic analysis and review of the performance by Nuveen Asset Management and SSGA LTD of their obligations to their respective Funds and provide periodic reports to the Board regarding such performance; (ii) review any changes to Nuveen Asset Management and SSGA LTD’s ownership, management, or personnel responsible for performing its obligations to their respective Funds; and make appropriate reports to the Board (iii) perform periodic due diligence meetings with representatives of Nuveen Asset Management and SSGA LTD; and (iv) assist the Board and management of the Trust, as applicable, concerning the initial approval, continued retention or replacement of Nuveen Asset Management and SSGA LTD as sub-advisers to their respective Funds.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement regarding the Funds is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.

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. From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee. The Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, distribution fees pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee’s counsel fees), acquired fund fees and expenses, litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses.

For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Funds paid the following amounts to the Adviser:

 

FUND*

   2016     2015     2014  

SPDR Russell 3000 ETF

   $ 270,510      $ 290,076      $ 565,945   

SPDR Russell 1000 ETF

   $ 80,727      $ 57,509      $ 45,216   

SPDR Russell 2000 ETF

   $ 89,911      $ 77,730      $ 48,868 (2) 

SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF

   $ 387,938 (3)      N/A (1)      N/A (1) 

SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF

   $ 379,864 (3)      N/A (1)      N/A (1) 

SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF

   $ 399,430 (3)      N/A (1)      N/A (1) 

SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF

   $ 36,967      $ 15,216 (4)      N/A (1) 

SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF

   $ 918,162      $ 881,102      $ 645,618   

SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF

   $ 336,824      $ 410,866      $ 350,530   

SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF

   $ 9,918 (5)      N/A (1)      N/A (1) 

SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF

   $ 94,787 (6)      N/A (1)      N/A (1) 

SPDR S&P 1000 ETF

   $ 73,727      $ 85,806      $ 87,637   

SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF

   $ 438,591      $ 412,538      $ 358,766   

SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF

   $ 231,428      $ 226,681      $ 188,408   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF

   $ 607,910      $ 664,775      $ 814,657   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

   $ 906,528      $ 890,192      $ 825,218   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF

   $ 620,796      $ 675,754      $ 610,785   

SPDR Global Dow ETF

   $ 474,970 (7)    $ 551,429      $ 515,912   

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

   $ 7,995,955      $ 7,482,028      $ 5,678,054   

SPDR S&P Bank ETF

   $ 9,102,570      $ 9,008,439      $ 8,644,671   

SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF

   $ 387,768      $ 646,627      $ 484,652   

SPDR S&P Insurance ETF

   $ 1,809,367      $ 1,088,932      $ 1,198,155   

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

   $ 7,832,663      $ 7,208,156      $ 8,465,867   

SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF

   $ 1,589,193      $ 1,232,827      $ 1,028,908   

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF    

   $ 44,739,155      $ 47,133,133      $ 43,743,745   

 

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FUND*

   2016     2015     2014  

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF

   $ 529,236      $ 329,645      $ 124,660   

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

   $ 7,379,944      $ 5,771,382      $ 3,817,351   

SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF

   $ 169,322      $ 138,868      $ 94,778   

SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF

   $ 758,485      $ 460,478      $ 217,049   

SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF

   $ 5,874,314      $ 5,878,687      $ 6,836,827   

SPDR S&P Internet ETF

   $ 146 (8)      N/A (1)      N/A (1) 

SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF

   $ 1,219,209      $ 1,498,054      $ 2,081,197   

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF

   $ 682,411      $ 867,899      $ 1,037,175   

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

   $ 5,874,988      $ 4,784,315      $ 3,300,401   

SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF

   $ 2,462,210      $ 3,724,098      $ 2,472,057   

SPDR S&P Retail ETF

   $ 2,643,005      $ 3,658,416      $ 3,315,499   

SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF

   $ 615,094      $ 631,803      $ 351,192   

SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF

   $ 171,468      $ 110,892      $ 96,734   

SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF

   $ 146 (8)      N/A (1)      N/A (1) 

SPDR S&P Telecom ETF

   $ 99,614      $ 171,810      $ 44,247   

SPDR S&P Transportation ETF

   $ 822,905      $ 1,564,232      $ 314,670   

SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF

   $ 7,150      $ 23,541      $ 27,229   

SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF

   $ 18,823      $ 40,761      $ 40,465   

SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF

   $ 45,289      $ 28,204      $ 20,348   

SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF

   $ 50,913      $ 39,078      $ 25,645   

SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF

   $ 7,622      $ 1,874 (9)      N/A (1) 

SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF

   $ 1,727,583      $ 1,249,883      $ 1,152,878   

SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF

   $ 10,742 (10)      N/A (1)      N/A (1) 

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF

   $ 3,125,392      $ 1,690,004      $ 1,579,730   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF

   $ 974,668      $ 1,056,567      $ 1,134,992   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF

   $ 5,839      $ 7,994      $ 3,054 (11) 

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF

   $ 31,479      $ 19,474      $ 15,289   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury

   $ 72,429      $ 27,565      $ 21,341   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF

   $ 459,205      $ 232,877      $ 220,310   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF

   $ 354,576      $ 223,855      $ 71,416   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 5,082,528 (12)    $ 4,665,943      $ 3,887,496   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 1,234,736      $ 739,885      $ 653,011   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 218,898      $ 416,103      $ 141,871   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 40,984      $ 36,009      $ 47,920   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF

   $ 10,103,078      $ 11,696,202      $ 8,167,973   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF

   $ 352,666 (13)    $ 265,756      $ 209,120   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF

   $ 903,168 (14)    $ 1,149,113      $ 1,259,063   

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 4,865,442 (15)    $ 3,505,361      $ 2,920,079   

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 5,534,905      $ 4,859,696      $ 4,174,043   

SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 2,004,859 (16)    $ 1,851,793      $ 1,038,089   

SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF

   $ 3,228,104      $ 4,005,199      $ 5,111,803   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF

   $ 702,226      $ 935,156      $ 861,279   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF

   $ 7,592,536      $ 9,914,287      $ 10,449,544   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 781,381      $ 1,407,352      $ 1,308,755   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF

   $ 417,532      $ 547,505      $ 668,270   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

   $ 42,736,212      $ 40,619,269      $ 38,954,427   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

   $ 12,607,243      $ 16,798,537      $ 12,101,557   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF

   $ 642,378      $ 582,345      $ 471,167   

SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 144,312 (17)    $ 154,389      $ 111,760   

 

* Funds not listed in the table above had not commenced operations as of June 30, 2016.
(1) The Fund was not operational.
(2) The Fund commenced operations on July 9, 2013.
(3) The Fund commenced operations on December 3, 2015.
(4) The Fund commenced operations on February 5, 2015.
(5) The Fund commenced operations on October 22, 2015.
(6) The Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2015. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $18,957.

 

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(7) For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $116.
(8) The Fund commenced operations on June 28, 2016.
(9) The Fund commenced operations on April 16, 2015.
(10) The Fund commenced operations on January 14, 2016.
(11) The Fund commenced operations on February 27, 2014.
(12) For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $27,634.
(13) For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $70,534.
(14) For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $112,898.
(15) For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $1,167,823.
(16) For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $208,784.
(17) For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $37,025.

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the Funds and the Adviser, the Adviser is authorized to engage one or more sub-advisers for the performance of any of the services contemplated to be rendered by the Adviser. The Adviser has engaged the following sub-advisers.

 

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INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER- Municipal Bond ETFs

The Adviser has retained Nuveen Asset Management as sub-adviser, to be responsible for the day to day management of the Municipal Bond ETFs’ investments, subject to supervision of the Adviser and the Board. The Adviser provides administrative, compliance and general management services to the Municipal Bond ETFs. Nuveen Asset Management offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of mutual fund clients and has extensive experience in managing municipal securities. As of June 30, 2016, Nuveen Asset Management managed approximately $158 billion in assets. Nuveen Asset Management’s principal business address is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Asset Management is a subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, which is a subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”).

Nuveen Investments is an operating division of TIAA Global Asset Management (“TGAM”), the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”). TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund.

In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and Nuveen Asset Management, the Adviser pays Nuveen Asset Management an annual investment sub-advisory fee equal to 45% of the advisory fees paid by the Municipal Bond ETFs to the Adviser after deducting the payments to fund service providers and fund expenses. For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Adviser paid the following amounts to Nuveen Asset Management for its services:

 

FUND

   2016      2015      2014  

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 1,664,541       $ 862,384       $ 684,622   

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 1,141,838       $ 1,526,609       $ 1,209,068   

SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 669,513       $ 633,244       $ 371,344   

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ending June 30, 2016.

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER—SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF.

The Adviser has retained SSGA LTD, as sub-adviser, to be responsible for the day to day management of the International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF’s investments, subject to supervision of the Adviser and the Board. The Adviser provides administrative, compliance and general management services to the International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF. Since 1990, SSGA LTD has been providing investment management services including managing indexed fixed income portfolios. As of June 30, 2016, SSGA LTD managed approximately $297.2 billion in assets. SSGA LTD’s principal business address is 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom E14 5HJ.

In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and SSGA LTD, the Adviser will pay SSGA LTD an annual investment sub-advisory fee equal to 40% of the advisory fees paid by the International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF to the Adviser after deducting the payments to fund service providers and fund expenses. For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Adviser paid the following amounts to SSGA LTD for its services:

 

FUND*

   2016      2015      2014  

International Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 212,686       $ 403,394       $ 368,683   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF

   $ 74,415       $ 101,522       $ 106,034   

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.

 

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PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Adviser manages the Funds, Nuveen Asset Management manages the Municipal Bond ETFs, and SSGA LTD manages the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF using a team of investment professionals. The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of each Fund are:

 

Fund

  

Portfolio Managers

All Equity ETFs    Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF    Todd Bean, Sean Lussier and Jeff St. Peters

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF

SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF

   Mahesh Jayakumar, Cynthia Moy and James Kramer

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF

   Mahesh Jayakumar, Joanna Madden and Cynthia Moy
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF    Mahesh Jayakumar, Joanna Madden and James Kramer

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF

   Marc DiCosimo, Michael Przygoda and James Kramer
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF    Michael Brunell and Christopher DiStefano

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF

   Michael Brunell, Kyle Kelly and Bradley J. Sullivan
Municipal Bond ETFs    Timothy Ryan and Steven Hlavin

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF

   Kyle Kelly, Christopher DiStefano and Frank Miethe
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF    Patrick Bresnehan, Kyle Kelly and Christopher DiStefano
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF    Richard Darby-Dowman, Paul Brown and Peter Spano
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF    Abhishek Kumar, Peter Spano and Nicholas Fischer
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF    Thomas Connelley, Christopher DiStefano and Kyle Kelly

All ETFs except Municipal Bond ETFs, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF. 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 each Fund 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.

 

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Other Accounts Managed as of June 30, 2016

 

Portfolio Manager

   Registered
Investment
Company
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(billions) *
     Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(billions) *
     Other
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(billions) *
     Total
Assets
Managed
(billions) *
 

Mike Feehily

     112       $ 152.38         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 858.47   

John Tucker

     112       $ 152.38         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 858.47   

Karl Schneider

     112       $ 152.38         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 858.47   

Todd Bean

     12       $ 127.39         25       $ 106.77         86       $ 115.40       $ 349.56   

Sean Lussier

     12       $ 127.39         25       $ 106.77         86       $ 115.40       $ 349.56   

Jeff St. Peters

     12       $ 127.39         25       $ 106.77         86       $ 115.40       $ 349.56   

Joanna Madden

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Michael Brunell

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Kyle Kelly

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Patrick Bresnehan

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Mahesh Jayakumar

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Thomas Connelley

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Marc DiCosimo

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Christopher DiStefano

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Cynthia Moy

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Michael Przygoda

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

James Kramer

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

Frank Miethe

     11       $ 27.84         104       $ 60.34         142       $ 50.23       $ 138.40   

 

* There are no performance fees associated with these portfolios.

The following table lists the dollar range of Fund Shares beneficially owned by portfolio managers listed above as of June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Fund    Dollar Range of Trust
Shares Beneficially Owned

Mike Feehily

   SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF

SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

   $50,0001 - $100,000

$50,0001 - $100,000

$50,0001 - $100,000

$50,0001 - $100,000

John Tucker

   None    None

Karl Schneider

   None    None

Todd Bean

   None    None

Sean Lussier

   None    None

Jeff St. Peters

   None    None

Joanna Madden

   None    None

Michael Brunell

   SPDR Bloomberg
Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield
Bond ETF

   $1 - $10,000

$10,001 - $50,000

Kyle Kelly

   None    None

Patrick Bresnehan

   None    None

Mahesh Jayakumar

   None    None

Thomas Connelley

   None    None

Marc DiCosimo

   None    None

Christopher DiStefano

   None    None

Cynthia Moy

   None    None

Michael Przygoda

   None    None

James Kramer

   None    None

Frank Miethe

   None    None

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

 

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allocation of resources or of investment opportunities. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures 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 and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation among the portfolio managers’ accounts with the same strategy.

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 the portfolio managers’ responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio managers’ accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally devote 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. Another potential conflict may arise when the portfolio manager has an investment in one or more accounts that participate in transactions with other accounts. His or her 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 and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.

SSGA’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.

Compensation for SSGA’s staff is based on a number of factors, including external benchmarking data and market trends, State Street performance, SSGA performance, and individual performance. Each year SSGA’s Global Human Resources department participates in compensation surveys in order to provide SSGA with critical, market-based compensation information that helps support individual pay decisions. Additionally, subject to State Street and SSGA business results, State Street allocates an incentive pool to SSGA to reward its employees. Because the size of the incentive pool is based on the firm’s overall profitability and performance against risk-related goals, each staff member is motivated to contribute both as an individual and as a team member.

The discretionary allocation of the incentive pool to the business units within SSGA is influenced by market-based compensation data, as well as the overall performance of each group. 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 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 typically vests over a four-year period. This helps to retain staff and further aligns SSGA employees’ interests with SSGA clients’ and shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s rewards program enables the firm to effectively attract and retain talented professionals. The rewards program supports the attraction and retention of the key personnel needed to support SSGA’s long-term success. Funding for SSGA’s total rewards program is subject to affordability and is designed to be flexible based on firm performance. However, even in years when funding is constrained, SSGA differentiates pay in order to reward the highest performing teams and individuals.

SSGA 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 SSGA.

For Global Equity Beta team, incentive pool funding is influenced by 1 and 3-year tracking error.

 

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Municipal Bond ETFs. The following table lists the number and types of other accounts managed by each of the key professionals primarily involved in the day-to-day portfolio management for each Municipal Bond ETF 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 June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Registered
Investment
Company
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(billions) *
     Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(millions) *
     Other
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(millions) *
     Total
Assets
Managed
(billions) *
 

Timothy T. Ryan

     9       $ 7.77         0       $ 0         6       $ 907.6       $ 8.68   

Steven M. Hlavin

     13       $ 8.53         0       $ 0         1       $ 5.5       $ 8.54   

 

* There are no performance fees associated with these portfolios.

 

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The following table lists the dollar range of Fund Shares beneficially owned by portfolio managers listed above as of June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Fund    Dollar Range of Trust
Shares Beneficially Owned

Timothy T. Ryan

   None    None

Steven M. Hlavin

   None    None

Compensation. Portfolio manager compensation at Nuveen Asset Management consists primarily of base pay, an annual cash bonus and long-term incentive payments.

Base pay is determined based upon an analysis of the portfolio manager’s general performance, experience, and market levels of base pay for such position.

The portfolio managers are eligible for an annual cash bonus determined based on the particular portfolio manager’s investment performance, qualitative evaluation and financial performance of Nuveen Asset Management.

A portion of each portfolio manager’s annual cash bonus is based on a fund’s pre-tax investment performance, generally measured over the past one-, three- or five-year periods unless the portfolio manager’s tenure is shorter. Investment performance for each fund generally is determined by evaluating the fund’s performance relative to its benchmark(s) and/or Lipper industry peer group.

A portion of the cash bonus is based on a qualitative evaluation made by each portfolio manager’s supervisor taking into consideration a number of factors, including the portfolio manager’s team collaboration, expense management, support of personnel responsible for asset growth, and his or her compliance with Nuveen Asset Management’s policies and procedures.

The final factor influencing a portfolio manager’s cash bonus is the financial performance of Nuveen Asset Management based on its operating earnings.

Certain key employees of Nuveen Asset Management, including certain portfolio managers, have received profits interests in Nuveen Asset Management which entitle their holders to participate in the firm’s growth over time.

Material Conflicts of Interest. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple accounts are presented a number of potential conflicts, including, among others, those discussed below.

The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most accounts managed by a portfolio manager in a particular investment strategy are managed using the same investment models.

If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one account, an account may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible accounts. To deal with these situations, Nuveen Asset Management has adopted procedures for allocating limited opportunities across multiple accounts.

With respect to many of its clients’ accounts, Nuveen Asset Management determines which broker to use to execute transaction orders, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain other accounts, Nuveen Asset Management may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, Nuveen Asset Management may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Fund and other accounts which may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the other accounts.

 

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Some clients are subject to different regulations. As a consequence of this difference in regulatory requirements, some clients may not be permitted to engage in all the investment techniques or transactions or to engage in these transactions to the same extent as the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager. Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where Nuveen Asset Management has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of some accounts, with respect to which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.

Nuveen Asset Management has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts common among investment managers. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

SPDR International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF. The following table lists the number and types of other accounts managed by each of the key professionals primarily involved in the day-to-day portfolio management for the SPDR International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF 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 June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Registered
Investment
Company
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(billions) *
     Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(billions) *
     Other
Accounts
     Assets
Managed
(billions) *
     Total
Assets
Managed
(billions) *
 

Abhishek Kumar

     2       $ 1.94         0       $ 0         3       $ 0.85       $ 2.79   

Richard Darby-Dowman

     4       $ 0.67         2       $ 0.14         7       $ 2.88       $ 3.69   

Peter Spano

     0       $ 0         3       $ 2.14         6       $ 4.80       $ 6.94   

Paul Brown

     7       $ 1.12         2       $ 2.04         4       $ 2.38       $ 5.54   

Nicholas Fischer**

     5       $ 1.00         14       $ 6.63         12       $ 2.23       $ 9.96   

 

* There are no performance fees associated with these portfolios.
** Information provided as of August 31, 2016.

The following table lists the dollar range of Fund Shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers of the International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF as of June 30, 2016:

 

     Dollar Range of Fund
Shares Beneficially Owned
 

Abhishek Kumar

     None   

Richard Darby-Dowman

     None   

Peter Spano

     None   

Paul Brown

     None   

Nicholas Fischer*

     None   

 

* Information provided as of August 31, 2016.

The compensation of SSGA LTD’s investment professionals is based on a number of factors. The first factor considered is external market. Through a compensation survey process, the Adviser seeks to understand what its competitors are paying people to perform similar roles. This data is then used to determine a competitive baseline in the areas of base pay, bonus, and long term incentive (i.e. equity). The second factor taken into consideration is the size of the pool available for this compensation. SSGA LTD is a part of State Street Corporation, and therefore works within its corporate environment on determining the overall level of its incentive compensation pool. Once determined, this pool is then allocated to the various locations and departments of the Adviser and its affiliates. The discretionary determination of the allocation amounts to these locations and departments is influenced by the competitive market data, as well as the overall performance of the group. The pool is then allocated on a discretionary basis to individual employees based on their individual performance. There is no fixed formula for determining these amounts, nor is anyone’s compensation directly tied to the investment performance or asset value of a product or strategy. The same process is followed in determining incentive equity allocations.

 

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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 fund. 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. SSGA LTD has adopted policies and procedures 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, SSGA LTD and its advisory affiliates have processes and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation among the portfolio manager’s accounts with the same strategy.

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 the portfolio managers’ responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio managers’ accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally devote 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 Fund. 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 the Fund maintained its position in that security.

A potential conflict may arise when 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. Another potential conflict may arise when the portfolio manager has an investment in one or more accounts that participate in transactions with other accounts. His or her investment(s) may create an incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another. SSGA LTD 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, SSGA LTD and its advisory affiliates have processes and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.

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 Administration Agreement”). Pursuant to the SSGA 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 Administration Agreement, manage all of the business and affairs of the Trust.

Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. Prior to June 1, 2015, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) served as the Trust’s administrator, pursuant to an Administration Agreement dated September 22, 2000 (the “SSB Administration Agreement”). As compensation for its services under the SSB Administration Agreement, State Street received a fee for its services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds (“SIS”), of 0.0225% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0075% thereafter.

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 sub-administrative services to the Trust and its series. State Street is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company, and is affiliated with the Adviser. State Street’s mailing address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

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 Fund 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”).

 

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Compensation. As compensation for their services provided under the SSGA Administration and Sub-Administration agreements, SSGA FM and State Street, respectively, shall receive fees for the services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds, of 0.0225% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0075% thereafter.

As compensation for its services under the Custodian Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement, State Street shall receive a fee for its services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, State Street shall receive 0.0025% on the first $50 billion, 0.0020% on the next $50 billion and 0.0010% thereafter. In addition, under the Custody Agreement State Street shall be entitled to fees for fund accounting services and shall receive 0.0150% for the first $12.5 billion and 0.0025% thereafter. State Street shall also be entitled to specialized custody, ETF accounting services and transfer agency fees and shall receive 0.0050% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0030% thereafter. For each series of the Trust, a $110,000 annual minimum fee applies. The greater of the minimum fee or the asset based fee will be charged. 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.

THE DISTRIBUTOR

State Street Global Markets, LLC is the principal underwriter and Distributor of Shares. Its principal address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. 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 (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. 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. 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. As of the date of this SAI, the Adviser and/or Distributor had arrangements to make payments, other than for the educational programs and marketing activities described above, only to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”). Pursuant to these arrangements, Schwab and RBC have agreed to promote 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. These amounts, which may be significant, are paid by the Adviser and/or Distributor from their own resources and not from Fund assets. In addition, the Adviser or Distributor, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor, as well as an index provider that is not affiliated with the Adviser or Distributor, may also reimburse expenses or make payments from their own assets to other persons in consideration of services or other activities that they believe may benefit the SPDR business or facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

Each Fund, except for the SPDR Russell 3000 ETF, has adopted a Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Plan (a “Plan”) pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% may be made. No payments pursuant to the Plan will be made during the next twelve (12) months of operation. Under its terms, the Plan remains in effect from year to year, provided such continuance is approved annually by vote of the Board, including a majority of the “Independent Trustees” (Trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreement related to the Plan). The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services provided by the Distributor without approval by the shareholders of the relevant Fund to which the Plan applies, and all material amendments of the Plan also require Board approval (as described above). The Plan may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund (as such vote is defined in the 1940 Act). Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor will provide the Board with periodic reports of any amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made.

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).

 

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The allocation among the Trust’s series of fees and expenses payable under the Distribution Agreement will be made pro rata in accordance with the daily net assets of the respective series.

The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Unit aggregations of Fund Shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Participating Parties (as defined in the “Book Entry Only System” section below) and 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.

INDEX PROVIDER AND OTHER PERSONS

An unaffiliated index provider may make payments from its own assets to other persons in consideration for services provided or other activities that may facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities for each Fund is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Trust believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude a Fund and the Adviser from obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Adviser relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not ascertainable. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of a Fund’s Shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.

In selecting a broker/dealer for each specific transaction, the Adviser chooses the broker/dealer deemed most capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable execution and does not take the sale of Fund Shares into account. The Adviser considers the full range of brokerage services applicable to a particular transaction that may be considered when making this judgment, which may include, but is not limited to: liquidity, price, commission, timing, aggregated trades, capable floor brokers or traders, competent block trading coverage, ability to position, capital strength and stability, reliable and accurate communications and settlement processing, use of automation, knowledge of other buyers or sellers, arbitrage skills, administrative ability, underwriting and provision of information on a particular security or market in which the transaction is to occur. The specific criteria will vary depending upon the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select from among multiple broker/dealers. The Adviser will also use electronic crossing networks when appropriate.

 

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The Adviser does not currently use the Funds’ assets for, or participate in, third party soft dollar arrangements, although the Adviser may receive proprietary research from various full service brokers, the cost of which is bundled with the cost of the broker’s execution services. The Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research. The Adviser may aggregate trades with clients of SSGA, whose commission dollars may be used to generate soft dollar credits for SSGA. Although the Adviser’s clients’ commissions are not used for third party soft dollars, the Adviser’s and SSGA’s clients may benefit from the soft dollar products/services received by SSGA.

The Adviser assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of the Trust for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Trust and one or more other investment companies or clients supervised by the Adviser are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to all by the Adviser. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security so far as the Trust is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions will be beneficial to the Trust. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.

Nuveen. Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for certain Funds, the negotiation of the prices to be paid or received for principal trades, and the allocation of its transactions among various dealer firms. Portfolio securities will normally be purchased directly from an underwriter in a new issue offering or in the over-the-counter secondary market from the principal dealers in such securities, unless it appears that a better price or execution may be obtained elsewhere. Portfolio securities will not be purchased from Nuveen Asset Management or its affiliates except in compliance with the 1940 Act.

Nuveen Asset Management expects that substantially all portfolio transactions will be effected on a principal (as opposed to an agency) basis and, accordingly, do not expect to pay significant amounts of brokerage commissions. Brokerage will not be allocated based on the sale of a Fund’s shares. Purchases from underwriters will include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers will include the spread between the bid and asked price. It is the policy of Nuveen Asset Management to seek the best execution under the circumstances of each trade. Nuveen Asset Management evaluates price as the primary consideration, with the financial condition, reputation and responsiveness of the dealer considered secondarily in determining best execution. Given the best execution obtainable, it may be Nuveen Asset Management’s practice to select dealers that, in addition, furnish research information (primarily credit analyses of issuers and general economic reports) and statistical and other services to Nuveen Asset Management. It is not possible to place a dollar value on information and statistical and other services received from dealers. Since it is only supplementary to Nuveen Asset Management’s own research efforts, the receipt of research information is not expected to reduce significantly Nuveen Asset Management’s expenses. For certain secondary market transactions where the execution capability of two brokers is judged to be of substantially similar quality, Nuveen Asset Management may randomly select one of them. Nuveen Asset Management may manage other investment companies and investment accounts for other clients that have investment objectives similar to certain Funds. Subject to applicable laws and regulations, Nuveen Asset Management seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by a Fund and another advisory account. In making such allocations the main factors to be considered will be the respective investment objectives, the relative size of the portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment or need to raise cash, and the size of investment commitments generally held. While this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities (or, in the case of dispositions, the demand for securities) available to a Fund from time to time, Nuveen Asset Management believes that the benefits available will outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions.

The Funds will not deal with affiliates in principal transactions unless permitted by exemptive order or applicable rule or regulation.

 

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The table below shows the aggregate dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Equity ETFs for the fiscal years ended June 30. None of the brokerage commissions paid were paid to affiliated brokers and the Fixed Income ETFs (except SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF) did not pay any brokerage commissions. Brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may be substantially different from year to year for multiple reasons, including market volatility and the demand for a particular Fund.

 

FUND(1)

   2016      2015      2014  

SPDR Russell 3000 ETF

   $ 3,108       $ 3,819       $ 1,688   

SPDR Russell 1000 ETF

   $ 481       $ 255       $ 41   

SPDR Russell 2000 ETF(2)

   $ 3166       $ 1,908       $ 383   

SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF(3)

   $ 13,350         N/A         N/A   

SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF(3)

   $ 18,935         N/A         N/A   

SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF(3)

   $ 8,747         N/A         N/A   

SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF(4)

   $ 1,144       $ 195         N/A   

SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF

   $ 14,486       $ 1,252       $ 606   

SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF

   $ 6,915       $ 1,252       $ 1,040   

SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF(5)

   $ 456         N/A         N/A   

SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF(6)

   $ 334         N/A         N/A   

SPDR S&P 1000 ETF

   $ 3,125       $ 2,719       $ 2,183   

SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF

   $ 22,509       $ 6,477       $ 2,109   

SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF

   $ 13,175       $ 3,973       $ 805   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF

   $ 20,738       $ 8,327       $ 1,073   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

   $ 64,269       $ 11,203       $ 0   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF

   $ 47,394       $ 9,290       $ 793   

SPDR Global Dow ETF

   $ 5,021       $ 6,511       $ 2,892   

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

   $ 51,751       $ 14,435       $ 11,437   

SPDR S&P Bank ETF

   $ 332,739       $ 40,257       $ 11,492   

SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF

   $ 7,312       $ 4,912       $ 362   

SPDR S&P Insurance ETF

   $ 30,113       $ 3,560       $ 1,429   

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

   $ 554,782       $ 70,535       $ 4,535   

SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF

   $ 21,022       $ 9,245       $ 502   

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

   $ 490,752       $ 355,602       $ 71,928   

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF

   $ 5,318       $ 3,266       $ 53   

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

   $ 612,010       $ 258,432       $ 14,487   

SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF

   $ 4,182       $ 2,826       $ 1   

SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF

   $ 12,407       $ 4,873       $ 632   

SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF

   $ 121,170       $ 29,030       $ 4,918   

SPDR S&P Internet ETF(7)

   $ 61         N/A         N/A   

SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF

   $ 118,865       $ 38,069       $ 6,522   

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF

   $ 45,538       $ 22,897       $ 0   

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

   $ 537,494       $ 256,099       $ 1,554   

SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF

   $ 115,157       $ 93,363       $ 1,235   

SPDR S&P Retail ETF

   $ 73,703       $ 46,662       $ 1,780   

SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF

   $ 26,965       $ 11,655       $ 0   

SPDR S&P Software Services ETF

   $ 7,061       $ 1,452       $ 6   

SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF(7)

   $ 75         N/A         N/A   

SPDR S&P Telecom ETF

   $ 4,683       $ 7,431       $ 373   

SPDR S&P Transportation ETF

   $ 13,291       $ 9,131       $ 113   

SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF

   $ 120       $ 166       $ 44   

SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF

   $ 2,421       $ 1,042       $ 822   

SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF

   $ 3,271       $ 827       $ 23   

SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF

   $ 6,348       $ 943       $ 266   

SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF

   $ 31,319       $ 21,694       $ 3,426   

SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF(8)

   $ 270       $ 53       $ N/A   

SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF(9)

   $ 202         N/A         N/A   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF

   $ 5,359       $ 2,250       $ 64,411   

 

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(1) Equity ETFs not listed in the table above had not commenced operations as of June 30, 2015.
(2) The Fund commenced operations on July 9, 2013.
(3) The Fund commenced operations on December 3, 2015.
(4) The Fund commenced operations on February 5, 2015.
(5) The Fund commenced operations on October 22, 2015.
(6) The Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2015
(7) The Fund commenced operations on June 28, 2016.
(8) The Fund commenced operations on April 16, 2015.
(9) The Fund commenced operations on January 14, 2016.

 

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Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealer.” Each Fund 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.

Holdings in Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers as of June 30, 2016.

 

Wells Fargo & Co.

   $ 316,580,945   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   $ 211,418,535   

Citigroup, Inc.

   $ 194,006,460   

Bank of America Corp.

   $ 191,320,915   

Merrill Lynch

   $ 160,490,086   

Goldman Sachs & Co.

   $ 154,893,283   

Morgan Stanley

   $ 150,691,969   

Deutsche Bank

   $ 92,402,994   

Credit Suisse

   $ 60,315,849   

Royal Bank of Canada

   $ 52,081,910   

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 portfolio turnover rate for each Fund is expected to be under 100%, except with respect to the SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF, SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF, which may experience significantly higher turnover. The Funds may also experience higher portfolio turnover when migrating to a different benchmark index. 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 the FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (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

 

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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.

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

Although the Funds do not have information concerning their beneficial ownership held in the names of DTC Participants, as of October 7, 2016, the names, addresses and percentage ownership of each DTC Participant that owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding Shares of the Funds were as follows:

 

Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 

SPDR RUSSELL 3000 ETF

  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     19.29
  

LPL Financial Corporation

4707 Executive Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     15.44
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     13.14
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     7.48
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.06

SPDR RUSSELL 1000 ETF

  

LPL Financial Corporation

4707 Executive Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     30.55
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     18.69

 

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Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     15.20%   
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     7.83%   
SPDR RUSSELL 2000 ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     35.56%   
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     10.39%   
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     9.56%   
  

LPL Financial Corporation

4707 Executive Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     7.79%   
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     6.13%   
SPDR RUSSELL 1000 YIELD FOCUS ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     99.36%   
SPDR RUSSELL 1000 MOMENTUM FOCUS ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     97.33%   
SPDR RUSSELL 1000 LOW VOLATILITY FOCUS ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     88.92%   
SPDR S&P 500 BUYBACK ETF   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.*

1 Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

     25.30%   
  

JPMorgan Clearing Corp.

3 Chase Metrotech Center

7th Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11245

     10.97%   
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     9.73%   
  

LPL Financial Corporation

4707 Executive Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     7.92%   

 

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Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

KCG Americas LLC

545 Washington Boulevard

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     6.07
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     5.43
SPDR S&P 500 GROWTH ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     23.87
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     15.56
  

LPL Financial Corporation

4707 Executive Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     7.05
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     6.39
SPDR S&P 500 VALUE ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     20.54
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     16.02
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     13.09
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     7.29
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     7.23
SPDR S&P 500 HIGH DIVIDEND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     29.90
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     23.90
  

E*Trade Clearing LLC

Harborside Financial Center

34 Exchange Place, Plaza II – 4th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     7.20
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     7.17
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     5.43

 

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Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

Scottrade Inc.

700 Maryville Centre Drive

Saint Louis, MO 63141

     5.08
SPDR S&P 500 FOSSIL FUEL RESERVES FREE ETF   

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

     50.58
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     13.32
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     13.08
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     6.78
SPDR S&P 1000 ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     26.49
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     24.24
  

Fifth Third Bank

34 Fountain Square Plaza

Cincinnati, OH 45202

     8.77
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     8.57
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     5.94
SPDR S&P 400 MID CAP GROWTH ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     59.15
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     6.41
SPDR S&P 400 MID CAP VALUE ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     45.50
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company- State Street Total ETF

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     15.15
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     7.75
SPDR S&P 600 SMALL CAP ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     17.76

 

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Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     15.12%   
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     10.91%   
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     6.89%   
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     5.46%   
SPDR S&P 600 SMALL CAP GROWTH ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     55.42%   
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     7.43%   
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     5.10%   
SPDR S&P 600 SMALL CAP VALUE ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     55.47%   
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     8.32%   
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     6.84%   
SPDR GLOBAL DOW ETF   

SEI Private Trust Company

1 Freedom Valley Drive

Oaks, PA 19456

     11.81%   
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     11.49%   
  

CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc.

85 Richmond Street West

Toronto, ON M5H 2C9 CANADA

     10.11%   
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     8.57%   
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     8.47%   
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     6.83%   

 

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Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     5.35
  

JPMorgan Clearing Corp.

3 Chase Metrotech Center

7th Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11245

     5.31
SPDR DOW JONES REIT ETF   

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     14.16
  

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60675

     11.17
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     10.57
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     10.17
  

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

733 Marquette Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55479

     8.61
  

Bank of America N.A./ GWIM TRUST OPERATIONS

414 N. Akard Street, 5th Floor

Dallas, TX 75201

     5.03
SPDR S&P BANK ETF   

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

     23.22
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     12.08
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     11.03
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     6.86
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     5.38
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Parkway

Chase International Plaza

Dallas, TX 75254

     5.21
SPDR S&P CAPITAL MARKETS ETF   

Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.

777 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53202

     21.82
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     16.81

 

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Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     12.36
SPDR S&P INSURANCE ETF   

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     57.05
  

BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc./CDS

1 First Canadian Place, Suite 1300

Toronto, ON M5X 1H3 CANADA

     6.35
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.37
SPDR S&P REGIONAL BANKING ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     9.52
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     8.73
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     7.72
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     7.62
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     7.22
SPDR MORGAN STANLEY TECHNOLOGY ETF   

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60675

     22.46
  

Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.

777 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53202

     16.11
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     13.01
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     9.92
SPDR S&P DIVIDEND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     18.34
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     13.47
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     7.83

 

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Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     6.29
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     5.04
SPDR S&P AEROSPACE & DEFENSE ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     28.91
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     8.16
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     7.13
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     7.06
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     6.49
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     6.46
SPDR S&P BIOTECH ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     14.70
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     11.93
  

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

     5.90
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     5.86
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     5.50
SPDR S&P HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     31.78
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     27.21
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     7.89

 

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Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     6.06
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     5.92
SPDR S&P HEALTH CARE SERVICES ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     18.59
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     11.06
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     8.69
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.83
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     5.05
SPDR S&P HOMEBUILDERS ETF   

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     12.24
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     10.33
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     8.68
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     7.65
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Parkway

Chase International Plaza

Dallas, TX 75254

     7.30
SPDR S&P INTERNET ETF   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.*

1 Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

     80.32
  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     15.59
SPDR S&P METALS & MINING ETF   

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     11.13
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     11.02

 

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Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     9.52
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     7.21
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     5.78
SPDR S&P OIL & GAS EQUIPMENT & SERVICES ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     17.90
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     10.95
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     8.96
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     6.36
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     5.38
SPDR S&P OIL & GAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION ETF   

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     9.67
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     8.93
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     8.47
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     6.94
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     6.45
SPDR S&P PHARMACEUTICALS ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     15.49
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     12.10
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     10.42
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     6.78

 

61


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     6.03
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     5.21
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     5.00
SPDR S&P RETAIL ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company- State Street Total ETF

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     15.67
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     12.70
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     8.19
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     6.91
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     6.45
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     5.63
SPDR S&P SEMICONDUCTOR ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     18.19
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     12.68
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     8.82
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     8.00
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     7.63
SPDR S&P SOFTWARE & SERVICES ETF   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

525 Washington Blvd.

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     24.00

 

62


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     15.47
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     11.89
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     9.34
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     6.89
  

Deutsche Bank AG New York

60 Wall Street

25th Floor

New York, NY 10005

     5.33
SPDR S&P TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE ETF   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.*

1 Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

     93.75
SPDR S&P TELECOM ETF   

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     17.92
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     9.89
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     9.78
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     9.31
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     6.96
  

Fifth Third Bank

34 Fountain Square Plaza

Cincinnati, OH 45202

     5.27
SPDR S&P TRANSPORTATION ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     16.95
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     8.83
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     7.98
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     7.64

 

63


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     6.26
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     5.53
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     5.43
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     5.04
SPDR S&P 1500 VALUE TILT ETF   

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     42.69
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     10.55
  

Timber Hill LLC

2 Pickwick Plaza

Greenwich, CT 06830

     8.40
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     7.72
SPDR S&P 1500 MOMENTUM TILT ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     39.96
  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.*

1 Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

     19.97
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     7.69
  

KCG Americas LLC

545 Washington Boulevard

Jersey City, NJ 07310

     5.00
SPDR RUSSELL 1000 LOW VOLATILITY ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     38.24
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     27.76
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     6.74
SPDR RUSSELL 2000 LOW VOLATILITY ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     23.96
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     15.90

 

64


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.

2723 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

     11.68
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     9.26
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     8.45
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     5.25
SPDR MSCI USA STRATEGICFACTORS ETF   

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     37.28
  

LPL Financial Corporation

4707 Executive Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     18.81
  

Cantor Fitzgerald and CO.

499 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10022

     18.08
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     6.14
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     5.06
SPDR WELLS FARGO PREFERRED STOCK ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     16.16
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     15.80
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     7.26
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     7.15
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     6.32
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.85
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     5.32

 

65


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
SPDR FACTSET INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ETF   

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Parkway

Chase International Plaza

Dallas, TX 75254

     50.06
  

UBS Securities LLC

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

     33.75
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS 1-3 MONTH T-BILL ETF   

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     18.10
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     11.48
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     7.68
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     7.16
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     6.54
  

American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.

2723 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

     5.66
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS TIPS ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     50.80
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     6.40
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS 0-5YEAR TIPS ETF   

FOLIOfn Investments, Inc.

8180 Greensboro Drive, 8th Floor

McLean, VA 22102

     21.79
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     19.45
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     15.38
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     10.02
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     9.90
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     6.79

 

66


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS 1-10 YEAR TIPS ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     71.84
  

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

     8.54
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     5.27
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     5.23
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM TREASURY ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     18.87
  

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60675

     14.44
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     13.79
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     9.04
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     7.29
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     5.50
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     5.47
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.08
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERMEDIATE TERM TREASURY ETF   

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     17.88
  

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     11.87
  

Stephens Inc.

175 Federal Street #900

Boston, MA 02110

     8.95
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     7.93

 

67


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     7.13
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     6.37
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     6.35
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     6.26
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS LONG TERM TREASURY ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     35.20
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     19.68
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     9.45
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     25.53
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     10.48
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     9.60
  

Bank of America N.A./ GWIM TRUST OPERATIONS

414 N. Akard Street, 5th Floor

Dallas, TX 75201

     7.64
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     5.40
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERMEDIATE TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     17.37
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     13.47
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     10.52
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     7.65

 

68


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     6.57
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     5.76
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS LONG TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     12.63
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     11.99
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     10.73
  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Parkway

Chase International Plaza

Dallas, TX 75254

     8.34
  

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

     7.11
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS ISSUER SCORED CORPORATE BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     56.01
  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.*

1 Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

     17.28
  

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

     6.18
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     9.61
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     9.49
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     7.31
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     6.49
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.34

 

69


Table of Contents
`Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     5.25
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     5.01
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS MORTGAGE BACKED BOND ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     30.81
  

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     29.79
  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     13.39
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     5.24
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS AGGREGATE BOND ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     46.99
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     14.94
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     7.65
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     5.54
SPDR NUVEEN BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS MUNICIPAL BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     15.70
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     12.98
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     11.95
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     11.61
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     8.46
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     6.76

 

70


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
SPDR NUVEEN BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM MUNICIPAL BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     15.82
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     13.18
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     12.53
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     10.58
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     6.35
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     5.33
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.30
SPDR NUVEEN S&P HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     18.42
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     15.56
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     10.65
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     7.95
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     5.88
SPDR CITI INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT INFLATION-PROTECTED BOND ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     20.26
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     14.61
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     8.94
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     8.73

 

71


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     5.30
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.26
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM INTERNATIONAL TREASURY BOND ETF   

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     24.92
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     24.81
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     10.32
  

Fidelity Clearing Canada ULC/CDS

483 Bay Street, Suite 200

Toronto, ON M5G 2N7 Canada

     5.71
  

SEI Private Trust Company

1 Freedom Valley Drive

Oaks, PA 19456

     5.27
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERNATIONAL TREASURY BOND ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     12.80
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     11.39
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     11.32
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     8.32
  

LPL Financial Corporation

4707 Executive Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     7.61
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     7.07
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.62
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     27.79
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     14.22
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     9.15

 

72


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, NJ 07086

     5.97
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS EMERGING MARKETS LOCAL BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     10.73
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     10.46
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     9.85
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     9.36
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     5.72
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     5.63
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     5.32
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS HIGH YIELD BOND ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     12.87
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     12.70
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     7.12
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     6.96
  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     6.29
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     5.04
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM HIGH YIELD BOND ETF   

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     22.76
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     8.44

 

73


Table of Contents
Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
  

American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.

2723 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, MN 55474

     7.75
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     7.60
  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     5.85
  

First Clearing LLC

1 North Jefferson Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

     5.73
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INVESTMENT GRADE FLOATING RATE ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     31.59
  

Citibank, N.A.

3800 Citigroup Center Tampa

Tampa, FL 33610

     21.94
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     12.30
  

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60675

     7.39
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     6.76
SPDR BOFA MERRILL LYNCHCROSSOVER CORPORATE BOND ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     21.15
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     20.45
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     13.88
  

JPMorgan Clearing Corp.

3 Chase Metrotech Center

7th Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11245

     8.79
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     6.22
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     5.10

 

* Percentages referenced in this table for Merrill Lynch may also include Shares held at ML SFKPG.

 

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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 a Fund, may be affiliated with an index provider, may be deemed to have control of the applicable Fund and/or may be able to affect the outcome of matters presented for a vote of the shareholders of the Fund. Authorized Participants may execute an irrevocable proxy granting the Distributor or another affiliate of State Street (the “Agent”) power to vote or abstain from voting such Authorized Participant’s beneficially or legally owned Shares of a 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.

As of October 7, 2016, to the knowledge of the Trust, the following persons held of record or beneficially through one or more accounts 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 
SPDR RUSSELL 1000 ETF   

LPL Financial Corporation

4707 Executive Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     30.55
SPDR RUSSELL 2000 ETF   

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     35.56
SPDR RUSSELL 1000 YIELD FOCUS ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     99.36
SPDR RUSSELL 1000 MOMENTUM FOCUS ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     97.33
SPDR RUSSELL 1000 LOW VOLATILITY FOCUS ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     88.92
SPDR S&P 500 BUYBACK ETF   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.*

1 Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

     25.30
SPDR S&P 500 HIGH DIVIDEND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     29.90
SPDR S&P 500 FOSSIL FUEL RESERVES FREE ETF   

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

     50.58
SPDR S&P 1000 ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     26.49
SPDR S&P 400 MID CAP GROWTH ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     59.15

 

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SPDR S&P 400 MID CAP VALUE ETF

  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     45.50

SPDR S&P 600 SMALL CAP GROWTH ETF

  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     55.42

SPDR S&P 600 SMALL CAP VALUE ETF

  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     55.47

SPDR S&P INSURANCE ETF

  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     57.05

SPDR S&P AEROSPACE & DEFENSE ETF

  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     28.91

SPDR S&P HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT ETF

  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     31.78
  

ML SFKPG

4 Corporate Place

Piscataway, NJ 08854

     27.21

SPDR S&P INTERNET ETF

  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.*

1 Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

     80.32

SPDR S&P TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE ETF

  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.*

1 Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

     93.75

SPDR S&P 1500 VALUE TILT ETF

  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     42.69

SPDR S&P 1500 MOMENTUM TILT ETF

  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     39.96

SPDR RUSSELL 1000 LOW VOLATILITY ETF

  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     38.24
  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1 Harborside Financial Center, Plaza II

Jersey City, NJ 07311

     27.76

SPDR MSCI USA STRATEGICFACTORS ETF

  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     37.28

SPDR FACTSET INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ETF

  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

14201 Dallas Parkway

Chase International Plaza

Dallas, TX 75254

     50.06
  

UBS Securities LLC

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

     33.75

SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS TIPS ETF

  

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     50.80

 

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SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS 1-10 YEAR TIPS ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     71.84
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS LONG TERM TREASURY ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     35.20
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS SHORT TERM CORPORATE BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     25.53
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS ISSUER SCORED CORPORATE BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     56.01
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS MORTGAGE BACKED BOND ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     30.81
  

The Bank of New York Mellon/ Mellon Trust of New England, National Association

Three Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15259

     29.79
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS AGGREGATE BOND ETF   

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10286

     46.99
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE BOND ETF   

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     27.79
SPDR BLOOMBERG BARCLAYS INVESTMENT GRADE FLOATING RATE ETF   

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     31.59

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as a group, own less than 1% of the Trust’s voting securities as of the date of this SAI.

 

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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,” either principally in-kind for securities included in the relevant Index or in cash for the value of such securities. The value of a 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 Equity ETF is in-kind. The principal consideration for creations and redemptions for each Fixed Income ETF is set forth in the table below:

 

FUND

   CREATION*    REDEMPTION*
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF    Cash    Cash
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF    In-Kind**    In-Kind**
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF    Cash    In-Kind
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF    Cash    In-Kind
SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF    Cash    In-Kind
SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind
SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF    In-Kind    In-Kind

 

* May be revised at any time without notice. Funds that effect redemptions principally for cash, rather than primarily in-kind, may be less tax efficient than investments in conventional ETFs.
** Cash is to be provided in lieu of TBA positions.

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 Veterans Day and Columbus Day.

FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of a Fund generally consists of either (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit, constituting a substantial replication, or a portfolio sampling representation, of the securities included in the relevant Fund’s benchmark Index and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) 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

 

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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), 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, immediately 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 Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for a Fund. Such 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 changes as rebalancing adjustments, interest payments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser 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. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of a Fund’s Index.

The Trust intends to require the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount) to replace any Deposit Security that is a TBA transaction. The amount of cash contributed will be equivalent to the price of the TBA transaction listed as a Deposit Security. 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 or the Federal Reserve System for U.S. Treasury 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: (i) permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash; and (ii) include or remove Deposit Securities from the basket in anticipation of index rebalancing changes. 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, in the composition of the subject Index being tracked by the relevant Fund or 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”), and, with respect to the Fixed Income ETFs (except the International Treasury Bond ETFs), must have the ability to clear through the Federal Reserve 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.

 

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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.

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 on such Business Day. 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” for a Fund is generally the third Business Day, or in the case of the, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF, the first Business Day, 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 third 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.

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

 

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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 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 absolute 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; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the 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) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; (g) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (h) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent 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.

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 immediately 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 each Fund’s portfolio securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities.

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 Fund Securities—as announced by the Custodian on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form 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 Fund 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 Fund 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: (i) the Trust will substitute a cash in lieu amount to replace any Fund Security that is a TBA transaction and the amount of cash paid out in such cases will be equivalent to the value of the TBA transaction listed as a Fund Security and (ii) 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 Fund Securities.

 

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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 Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to the Authorized Participant by the Settlement Date. With respect to in-kind redemptions of a Fund, the calculation of the value of the Fund 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 a Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund are not delivered by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time (per applicable instructions) on the Settlement Date, the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities are customarily traded (or such other arrangements as allowed by the Trust or its agents), to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within three Business Days of the trade date. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than three business days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. The section below entitled “Local Market Holiday Schedules” identifies the instances where more than seven days would be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Pursuant to an order of the SEC, in respect of each Fund, the Trust will make delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds within the number of days stated in the Local Market Holidays section to be the maximum number of days necessary to deliver redemption proceeds. If the Authorized Participant has not made appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities but does not differ in net asset value.

An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to represent to the Trust that it (or its client) (i) owns outright or has full legal authority and legal beneficial right to tender for redemption the requisite number of Shares to be redeemed and can receive the entire proceeds of the redemption, and (ii) the Shares to be redeemed have not been loaned or pledged to another party nor are they the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or such other arrangement which would preclude the delivery of such Shares to the Trust. 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities.

 

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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 FOR CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL FUNDS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as described in the Participant Agreement and the applicable order form, certain Funds may require orders to be placed up to one or more Business Days 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. 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 Fund 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*, **
 

SPDR Russell 3000 ETF

   $ 2,500       $ 10,000   

SPDR Russell 1000 ETF

   $ 2,000       $ 8,000   

SPDR Russell 2000 ETF

   $ 2,500       $ 10,000   

SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF

   $ 1,000       $ 4,000   

SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF

   $ 2,000       $ 8,000   

SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 6,000   

SPDR S&P 500 Buyback ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF

   $ 1,000       $ 4,000   

SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF

   $ 1,000       $ 4,000   

SPDR S&P 500 High Dividend ETF

   $ 250       $ 750   

SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 4,500   

SPDR S&P 1000 ETF

   $ 2,000       $ 8,000   

SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF

   $ 1,000       $ 4,000   

SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF

   $ 1,000       $ 4,000   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF

   $ 3,000       $ 12,000   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 6,000   

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 6,000   

SPDR Global Dow ETF

   $ 1,000       $ 4,000   

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

   $ 1,000       $ 4,000   

SPDR S&P Bank ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Insurance ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Internet ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF    

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

 

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FUND

   TRANSACTION
FEE*, **
     MAXIMUM
TRANSACTION
FEE*, **
 

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Retail ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Telecom ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P Transportation ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF

   $ 3,000       $ 12,000   

SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF

   $ 3,000       $ 12,000   

SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR Russell 2000 Low Volatility ETF

   $ 300       $ 1,200   

SPDR MSCI USA Strategic Factors ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 4,500   

SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF

   $ 750       $ 3,000   

SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays TIPS ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF

   $ 50       $ 150   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF

   $ 50       $ 200   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Treasury ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Treasury ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Treasury ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Long Term Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Issuer Scored Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

SPDR Citi International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 6,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 6,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 6,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 6,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF

   $ 1,500       $ 6,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

   $ 500       $ 2,000   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF

   $ 200       $ 800   

SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF

   $ 250       $ 1,000   

 

* 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.

 

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** 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 applicable Prospectus entitled “PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION” and “ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION.”

Net asset value 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 net asset value. The net asset value of a Fund is calculated by State Street and determined 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. Fixed-income assets are generally valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments in a particular market or exchange. 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), (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) or (iii) based on amortized cost. A 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, a 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. The Adviser may use various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service, as approved by the Board from time to time. A price obtained from a pricing service based on such pricing service’s valuation matrix may be considered a market valuation.

In the event that current market valuations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, the Trust’s procedures require the Oversight Committee to determine a security’s fair value if a market price is not readily available. In determining such value the Oversight Committee 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, market indices, and prices from each Fund’s Index Provider). In these cases, the Fund’s net asset value may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices. The fair value of a portfolio 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. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a Fund’s net asset value and the prices used by the Fund’s benchmark Index. This may result in a difference between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the applicable Fund’s benchmark Index. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in each Prospectus entitled “DISTRIBUTIONS.”

GENERAL POLICIES

Dividends from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid monthly by each Fixed Income ETF and quarterly for each Equity ETF, but may vary significantly from period to period. 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 for a Fund to improve index tracking or 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.

 

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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 discussions in the Prospectuses. 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 each 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 Prospectuses entitled “ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION.”

TAXATION OF THE FUNDS. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. A Fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein and in the Prospectuses. 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 must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the 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 the 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 the 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 regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and its

 

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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, the 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 ten 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.

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.

Given the concentration of certain of the Indexes in a relatively small number of securities, it may not be possible for certain Funds to fully implement sampling methodologies while satisfying the Diversification Requirement. A Fund’s efforts to satisfy the Diversification Requirement may affect the Fund’s execution of its investment strategy and may cause the Fund’s return to deviate from that of the applicable Index, and the Fund’s efforts to track the applicable Index may cause it inadvertently to fail to satisfy the Diversification Requirement.

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.

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, a Fund may carry a net capital loss from any taxable year forward to offset its capital gains in future years. A Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss to offset its capital gains, if any, in years following the year of the loss. A Fund is permitted to carryforward indefinitely a net capital loss form any taxable year that began after December 22, 2010. A Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss from any taxable year that began on or before December 22, 2010 to offset its capital gains, if any, for up to eight years following the year of the loss. A Fund’s carryforwards of losses from taxable years that began after December 22, 2010 must be fully utilized before the Fund may utilize carryforwards of losses from taxable years that began on or before December 22, 2010. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the 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, the portion of dividends which may qualify for the dividends-received deduction, the portion of dividends which may qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income, and the amount of exempt-interest dividends, if any.

 

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Subject to certain limitations, dividends reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income will be taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. Dividends may be reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund. Qualified dividend income includes, in general, subject to certain holding period requirements and other requirements, dividend income from certain U.S. and foreign corporations. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States, those incorporated in certain countries with comprehensive tax treaties with the United States and other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is tradable on an established securities market in the United States. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that (i) the shareholder has not held the stock on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for more than 90 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date, (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. The holding period requirements described in this paragraph apply to shareholders’ investments in the Funds and to the Funds’ investments in underlying dividend-paying stocks. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT or another RIC may be treated as qualified dividend income generally only to the extent the dividend distributions are attributable to qualified dividend income received by such REIT or RIC. It is expected that dividends received by a Fund from a REIT and distributed by that Fund to a shareholder generally will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. If 95% or more of a Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, that Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.

Certain dividends received by a Fund from U.S. corporations (generally, dividends received in respect of any share of stock (1) with a tax holding period of at least 46 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend as to that dividend and (2) that is held in an unleveraged position) when distributed and appropriately so reported by the Fund may be eligible for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations under the Internal Revenue Code. In order to qualify for the deduction, corporate shareholders must meet the minimum holding period requirement stated above with respect to their Shares, taking into account any holding period reductions from certain hedging or other transactions or positions that diminish their risk of loss with respect to their Shares, and, if they borrow to acquire or otherwise incur debt attributable to Shares, they may be denied a portion of the dividends-received deduction with respect to those Shares. The entire dividend, including the otherwise deductible amount, will be included in determining the excess, if any, of a corporation’s adjusted current earnings over its alternative minimum taxable income, which may increase a corporation’s alternative minimum tax liability. Any corporate shareholder should consult its tax adviser regarding the possibility that its tax basis in its Shares may be reduced, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, by reason of “extraordinary dividends” received with respect to the Shares and, to the extent such basis would be reduced below zero, current recognition of income may be required.

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 rates of up to 20%.

The Municipal Bond ETFs intend to satisfy certain conditions (including requirements as to the proportion of their assets invested in municipal securities) that will enable them to report distributions from the interest income generated by their investments in municipal securities as exempt-interest dividends. Shareholders receiving exempt-interest dividends will not be subject to regular federal income tax on the amount of such dividends, but (as discussed below) exempt-interest dividends may be taken into account in determining shareholders’ liability under the federal alternative minimum tax. Insurance proceeds received by the Fund under any insurance policies in respect of scheduled interest payments on defaulted municipal securities will generally be correspondingly excludable from federal gross income. In the case of non-appropriation by a political subdivision, however, there can be no assurance that payments made by the insurer representing interest on non-appropriation lease obligations will be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes.

Exempt-interest dividends paid by the Municipal Bond ETFs and attributable to interest earned on municipal securities issued by a state or its political subdivisions are generally exempt in the hands of a shareholder from income tax imposed by that state, but exempt-interest dividends attributable to interest on municipal securities issued by another state generally will not be exempt from such income tax.

Distributions by the Municipal Bond ETFs of net interest received from certain taxable temporary investments (such as certificates of deposit, commercial paper and obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities) and net short-term capital gains realized by a Municipal Bond ETF, if any, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. If a Municipal Bond ETF purchases a municipal security at a market discount, any gain realized by the Municipal Bond ETF upon sale or redemption of the municipal security will be treated as taxable interest income to the extent of the market discount, and any gain realized in excess of the market discount will be treated as capital gains.

 

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If you lend your Shares in a Municipal Bond ETF pursuant to a securities lending or similar arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends paid by the Municipal Bond ETF while the Shares are held by the borrower as tax-exempt income. Interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry Shares of the Municipal Bond ETFs will not be deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a shareholder receives exempt-interest dividends with respect to any share of a Municipal Bond ETF and if the share is held by the shareholder for six months or less, then any loss on the sale or exchange of the share may, to the extent of the exempt-interest dividends, be disallowed. In addition, the Internal Revenue Code may require a shareholder in a Municipal Bond ETF that receives exempt-interest dividends to treat as taxable income a portion of certain otherwise non-taxable social security and railroad retirement benefit payments. Furthermore, a portion of any exempt-interest dividend paid by a Municipal Bond ETF that represents income derived from certain revenue or private activity bonds held by a Municipal Bond ETF may not retain its tax-exempt status in the hands of a shareholder who is a “substantial user” of a facility financed by such bonds, or a “related person” thereof. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers as to whether they are “substantial users” with respect to a facility or “related” to such users within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code.

Federal tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to both corporations and individuals. Interest on certain municipal securities that meet the definition of private activity bonds under the Internal Revenue Code is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer’s alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent that a Municipal Bond ETF receives income from private activity bonds, a portion of the dividends paid by it, although otherwise exempt from federal income tax, will be taxable to those shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax regime. The Municipal Bond ETFs will annually supply shareholders with a report indicating the percentage of their income attributable to municipal securities required to be included in calculating the federal alternative minimum tax.

In addition, the alternative minimum taxable income for corporations is increased by 75% of the difference between an alternative measure of income (“adjusted current earnings”) and the amount otherwise determined to be the alternative minimum taxable income. All exempt-interest dividends distributed by the Municipal Bond ETFs are included in calculating a corporation’s adjusted current earnings.

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.

Distributions that are reinvested in additional Shares of a Fund 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, interest, dividends 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.

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 non-corporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%.

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. It may not be advantageous from a tax perspective for shareholders to

 

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sell or redeem Shares of a Municipal Bond ETF after tax-exempt income has accrued but before the record date for the exempt-interest dividend representing the distribution of such income. Because such accrued tax-exempt income is included in the net asset value per share, such a sale or redemption could result in treatment of the portion of the sales or redemption proceeds equal to the accrued tax-exempt interest as taxable gain (to the extent the sale or redemption price exceeds the shareholder’s tax basis in the Municipal Bond ETF Shares disposed of) rather than tax-exempt interest.

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. If a Fund meets certain requirements, which include a requirement that more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its respective taxable year consist of certain foreign securities (generally including foreign government securities), then the Fund should be eligible to file an election with the IRS that may enable its shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a tax deduction, with respect to certain foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. If at least 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the close of each quarter of a taxable year consists of interests in other RICs (including money market funds and ETFs that are taxable as RICs), the Fund may make the same election and pass through to its shareholders their pro rata shares of qualified foreign taxes paid by those other RICs and passed through to the Fund for that taxable year. Pursuant to this election, a Fund would treat the applicable foreign taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder would be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit the shareholder may be entitled to use against such shareholder’s federal income tax. If a Fund makes this election, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If a Fund does not make this election, the Fund will be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Fund. Under certain circumstances, if a Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the Fund’s shareholders could incur a loss, or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

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, could affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Funds (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 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.

If a Fund acquires any equity interest (under Treasury regulations that may be promulgated in the future, generally including not only stock but also an option to acquire stock such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations (i) that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or (ii) where at least 50% of the corporation’s assets (computed based on average fair market value) either produce or are held for the production of passive income (“passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs”), the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and nondeductible interest charges on “excess distributions” received from such companies or on gain from the sale of stock in such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. A “qualified electing fund” election or a “mark to

 

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market” election may be available that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but such elections could require the applicable Fund to recognize taxable income or gain (subject to the distribution requirements applicable to RICs, as described above) without the concurrent receipt of cash. In order to satisfy the distribution requirements and avoid a tax at the Fund level, a Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund. Gains from the sale of stock of PFICs may also be treated as ordinary income. In order for a Fund to make a qualified electing fund election with respect to a PFIC, the PFIC would have to agree to provide certain tax information to the Fund on an annual basis, which it might not agree to do. The Funds may limit and/or manage their holdings in PFICs to limit their tax liability or maximize their returns from these investments.

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 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 the Fund, a 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 an election by a Fund 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. If a Municipal Bond ETF purchases a municipal security at a market discount, any gain realized by such Fund upon sale or redemption of the municipal security will be treated as taxable interest income to the extent of the market discount, and any gain realized in excess of the market discount will be treated as capital gains. 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 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 if a Fund holds inflation-indexed bonds, such as Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (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, the 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 advisors. There are no restrictions preventing a Fund from holding investments in REITs that hold residual interests in REMICs, and a Fund may do so. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

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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 advisors 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 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 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 the 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 after June 30, 2014 (or, in certain cases, after later dates) and redemptions and certain capital gain dividends payable to such entities after December 31, 2018. 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.

Non-U.S. persons are subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a “United States real property interest” (a “USRPI”). Gain on such a disposition is sometimes referred to as “FIRPTA gain”. The Internal Revenue Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of “FIRPTA gain” if certain requirements are met. If the look-through rule applies, certain distributions attributable to income received by a Fund from REITs may be treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at rates of up to 35%, and requiring non-U.S. investors to file nonresident U.S. income tax returns. Also, gain may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. shareholder that is treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Under certain circumstances, a Fund may itself qualify as a USRPI, which would result in similar consequences to certain non-U.S. investors.

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 28%. 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 the 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).

 

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A Fund has the right to reject an order for Creation Units if the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to section 351 of the 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.

Persons purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction.

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 advisors 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.

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 Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“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.

INVESTMENT BY AN UNDERTAKING FOR COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT IN TRANSFERABLE SECURITIES

The Adviser has reviewed the investment characteristics and limitations of each Fund and believes that, as of December 30, 2015 each Fund (other than the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF) qualifies as an undertaking for collective investment (“UCI”) for purposes of the Luxembourg law of 17 December 2010. However, an Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities should consult its own counsel regarding the qualification of a Fund as a UCI before investing in the Fund.

CAPITAL STOCK AND SHAREHOLDER REPORTS

Each Fund issues Shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 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.

 

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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 (“Funds”) 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 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 Markets, LLC at State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, serves as counsel to the Trust. Ernst & Young LLP, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust. Ernst & Young LLP 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 portfolio securities on a basis of “T” plus three business days (i.e., days on which the NYSE is open) in the relevant foreign market of a Fund. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind redemptions within three business days 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 securities, 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 closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within three business days.

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. Such periods are listed in the table below, as are instances where more than seven days will be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Since certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years, the number of days required to deliver redemption proceeds in any given year may exceed the maximum number of days listed in the table below. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays, or changes in local securities delivery practices, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future and longer (worse) redemption periods are possible.

Listed below are the dates in calendar year 2016 in which the regular holidays in non-U.S. markets may impact Fund settlement. This list is based on information available to the Funds. The list may not be accurate or complete and is subject to change:

 

Angola

 

Argentina

 

Australia

 

Austria

 

Azerbaijan

January 1   January 1   January 1, 26   January 1, 6   January 1-2, 4, 20
January 25   February 8-9   March 7, 8, 14, 25, 28   March 25, 28   March 8, 20-25
February 4   March 24-25   April 12, 25   May 5, 16, 26  
February 9   May 25   May 2, 16   August 15  
March 8   June 20   June 6, 13-14   October 26  
March 25   August 15   August 1   November 1  
April 4   October 10   September 26   December 8, 26, 30  
  November 28   October 3    
  December 8, 30   November 1-2    
    December 23, 26-28, 30    

 

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Bahamas

 

Bahrain*

 

Bangladesh*

 

Belgium

 

Bermuda

January 1   May 1   February 21   January 1   January 1
March 25, 28   July 6, 7   March 17, 26   March 25, 28   March 25
May 16   September 11-14   April 14   May 5-6, 16   May 24
June 3   October 2, 10-12   May 1, 23   July 21   June 20
July 11   December 11-12, 18   July 3, 6, 7   August 15   July 28-29
August 1     August 15, 24-25   November 1, 11   September 5
October 14     September 11-14   December 26   November 11
December 20, 27     October 11-12     December 26-27
November 7        
December 12-13, 25        
 

*  Market closed every Friday

 

*  Market closed every Friday

   

Botswana

 

Brazil

 

Canada

 

Cayman Islands

 

Chile

January 1-2   January 1, 20, 25   January 1, 4   January 1, 25   January 1
March 25-26, 28   February 8-9   February 15   February 10   March 24-25
May 2, 5   March 25   March 25   March 25, 28   May 23
July 1, 18-19   April 21   May 23   May 16   June 27
September 30   May 26   June 24   June 13   August 15
October 1   September 7   July 1   July 4   September 16, 18-19
December 26-27   October 12   August 1   November 14   October 10, 31
  November 2, 15   September 5   December 23, 26-27, 30   November 1
  December 30   October 10     December 8, 23, 30
    November 11    
    December 26-27    

China

 

Columbia

 

Costa Rica

 

Cote d’Ivoire

 

Croatia

January 1, 18   January 1, 11   January 1   January 1   January 1, 6
February 8-12, 15   March 21, 24-25   March 24-25   March 28   March 25, 28
April 4   May 9, 30   April 11     May 26
May 2-6, 30   June 6   July 25     June 22
June 9   July 4, 20   August 2, 15     August 5, 15
July 4   August 15   September 15     November 1
September 5, 15   October 17   October 17     December 26
October 3-7, 10   November 7, 14   December 26-30    
November 11, 24   December 8, 30      
December 26        

Cyprus

 

Czech Republic

 

Denmark

 

The Dominican Republic

 

Ecuador

January 1, 6   January 1   January 1   January 1, 4, 21, 25   January 1
March 14, 25, 28   March 28   March 24-25, 28   March 25   February 8-9
April 1, 29   July 5-6   April 22   May 2, 16, 26   March 25
May 2-3   September 28   May 5-6, 16   August 16   May 27
June 20   October 28   December 26     August 12
August 15   November 17       November 2-3
October 28   December 26, 30       December 6, 30
December 26        

Egypt*

 

El Salvador

 

Estonia

 

Finland

 

France

January 7, 25   January 1   January 1   January 1, 6   January 1
April 25   March 24-26   February 24   March 25, 28   March 25, 28
May 1-2     March 25, 28   May 5   May 5
July 6-7     May 5   June 24   May 16, 20, 31
September 11-13     June 23-24   December 6, 26   July 14-15
October 2, 6     December 26     August 15
December 11, 12         October 31
        November 1, 11

 

*  Market closed every Friday

        December 26

 

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Gabon

 

Germany

  Ghana   Greece   Guernsey
January 1   January 1, 6   January 1   January 1, 6   January 1
March 28   February 8   March 7, 25, 28   February 8   March 25, 28
April 17   March 25, 28   May 2, 25   March 14, 25, 28   May 2, 9, 30
  May 5, 16, 26   July 1, 6   April 29   August 29
  August 15   September 12, 21   May 2, 16   December 23, 26-27, 30
  October 3   December 2, 26-27   June 20  
  November 1     August 15  
  December 26, 30     October 28  
      December 26  

Hong Kong

 

Hungary

  Iceland   India   Indonesia
January 1   January 1   January 1, 4   January 1, 26   January 1
February 8-10   March 14-15, 25, 28   March 24, 25, 28   March 7, 23, 25   February 8
March 25, 28   May 16   April 21   April 1, 8, 14-15, 19   March 9, 25
April 4   October 31   May 5, 16   May 21   April 8
May 2   November 1, 26   June 17   June 30   May 5-6
June 9   December 30   August 1   July 1, 6-7   July 4-8
July 1     December 26   August 15, 17, 19, 22   August 17
September 16       September 5, 12-13, 30   September 12-13
October 19       October 11-12, 31   October 3
December 26-27       November 1, 14   December 12, 26, 30
      December 12-13  

Iran*

 

Iraq

  Ireland   Israel*   Italy
March 20-23   January 1, 6   January 1   March 24   January 1, 6
April 2   March 5, 21   March 17, 25, 28   April 25-29   March 25, 28
May 22   April 9   May 2   May 11-13   April 25
June 4-5, 26     June 6   June 12   June 2, 9
July 6     August 1   August 14   August 15
September 12, 20     October 31   October 2-4, 11-12,   November 1
October 10-11     December 23, 26-28, 30   16-20, 23-24   December 8, 26
November 28       December 25  
December 12       *  Market closed

    every Friday

 

*  Market closed every Thursday and Friday

       

Jamaica

 

Japan

  Jordan   Kazakhstan   Kenya
January 1   January 1, 11   May 1, 5, 25   January 1, 4, 7   January 1
February 10   February 11   July 4-7, 10   March 8, 21-23   March 25, 28
March 25, 28   March 21   September 11-15   May 2, 9   May 2
May 23   April 29   October 2   July 6   June 1
August 1   May 3-5   November 14   August 30   July 6, 7
October 17   July 18   December 12, 25, 29   September 12   October 10, 20
December 26, 27   August 11     December 1, 16, 19   December 12, 26-27
  September 19, 22      
  October 10      
  November 23      
  December 23      

Kuwait*

 

Latvia

  Lebanon   Lithuania   Luxembourg
January 3   January 1   January 1, 6   January 1   January 1
February 25, 28   March 25, 28   February 9   February 15-16   March 25, 28
May 5   May 2, 4-5   March 25, 28   March 11, 25, 28-29   May 5, 16
July 5-7   July 23-24   April 29   May 2, 5   June 23

 

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September 8, 11-14   November 18   May 2, 25   June 24   August 15
October 2, 6, 12   December 26   July 6-7   July 6   November 1
December 12, 15, 29     August 15   August 15   December 26
    September 12-13   October 31  
    October 11   November 1  
    November 12   December 27  

 

*  Market closed every Friday

    December 12    

Malaysia

 

Malta

 

Mauritius

 

Mexico

 

Mongolia

January 1   January 1   January 1   January 1   January 1
February 1, 8-9   February 10   February 1, 8   February 1   February 8-11
May 2, 23, 30-31   March 25, 28, 31   March 7   March 21, 24-25   March 8
June 4   June 7, 29   April 8   September 16  
July 6-8   August 15   July 6   November 2, 21  
August 31   September 8, 21   August 15   December 12  
September 12, 16   December 8, 13, 26   September 5-6    
October 3, 31     October 31    
December 12, 26     November 2    

Morocco

 

Namibia

 

The Netherlands

 

The Netherlands Antilles

 

New Zealand

January 1, 11   January 1   January 1   January 1   January 1, 4, 25
July 6-7   March 21, 25, 28   March 25, 28   February 8   February 1
September 12-14   April 27   April 27   March 25, 28   March 24-25, 28
October 3   May 2, 4-5, 12, 16   May 5, 12, 16   May 5   May 5
November 18   December 16, 26   December 26   October 21   October 21
December 12-13       December 26   December 26

Nigeria

 

Norway

 

Oman*

 

Pakistan

 

Panama

January 1   January 1   May 7   January 1   January 1
March 25, 28   March 23-25, 28   July 6, 7, 9   February 5   February 8-10
May 2, 30   May 5, 16-17   September 11-14   March 23   March 24-25
July 6-7   December 26   October 2   June 6-7, 24   May 2
September 12-13     November 19   July 1, 6-9   August 15
October 3     December 12   September 12-15   November 3-4, 10
December 12, 26-27       October 11-12   December 8, 26
      November 9  
   

 

*  Market closed every Friday

  December 12-13  

 

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Papua

 

Paraguay

 

Peru

 

The Philippines

 

Poland

January 1   January 1   January 1   January 1   January 1, 6
March 25, 28   March 1, 23-25   March 24-25   February 8, 25   March 25, 28
April 25   May 1   June 29   March 24-25   May 3, 26
June 13   June 4   July 28-29   May 9   August 15
September 16   November 11   August 30   July 6-7   November 1, 11
December 26-27   December 24-25,31   November 1   August 26, 29   December 26
    December 8   September 12  
      November 1-2, 30  
      December 30  

Portugal

 

Qatar

 

Romania

 

Russia

 

Saudi Arabia*

January 1   March 6   January 1   January 1, 4-8   July 4-7, 9
February 9   July 6, 7   May 2   February 22-23   September 10-15, 24
March 25, 28   September 11-15   June 20   March 7-8  
April 25   December 18   August 15   May 2, 9-10  
May 26     December 1   June 13  
June 10, 13     December 26   November 4  
August 15        
October 5        
November 1        
December 1, 8, 26        

 

*  Market closed every Friday

Serbia

 

Singapore

 

The Slovak Republic

 

Slovenia

 

South Africa

January 1, 7   January 1   January 1, 6   January 1   January 1
February 15-16   February 8-9   March 25, 28   February 8   March 21, 25, 28
April 29   March 25   July 5     April 27
May 2-3   May 2, 21, 23   August 29     May 2
November 11   July 6-7   September 1, 15     June 16
  August 9   November 1, 17     August 9
  September 12-13   December 27-30     December 16, 23, 26-27, 30
  October 29, 31      
  December 26      

South Korea

 

Spain

 

Sri Lanka

 

Sweden

 

Switzerland

January 1, 4   January 1, 6     January 1, 5-6   January 1, 6
February 8-10   March 24-25, 28   January 1, 15   March 24-25, 28   March 25, 28
March 1   April 8, 12   February 4, 22   May 4-5   May 5, 16, 26
April 5, 13-14   May 2-3, 26   March 7, 22, 25   June 6, 24   June 29
May 5   July 25   April 13, 14, 21   November 4   August 1, 15
June 6   August 15-16   May 2, 23   December 26   September 8
August 15   September 9   July 6, 19     November 1
September 14-16   October 12   August 17     December 8, 26
October 3   November 1, 9   September 12, 16    
November 10   December 6, 8, 26   October 31    
December 30     November 14    
    December 12-13, 26    

Taiwan

 

Thailand

 

Trinidad and Tobago

 

Tunisia

 

Turkey

January 1-2   January 1   January 1   January 1   January 1
February 4-5, 8-12   February 22   February 8-9   February 4   April 23
April 4-5   April 6, 13-15   March 25, 28, 30   March 21   May 1, 19
May 2   May 2, 5, 23   May 26, 30   July 6-7, 25   July 5-8
June 9   July 1, 18-19   June 20   August 19   August 30
September 15   August 12   July 6   September 12   September 12-16
October 3-5, 10   October 24   August 1, 31   October 26   October 28-29
  December 5, 12   December 26-27   November 7, 15  
      December 12  

 

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Ukraine

 

The United Arab Emirates*

  The United Kingdom   The United States
Bond Market
  Uruguay
January 1, 4, 7   January 2   January 1   January 1, 18   January 1, 6
March 8   May 4-5   March 25, 28   February 15   February 8, 9
May 2-3, 9   July 5-7   May 2, 30   March 24*, 25   March 24-25
June 20, 28   August 6   August 29   May 29*, 30   April 18
August 24   September 10-14   December 23, 26-27, 30   July 4   May 16
  October 2     September 5   July 18
  December 3-4, 11-12     October 10   August 25
      November 11, 24, 25*   October 10
      December 24*, 25, 31*   November 2
 

*  Market closed every Friday

    *  The U.S. bond market

    has recommended

    early close

 

Venezuela

 

Vietnam

  Zambia   Zimbabwe  

 

January 1, 11   January 1   January 1   January 1  
February 8-9   February 8-10   March 8, 25, 28   March 25, 28  
March 24-25   April 18   May 5, 25   April 18  
April 19   May 2-3   July 4, 5   May 2, 25  
May 9, 30   September 2   August 1   August 8, 9  
June 24, 27     October 24   December 22, 26  
July 5     December 26    
August 15        
October 12, 31        
December 12        

Redemptions. The longest redemption cycle for a Fund is a function of the longest redemption cycle among the countries whose securities comprise the Funds. In calendar year 2016, the dates of regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case redemption cycles* for a Fund as follows:

2016

 

Country

   Trade Date      Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle
 

China

     02/03/16         02/17/16         14   
     02/04/16         02/18/16         14   
     02/05/16         02/19/16         14   
     04/27/16         05/09/16         12   
     04/28/16         05/10/16         12   
     04/29/16         05/11/16         12   
     09/28/16         10/11/16         13   
     09/29/16         10/12/16         13   
     09/30/16         10/13/16         13   

Colombia

     03/18/16         03/28/16         10   

Indonesia

     06/29/16         07/11/16         12   
     06/30/16         07/12/16         12   
     07/01/16         07/13/16         12   

Ireland

     12/21/16         12/29/16         8   
     12/22/16         01/02/17         11   

Israel

     04/20/16         05/01/16         11   
     04/21/16         05/02/16         11   
     10/10/16         10/25/16         15   

 

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Country

   Trade Date      Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle
     10/13/16         10/26/16       13

Malaysia

     07/01/16         07/11/16       10
     07/04/16         07/12/16       8
     07/05/16         07/13/16       8

Mexico

     03/18/16         03/28/16       10

Pakistan

     09/08/16         09/16/16       8
     09/09/16         09/19/16       10

Philippines

     12/23/15         01/04/16       12
     12/28/15         01/05/16       8
     12/29/15         01/06/16       8

Qatar

     09/06/16         09/18/16       12
     09/07/16         09/19/16       12
     09/08/16         09/20/16       12

Serbia

     04/26/16         05/04/16       8
     04/27/16         05/05/16       8
     04/28/16         05/06/16       8

South Africa

     12/24/15         01/04/16       11
     12/28/15         01/05/16       8
     12/29/15         01/06/16       8
     12/30/15         01/07/16       8
     12/31/15         01/08/16       8
     03/14/16         03/22/16       8
     03/15/16         03/23/16       8
     03/16/16         03/24/16       8
     03/17/16         03/29/16       12
     03/18/16         03/30/16       12
     03/22/16         03/31/16       9
     03/23/16         04/01/16       9
     03/24/16         04/04/16       11
     04/20/16         04/28/16       8
     04/21/16         04/29/16       8
     04/22/16         05/03/16       11
     04/25/16         05/04/16       9
     04/26/16         05/05/16       9
     04/28/16         05/06/16       8
     04/29/16         05/09/16       10
     06/09/16         06/17/16       8
     06/10/16         06/20/16       10
     06/13/16         06/21/16       8
     06/14/16         06/22/16       8
     06/15/16         06/23/16       8
     08/02/16         08/10/16       8
     08/03/16         08/11/16       8
     08/04/16         08/12/16       8
     08/05/16         08/15/16       10
     08/08/16         08/16/16       8
     12/09/16         12/19/16       10
     12/12/16         12/20/16       8
     12/13/16         12/21/16       8

 

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Country

   Trade Date      Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle
     12/14/16         12/22/16       8
     12/15/16         12/28/16       13
     12/16/16         12/28/16       12
     12/19/16         12/29/16       10
     12/20/16         01/02/17       13
     12/21/16         01/03/17       13
     12/22/16         01/04/17       13
     12/28/16         01/05/17       8
     12/29/16         01/06/17       8

Sweden

     12/30/15         01/07/16       8

Thailand

     04/08/16         04/18/16       10
     04/11/16         04/19/16       8
     04/12/16         04/20/16       8

Turkey

     07/01/16         07/11/16       10
     07/04/16         07/12/16       8
     09/08/16         09/19/16       11
     09/09/16         09/20/16       11

Ukraine

     12/31/15         01/08/16       8

United Arab Emirates

     09/07/16         09/15/16       8
     09/08/16         09/18/16       10

 

* These worst-case redemption cycles are based on information regarding regular holidays. Based on changes in holidays, longer (worse) redemption cycles are possible.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements and financial highlights of the Funds that were operating during the year ended June 30, 2016, along with the Reports of Ernst & Young, LLP, the Trust’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, included in the Trust’s Annual Reports to Shareholders on Form N-CSR under the 1940 Act, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information.

 

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APPENDIX A

March 2016

Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles

State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), one of the industry’s largest institutional asset managers, is the investment management arm of State Street Bank and Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a leading provider of financial services to institutional investors. As an investment manager, SSGA has discretionary proxy voting authority over most of its client accounts, and SSGA votes these proxies in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments as described in the SSGA Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles.

 

LOGO

 

A-1


Table of Contents

SSGA maintains Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines for select markets, including: the US, the EU, the UK, Australia, emerging markets and Japan. International markets that do not have specific guidelines are reviewed and voted consistent with our Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles; however, SSGA also endeavors to show sensitivity to local market practices when voting in these various markets.

SSGA’s Approach to Proxy Voting and Issuer Engagement

At SSGA, we take our fiduciary duties as an asset manager very seriously. We have a dedicated team of corporate governance professionals who help us carry out our duties as a responsible investor. These duties include engaging with companies, developing and enhancing in-house corporate governance policies, analyzing corporate governance issues on a case-by-case basis at the company level, and exercising our voting rights—all to maximize shareholder value.

SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles (the “Principles”) may take different perspectives on common governance issues that vary from one market to another and, likewise, engagement activity may take different forms in order to best achieve long-term engagement goals. We believe that proxy voting and engagement with portfolio companies is often the most direct and productive way shareholders can exercise their ownership rights, and taken together, we view these tools to be an integral part of the overall investment process.

We believe engagement and voting activity have a direct relationship. As a result, the integration of our engagement activities, while leveraging the exercise of our voting rights, provides a meaningful shareholder tool that we believe protects and enhances the long-term economic value of the holdings in our client accounts. SSGA maximizes its voting power and engagement by maintaining a centralized proxy voting and active ownership process covering all holdings, regardless of strategy. Despite the different investment views and objectives across SSGA, depending on the product or strategy, the fiduciary responsibilities of share ownership and voting for which SSGA has voting discretion are carried out with a single voice and objective.

The Principles support governance structures that we believe add to, or maximize shareholder value at the companies held in our clients’ portfolios. SSGA conducts issuer specific engagements with companies to discuss our principles, including sustainability related risks. In addition, we encourage issuers to find ways of increasing 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. Conversely, where appropriate, we conduct collaborative engagement activities with multiple shareholders and communicate with company representatives about common concerns.

In conducting our engagements, SSGA also evaluates the various factors that play into the corporate governance framework of a country, including the macroeconomic conditions and broader political system, the quality of regulatory oversight, the enforcement of property and shareholder rights and the independence of the judiciary to name a few. SSGA understands that regulatory requirements and investor expectations relating to governance practices and engagement activities differ from country-to-country. As a result, SSGA engages with issuers, regulators, or both, depending on the market. SSGA also is a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy at the country level as well as issuer specific concerns at a company level.

To help mitigate company specific risk, the team may collaborate with members of the active investment teams to engage with companies on corporate governance issues and address any specific concerns, or to get more information regarding shareholder items that are to be voted on at upcoming shareholder meetings. Outside of proxy voting season, SSGA conducts issuer specific engagements with companies covering various corporate governance and sustainability related topics.

The SSGA Governance Team uses a blend of quantitative and qualitative research and data to support screens to help identify issuers where active engagement may be necessary to protect and promote shareholder value. Issuer engagement may also be event driven, focusing on issuer specific corporate governance, sustainability concerns or wider industry related trends. SSGA also gives consideration to the size of our total position of the issuer in question and/or the potential negative governance, performance profile, and circumstance at hand. As a result, SSGA believes issuer engagement can take many forms and be triggered under numerous circumstances. The following methods represent how SSGA defines engagement methods:

Active

SSGA uses screening tools designed to capture a mix of company specific data including governance and sustainability profiles to help us focus our voting and engagement activity.

 

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SSGA will actively seek direct dialogue with the board and management of companies we have identified through our screening processes. Such engagements may lead to further monitoring to ensure the company improves its governance or sustainability practices. In these cases, the engagement process represents the most meaningful opportunity for SSGA to protect long-term shareholder value from excessive risk due to poor governance and sustainability practices.

Reactive

Reactive engagement is initiated by the issuers. SSGA routinely discusses specific voting issues and items with the issuer community. Reactive engagement is an opportunity to address not only voting items, but also a wide range of governance and sustainability issues.

SSGA has established an engagement protocol that further describes our approach to issuer engagement.

Measurement

Assessing the effectiveness of our issuer engagement process is often difficult. To limit the subjectivity of measuring our success we actively seek issuer feedback and monitor the actions issuers take post-engagement to identify tangible changes. By doing so, we are able to establish indicators to gauge how issuers respond to our concerns and to what degree these responses satisfy our requests. It is also important to note that successful engagement activity can be measured over differing time periods depending on the facts and circumstances involved. Engagements can last as short as a single meeting or span multiple years.

Depending on the issue and whether the engagement activity is reactive, recurring, or active, engagement with issuers can take the form of written communication, conference calls, or face-to-face meetings. SSGA believes active engagement is best conducted directly with company management or board members. Collaborative engagement, where multiple shareholders communicate with company representatives, can serve as a potential forum for issues that are not identified by SSGA as requiring active engagement, such as shareholder conference calls.

Proxy Voting Procedure

Oversight

The SSGA Corporate Governance Team is responsible for developing and implementing the Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), case-by-case voting items, issuer engagement activities, and research and analysis of governance-related issues. The implementation of the Guidelines is overseen by the SSGA Global Proxy Review Committee (“SSGA PRC”), a committee of investment, compliance and legal professionals, who provide guidance on proxy issues as described in greater detail below. Oversight of the proxy voting process is ultimately the responsibility of the SSGA Investment Committee. The SSGA Investment Committee reviews and approves amendments to the Guidelines. The SSGA PRC reports to the SSGA Investment Committee, and may refer certain significant proxy items to that committee.

Proxy Voting Process

In order to facilitate SSGA’s proxy voting process, SSGA retains Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), a firm with expertise in proxy voting and corporate governance. SSGA utilizes ISS’s services in three ways: (1) as SSGA’s proxy voting agent (providing SSGA with vote execution and administration services); (2) for applying the Guidelines; and (3) as providers of research and analysis relating to general corporate governance issues and specific proxy items.

The SSGA Corporate Governance Team reviews the Guidelines with ISS on an annual basis or on a case-by-case basis as needed. On most routine proxy voting items (e.g., ratification of auditors), ISS will affect the proxy votes in accordance with the Guidelines.

In other cases, the Corporate Governance Team will evaluate the proxy solicitation to determine how to vote based on facts and circumstances, consistent with the Principles, and the accompanying Guidelines, that seek to maximize the value of our client accounts.

In some instances, the Corporate Governance Team may refer significant issues to the SSGA PRC for a determination of the proxy vote. In addition, in determining whether to refer a proxy vote to the SSGA PRC, the Corporate Governance Team will consider whether a material conflict of interest exists between the interests of our client and those of SSGA or its affiliates (as explained in greater detail in our “Conflict of Interest” Policy).

 

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SSGA votes in all markets where it is feasible; however, SSGA may refrain from voting meetings when power of attorney documentation is required, where voting will have a material impact on our ability to trade the security, where issuer-specific special documentation is required, or where various market or issuer certifications are required. SSGA is 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.

Conflict of Interest

See SSGA’s standalone Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles

Directors and Boards

The election of directors is one of the most important fiduciary duties SSGA performs as a shareholder. SSGA believes that well-governed companies can protect and pursue shareholder interests better and withstand the challenges of an uncertain economic environment. As such, SSGA seeks to vote director elections in a way which we, as a fiduciary, believe will maximize the long-term value of each portfolio’s holdings.

Principally, a board acts on behalf of shareholders by protecting their interests and preserving their rights. This concept establishes the standard by which board and director performance is measured. To achieve this fundamental principle, the role of the board, in SSGA’s view, is to carry out its responsibilities in the best long-term interest of the company and its shareholders. An independent and effective board oversees management, provides guidance on strategic matters, selects the CEO and other senior executives, creates a succession plan for the board and management, provides risk oversight and assesses the performance of the CEO and management. In contrast, management implements the business and capital allocation strategies and runs the company’s day-to-day operations. As part of SSGA’s engagement process, SSGA routinely discusses the importance of these responsibilities with the boards of issuers.

SSGA believes the quality of a board is a measure of director independence, director succession planning, board evaluations and refreshment and company governance practices. In voting to elect nominees, SSGA considers many factors. SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will effectively monitor management, maintain appropriate governance practices and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. SSGA also believes the right mix of skills, independence and qualifications among directors provides boards with the knowledge and direct experience to deal with risks and operating structures that are often unique and complex from one industry to another.

Accounting and Audit Related Issues

SSGA believes audit committees are critical and necessary as part of the board’s risk oversight role. The audit committee is responsible for setting out an internal audit function to provide robust audit and internal control systems designed to effectively manage potential and emerging risks to the company’s operations and strategy. SSGA believes audit committees should have independent directors as members, and SSGA will hold the members of the audit committee responsible for overseeing the management of the audit function.

The disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for the investment process. As a result, board oversight of the internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely on financial statements. Also, it is important for the audit committee to appoint external auditors who are independent from management as we expect auditors to provide assurance as of a company’s financial condition.

Capital Structure, Reorganization and Mergers

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow and 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 and in making such a critical decision, SSGA believes the company should have a well explained business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and not overly dilutive to its shareholders.

 

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Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.

Proposals that are in the best interests of shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In evaluating mergers and acquisitions, SSGA considers the adequacy of the consideration and the impact of the corporate governance provisions to shareholders. In all cases, SSGA uses its discretion in order to maximize shareholder value.

Occasionally, companies add anti-takeover provisions that reduce the chances of a potential acquirer making an offer, or reducing the likelihood of a successful offer. SSGA does not support proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights, entrench management or reduce the likelihood of shareholder’s right to vote on reasonable offers.

Compensation

SSGA considers the board’s responsibility to include setting the appropriate level of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive compensation; SSGA believes 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also consider executive compensation practices when re-electing members of the remuneration committee.

SSGA recognizes that compensation policies and practices are unique from market to market; often with significant differences between the level of disclosures, the amount and forms of compensation paid, and the ability of shareholders to approve executive compensation practices. As a result, our ability to assess the appropriateness of executive compensation is often dependent on market practices and laws.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. Environmental and social factors may not only have an impact on the reputation of companies but may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could be the result of anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends to shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on a company, its industry, operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of board members if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder requests to amend them.

 

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General/Routine

Although SSGA does not seek involvement in the day-to-day operations of an organization, SSGA recognizes the need for conscientious oversight and input into management decisions that may affect a company’s value. SSGA supports proposals that encourage economically advantageous corporate practices and governance, while leaving decisions that are deemed to be routine or constitute ordinary business to management and the board of directors.

Fixed Income Stewardship

The two elements of SSGA’s fixed income stewardship program are:

Proxy Voting:

While matters that come up for a vote at bondholder meetings vary by jurisdiction, examples of common proxy voting resolutions at bondholder meetings include:

 

    Approving amendments to debt covenants and/or terms of issuance;

 

    Authorizing procedural matters such as filing of required documents/other formalities;

 

    Approving debt restructuring plans;

 

    Abstaining from challenging the bankruptcy trustees;

 

    Authorizing repurchase of issued debt security;

 

    Approving the placement of unissued debt securities under the control of directors; and,

 

    Approve spin-off/absorption proposals.

Given the nature of the items that come up for vote at bondholder meetings, SSGA takes a case-by-case approach to voting bondholder resolutions. Where necessary, SSGA will engage with issuers on voting matters prior to arriving at voting decisions. All voting decisions will be made in the best interest of our clients.

Issuer Engagement:

SSGA recognizes that debt holders have limited leverage with companies on a day-to-day basis. However, we believe that given the size of our holdings in corporate debt, SSGA can meaningfully influence ESG practices of companies through issuer engagement. Our guidelines for engagement with fixed income issuers broadly follow the engagement guidelines for our equity holdings as described above.

Securities on Loan

For funds where SSGA acts as trustee, SSGA may recall securities in instances where SSGA believes that a particular vote will have a material impact on the fund(s). Several factors shape this process. First, SSGA must receive notice of the vote in sufficient time to recall the shares on or before the record date. In many cases, SSGA does not receive timely notice, and is unable to recall the shares on or before the record date. Second, SSGA, exercising its discretion may recall shares if it believes the benefit of voting shares will outweigh the foregone lending income. This determination requires SSGA, with the information available at the time, to form judgments about events or outcomes that are difficult to quantify. Given past experience in this area, however, we believe that the recall of securities will rarely provide an economic benefit that outweighs the cost of the foregone lending income.

Reporting

Any client who wishes to receive information on how its proxies were voted should contact its SSGA relationship manager.

 

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ssga.com

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State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. State Street Global Advisors Italy, Sede Secondaria di Milano, Via dei Bossi, 4 20121 Milan, Italy. T: +39 02 32066 100. F: +39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

United States

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) US Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in the US. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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SSGA’s US Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, director tenure, audit related issues, capital structure, executive compensation, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in the US, SSGA expects all companies to act in a transparent manner and provide detailed disclosure on board profiles, related-party transactions, executive compensation and other governance issues that impact shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagements to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagements and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the US.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practices, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

Director related proposals at US companies include issues submitted to shareholders that deal with the composition of the board or with members of a corporation’s board of directors. In deciding which director nominee to support, SSGA considers numerous factors.

Director Elections

SSGA’s director election policy focuses on companies’ governance profile to identify if a company demonstrates appropriate governance practices or if it exhibits negative governance practices. Factors SSGA considers when evaluating governance practices include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    Shareholder rights;

 

    Board independence; and

 

    Board structure.

 

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If a company demonstrates appropriate governance practices, SSGA believes a director should be classified as independent based on the relevant listing standards or local market practice standards. In such cases, the composition of the key oversight committees of a board should meet the minimum standards of independence. Accordingly, SSGA will vote against a nominee at a company with appropriate governance practices if the director is classified as non-independent under relevant listing standards or local market practice AND serves on a key committee of the board (compensation, audit, nominating or committees required to be fully independent by local market standards).

Conversely, if a company demonstrates negative governance practices, SSGA believes the classification standards for director independence should be elevated. In such circumstances, we will evaluate all director nominees based on the following classification standards:

 

  Is the nominee an employee of or related to an employee of the issuer or its auditor;

 

  Does the nominee provide professional services to the issuer;

 

  Has the nominee attended an appropriate number of board meetings; or

 

  Has the nominee received non-board related compensation from the issuer.

Where companies demonstrate negative governance practices, these stricter standards will apply not only to directors who are a member of a key committee but to all directors on the board as market practice permits. Accordingly, SSGA will vote against a nominee (with the exception of the CEO) where the board has inappropriate governance practices and is considered not independent based on the above independence criteria.

Additionally, SSGA may withhold votes from directors based on the following:

 

    When overall average board tenure is excessive and/or individual director tenure is excessive. In assessing excessive tenure, SSGA gives consideration to factors such as the preponderance of long tenured directors, board refreshment practices, and classified board structures;

 

    When directors attend less than 75% of board meetings without appropriate explanation or providing reason for their failure to meet the attendance threshold;

 

    CEOs of a public company who sit on more than three public company boards;

 

    Director nominees who sit on more than six public company boards;

 

    Directors of companies that have not been responsive to a shareholder proposal which received a majority shareholder support at the last annual or special meeting; consideration maybe given if management submits the proposal(s) on the ballot as a binding management proposal, recommending shareholders vote for the particular proposal(s);

 

    Directors of companies have unilaterally adopted/ amended company bylaws that negatively impact SSGA’s shareholder rights (such as fee-shifting, forum selection and exclusion service bylaws) without putting such amendments to a shareholder vote;

 

    Compensation committee members where there is a weak relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period;

 

    Audit committee members if non-audit fees exceed 50% of total fees paid to the auditors; and

 

    Directors who appear to have been remiss in their duties.

Director Related Proposals

SSGA generally votes for the following director related proposals:

 

    Discharge of board members’ duties, in the absence of pending litigation, regulatory investigation, charges of fraud or other indications of significant concern;

 

    Proposals to restore shareholders’ ability to remove directors with or without cause;

 

    Proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies; and

 

    Shareholder proposals seeking disclosure regarding the company, board, or compensation committee’s use of compensation consultants, such as company name, business relationship(s) and fees paid.

 

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SSGA generally votes against the following director related proposals:

 

    Requirements that candidates for directorships own large amounts of stock before being eligible to be elected;

 

    Proposals that relate to the “transaction of other business as properly comes before the meeting”, which extend “blank check” powers to those acting as proxy; and

 

    Proposals requiring two candidates per board seat.

Majority Voting

SSGA will generally support a majority vote standard based on votes cast for the election of directors.

SSGA will generally vote to support amendments to bylaws that would require simple majority of voting shares (i.e. shares cast) to pass or repeal certain provisions.

Annual Elections

SSGA generally supports the establishment of annual elections of the board of directors. Consideration is given to the overall level of board independence and the independence of the key committees as well as whether there is a shareholders rights plan.

Cumulative Voting

SSGA does not support cumulative voting structures for the election of directors.

Separation Chair/CEO

SSGA analyzes proposals for the separation of Chair/CEO on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration numerous factors, including but not limited to, the appointment of and role played by a lead director, a company’s performance and the overall governance structure of the company.

Proxy Access

In general, SSGA believes that proxy access is a fundamental right and an accountability mechanism for all long-term shareholders. SSGA will consider proposals relating to Proxy Access on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will support shareholder proposals that set parameters to empower long-term shareholders while providing management the flexibility to design a process that is appropriate for the company’s circumstances.

SSGA will review the terms of all other proposals and will support those proposals that have been introduced in the spirit of enhancing shareholder rights.

Considerations include but are not limited to the following:

 

    The ownership thresholds and holding duration proposed in the resolution;

 

    The binding nature of the proposal;

 

    The number of directors that shareholders may be able to nominate each year;

 

    Company governance structure;

 

    Shareholder rights; and

 

    Board performance.

Age/Term Limits

Generally, SSGA will vote against age and term limits unless the company is found to have poor board refreshment and director succession practices and has a preponderance of non-executive directors with excessively long-tenures serving on the board.

 

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Approve Remuneration of Directors

Generally, SSGA will support directors’ compensation, provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other issuers in the market or industry. In making our determination, we review whether the compensation is overly dilutive to existing shareholders.

Indemnification

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Classified Boards

SSGA generally supports annual elections for the board of directors.

Confidential Voting

SSGA will support confidential voting.

Board Size

SSGA will support proposals seeking to fix the board size or designate a range for the board size and will vote against proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the board outside of a specified range without shareholder approval.

Audit Related Issues

Ratifying Auditors and Approving Auditor Compensation

SSGA supports the approval of auditors and auditor compensation provided that the issuer has properly disclosed audit and non-audit fees relative to market practice and the audit fees are not deemed excessive. SSGA deems audit fees to be excessive if the non-audit fees for the prior year constituted 50% or more of the total fees paid to the auditor. SSGA will support the disclosure of auditor and consulting relationships when the same or related entities are conducting both activities and will support the establishment of a selection committee responsible for the final approval of significant management consultant contract awards where existing firms are already acting in an auditing function.

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.

SSGA will support the discharge of auditors and requirements that auditors attend the annual meeting of shareholders.1

Capital Related Issues

Capital structure proposals include requests by management for approval of amendments to the certificate of incorporation that will alter the capital structure of the company.

The most common request is for an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock, usually in conjunction with a stock split or dividend. Typically, requests that are not unreasonably dilutive or enhance the rights of common shareholders are supported. In considering authorized share proposals, the typical threshold for approval is 100% over current authorized shares. However, the threshold may be increased if the company offers a specific need or purpose (merger, stock splits, growth purposes, etc.). All proposals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s specific financial situation.

Increase in Authorized Common Shares

In general, SSGA supports share increases for general corporate purposes up to 100% of current authorized stock.

 

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SSGA supports increases for specific corporate purposes up to 100% of the specific need plus 50% of current authorized common stock for US firms.

When applying the thresholds, SSGA will also consider the nature of the specific need, such as mergers and acquisitions and stock splits.

Increase in Authorized Preferred Shares

SSGA votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to increase the number of preferred shares.

Generally, SSGA will vote for the authorization of preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.

SSGA will support proposals to create “declawed” blank check preferred stock (stock that cannot be used as a takeover defense). However, SSGA will vote against proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock authorized for issuance when no shares have been issued or reserved for a specific purpose.

Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA will not support proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will vote against new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add “blank check” classes of stock (i.e. classes of stock with undefined voting rights) or classes that dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.

However, SSGA will support capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.

Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported.

In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering the following:

 

    Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock, especially in some non-US markets;

 

    Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti–Takeover Issues

Typically, these are proposals relating to requests by management to amend the certificate of incorporation or bylaws to add or delete a provision that is deemed to have an anti-takeover effect. The majority of these proposals deal with management’s attempt to add some provision that makes a hostile takeover more difficult or will protect incumbent management in the event of a change in control of the company.

Proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights or have the effect of entrenching incumbent management will not be supported.

Proposals that enhance the right of shareholders to make their own choices as to the desirability of a merger or other proposal are supported.

Shareholder Rights Plans

SSGA will support mandates requiring shareholder approval of a shareholder rights plans (“poison pill”) and repeals of various anti-takeover related provisions.

In general, SSGA will vote against the adoption or renewal of a US issuer’s shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”).

SSGA will vote for an amendment to a shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”) where the terms of the new plans are more favorable to shareholders’ ability to accept unsolicited offers (i.e. if one of the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, and (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced).

Special Meetings

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals related to special meetings at companies that do not provide shareholders the right to call for a special meeting in their bylaws if:

 

    The company also does not allow shareholders to act by written consent; or

 

    The company allows shareholders to act by written consent but the ownership threshold for acting by written consent is set above 25% of outstanding shares.

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals related to special meetings at companies that give shareholders (with a minimum 10% ownership threshold) the right to call for a special meeting in their bylaws if:

 

    The current ownership threshold to call for a special meeting is above 25% of outstanding shares.

SSGA will vote for management proposals related to special meetings.

Written Consent

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals on written consent at companies if:

 

    The company does not have provisions in their bylaws giving shareholders the right to call for a special meeting; or

 

    The company allows shareholders the right to call for a special meeting but the current ownership threshold to call for a special meeting is above 25% of outstanding shares; and

 

    The company has a poor governance profile.

SSGA will vote management proposals on written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

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Super–Majority

SSGA will generally vote against amendments to bylaws requiring super-majority shareholder votes to pass or repeal certain provisions. SSGA will vote for the reduction or elimination of super-majority vote requirements, unless management of the issuer was concurrently seeking to or had previously made such a reduction or elimination.

Remuneration Issues

Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides the analysis of all compensation plans; namely, are the terms of the plan designed to provide an incentive for executives and/or employees to align their interests with those of the shareholders and thus work toward enhancing shareholder value. Plans which benefit participants only when the shareholders also benefit are those most likely to be supported.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Frequency

SSGA believes executive compensation plays a critical role in aligning executives interest with shareholder’s, attracting, retaining and incentivizing key talent, and ensuring positive correlation between the performance achieved by management and the benefits derived by shareholders. SSGA supports management proposals on executive compensation where there is a strong relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period. SSGA seeks adequate disclosure of different compensation 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. Further, shareholders should have the opportunity to assess whether pay structures and levels are aligned with business performance on an annual basis.

Employee Equity Award Plans

SSGA considers numerous criteria when examining equity award proposals. Generally, SSGA does not vote against plans for lack of performance or vesting criteria. Rather, the main criteria that will result in a vote against an equity award plan are:

Excessive voting power dilution To assess the dilutive effect, we divide the number of shares required to fully fund the proposed plan, the number of authorized but unissued shares and the issued but unexercised shares by the fully diluted share count. SSGA reviews that number in light of certain factors, including the industry of the issuer.

Historical option grants Excessive historical option grants over the past three years. Plans that provide for historical grant patterns of greater than five to eight percent are generally not supported.

Repricing SSGA will vote against any plan where repricing is expressly permitted. If a company has a history of repricing underwater options, the plan will not be supported.

Other criteria include the following:

 

    Number of participants or eligible employees;

 

    The variety of awards possible; and

 

    The period of time covered by the plan.

There are numerous factors that we view as negative, and together, may result in a vote against a proposal:

 

    Grants to individuals or very small groups of participants;

 

    “Gun-jumping” grants which anticipate shareholder approval of a plan or amendment;

 

    The power of the board to exchange “underwater” options without shareholder approval; this pertains to the ability of a company to reprice options, not the actual act of repricing described above;

 

    Below market rate loans to officers to exercise their options;

 

    The ability to grant options at less than fair market value;

 

    Acceleration of vesting automatically upon a change in control; and

 

    Excessive compensation (i.e. compensation plans which are deemed by SSGA to be overly dilutive).

 

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Share Repurchases If a company makes a clear connection between a share repurchase program and its intent to offset dilution created from option plans and the company fully discloses the amount of shares being repurchased, the voting dilution calculation may be adjusted to account for the impact of the buy back.

Companies who do not (i) clearly state the intentions of any proposed share buy-back plan or (ii) disclose a definitive number of the shares to be bought back, (iii) specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares and, (iv) disclose the time frame during which the shares will be bought back, will not have any such repurchase plan factored into the dilution calculation.

162(m) Plan Amendments If a plan would not normally meet the SSGA criteria described above, but is primarily being amended to add specific performance criteria to be used with awards designed to qualify for performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, then SSGA will support the proposal to amend the plan.

Employee Stock Option Plans

SSGA generally votes for stock purchase plans with an exercise price of not less than 85% of fair market value. However, SSGA takes market practice into consideration.

Compensation Related Items

SSGA will generally support the following proposals:

 

    Expansions to reporting of financial or compensation-related information, within reason; and

 

    Proposals requiring the disclosure of executive retirement benefits if the issuer does not have an independent compensation committee.

SSGA will generally vote against the following proposals:

 

    Retirement bonuses for non-executive directors and auditors.

Miscellaneous/Routine Items

SSGA generally supports the following miscellaneous/routine governance items:

 

    Reimbursement of all appropriate proxy solicitation expenses associated with the election when voting in conjunction with support of a dissident slate;

 

    Opting-out of business combination provision;

 

    Proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management;

 

    Liquidation of the company if the company will file for bankruptcy if the proposal is not approved;

 

    Shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote;

 

    General updating of, or corrective amendments to, charter and bylaws not otherwise specifically addressed herein, unless such amendments would reasonably be expected to diminish shareholder rights (e.g. extension of directors’ term limits, amending shareholder vote requirement to amend the charter documents, insufficient information provided as to the reason behind the amendment);

 

    Change in corporation name;

 

    Mandates that amendments to bylaws or charters have shareholder approval;

 

    Management proposals to change the date, time, and/or location of the annual meeting unless the proposed change is unreasonable;

 

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    Repeals, prohibitions or adoption of anti-greenmail provisions;

 

    Management proposals to implement a reverse stock split when the number of authorized shares will be proportionately reduced and proposals to implement a reverse stock split to avoid delisting; and

 

    Exclusive forum provisions.

SSGA generally does not support the following miscellaneous/ routine governance items:

 

    Proposals asking companies to adopt full tenure holding periods for their executives;

 

    Reincorporation to a location that we believe has more negative attributes than its current location of incorporation;

 

    Shareholder proposals to change the date, time, and/or location of the annual meeting unless the current scheduling or location is unreasonable;

 

    Proposals to approve other business when it appears as a voting item;

 

    Proposals giving the board exclusive authority to amend the bylaws; and

 

    Proposals to reduce quorum requirements for shareholder meetings below a majority of the shares outstanding unless there are compelling reasons to support the proposal.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, we consider the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business.

Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer-by-issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

 

1 Common for non-US issuers; request from the issuer to discharge from liability the directors or auditors with respect to actions taken by them during the previous year.

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Europe

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) European Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines cover different corporate governance frameworks and practices in European markets excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines in European markets address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management and monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in European markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research in to corporate governance issues in European companies, SSGA also considers guidance issued by the European Commission. Companies should provide detailed explanations under diverse ‘comply or explain’ approaches, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and EMEA investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in European markets.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re–election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices.

A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in European companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related–party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders;

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees;

 

    Employee and government representatives; and

 

    Overall average board tenure and individual director tenure at issuers with classified and de-classified boards, respectively.

 

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While, overall board independence requirements and board structures differ from market to market, SSGA considers voting against directors it deems non–independent if overall board independence is below one third. SSGA also assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case–by–case basis, giving consideration to factors such as overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. SSGA may also not support a proposal to discharge the board, if a company fails to meet adequate governance standards or board level independence.

When considering the election or re-election of a non-executive director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive can undertake and attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA may vote against the election of a director whose biographical disclosures are insufficient to assess his or her role on the board and/or independence.

Although we generally are in favour of the annual election of directors, we recognise that director terms vary considerably in different European markets. SSGA may vote against article/bylaw changes that seek to extend director terms. In addition, in certain markets, SSGA may vote against directors if their director terms extend beyond four years.

SSGA believes companies should have relevant board level committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Similarly, executive pay is an important aspect of corporate governance, and it should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. SSGA may vote against nominees who are executive members of audit or remuneration committees.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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.

In certain European markets it is not uncommon for the election of directors to be presented in a single slate. In these cases, where executives serve on the audit or the remuneration committees, SSGA may vote against the entire slate.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

 

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Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

In some European markets, differential voting rights continue to exist. SSGA supports the “one share one vote” policy and favors a share structure where all shares have equal voting rights. SSGA believes pre-emption rights should be introduced for shareholders in order to provide adequate protection from being overly diluted from the issuance of new shares or convertible securities to third parties or a small number of select shareholders.

Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA generally opposes proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will generally oppose new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add classes of stock with undefined voting rights or classes that may dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders. SSGA supports proposals to abolish voting caps and capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Increase in Authorized Capital

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholder’s ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seek to issue new shares whilst dis-applying pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for a specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share re-purchase requests that allow share re-purchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long-term financial health.

Related Party Transactions

Certain companies in European markets have a controlled ownership structure and have 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, SSGA expects companies to provide details of the transaction, such as the nature, value and purpose of such a transaction. It also encourages independent directors to ratify such transactions. Further, SSGA encourages companies to 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.

 

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Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price

Anti–Takeover Measures

European markets have diverse regulations concerning the use of share issuances as takeover defenses with legal restrictions lacking in some markets. SSGA supports a one-share, one-vote policy, for example, given that dual-class capital structures entrench certain shareholders and management, insulating them from possible takeovers. SSGA opposes unlimited share issuance authorizations as they may be used as antitakeover devices, and they have the potential for substantial voting and earnings dilution. SSGA also monitors the duration of authorities to issue shares and whether there are restrictions and caps on multiple issuance authorities during the specified time periods. SSGA opposes antitakeover defenses such as authorities for the board, when subject to a hostile takeover, to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

Despite the differences among the types of plans and awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure to review its approach.

Equity Incentives Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

 

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Non–Executive Director Pay

In European markets, authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company-by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 0232066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6418 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

United Kingdom

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”), UK Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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SSGA’s UK Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in the UK and Ireland, SSGA expects all companies, regardless of domicile, that obtain a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange or the Irish Stock Exchange to comply with the UK Corporate Governance Code. Companies should provide detailed explanations under the Code’s ‘comply or explain’ approach, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and EMEA investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the UK and European markets.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices.

A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in UK companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Excessive tenure and a preponderance of long-tenured directors:

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders; and

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

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When considering the election or re-election of a director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive and an executive may undertake as well as attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA monitors other factors that may influence the independence of a non-executive director, such as performance related pay, cross-directorships, significant shareholdings and tenure. SSGA supports the annual election of directors.

While SSGA is generally supportive of having the roles of chairman and CEO separated in the UK market, SSGA assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to factors such as the company’s specific circumstances, overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. Similarly, SSGA will monitor for circumstances where a combined chairman/CEO is appointed or where a former CEO becomes chairman.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities when considering their suitability for reappointment. (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

SSGA believes companies should have committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Similarly, executive pay is an important aspect of corporate governance, and it should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. SSGA will vote against nominees who are executive members of audit or remuneration committees.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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. The nomination committee is responsible for evaluating and keeping under review the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the board and ensuring that adequate succession plans are in place for directors and the CEO. SSGA may vote against the re-election of members of the nomination committee if, over time, the board has failed to address concerns over board structure or succession.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if an adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

 

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Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

Share Issuances

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholders’ ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seek to issue new shares whilst dis-applying pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for a specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share re-purchase requests that allow share re-purchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long term financial health.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize share-holder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti-Takeover Measures

SSGA opposes anti-takeover defenses such as authorities for the board when subject to a hostile takeover to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

Despite the differences among the types of plans and awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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 policies and reports, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

Equity Incentives Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

Non-Executive Director Pay

Authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company- by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

 

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In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6417 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Emerging Markets

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Emerging Market Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines cover different corporate governance frameworks and practices in emerging markets. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles which provides a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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At SSGA, we recognize that countries in emerging markets are disparate in their corporate governance frameworks and practices. Concurrent with developing a company specific voting and engagement program, SSGA also evaluates the various factors that play into the corporate governance framework of a country. These factors include: (i) the macroeconomic conditions and broader political system in a country; (ii) quality of regulatory oversight, enforcement of property and shareholder rights; and (iii) the independence of judiciary—to name a few. While emerging market countries tend to pose broad common governance issues across all markets, such as concentrated ownership, poor disclosure of financial and related-party transactions, and weak enforcement of rules and regulation, SSGA’s emerging market proxy voting policy is designed to identify and address specific governance concerns in each market.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy in Emerging Markets

SSGA’s approach to proxy voting and issuer engagement in emerging markets is designed to increase the value of our investments through the mitigation of governance risks. Since the overall quality of the corporate governance framework in an emerging market country drives the level of governance risks investors assign to a country, improving the macro governance framework in a country may help reduce governance risks, in turn, increasing the overall value of SSGA’s holdings over time. Therefore, in order to improve the overall governance framework and practices in a country, members of our proxy voting and engagement team endeavor to visit emerging market countries and meet with representatives from regulatory agencies and stock markets to highlight potential concerns with the macro governance framework of a country. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in emerging markets. To help mitigate company specific risk, the team works alongside members of the active fundamental and emerging market teams to engage with emerging market companies on governance issues and address any specific concerns or to get more information regarding shareholder items that are to be voted on at upcoming shareholder meetings. This integrated approach to engagement drives SSGA’s proxy voting and engagement philosophy in emerging markets.

SSGA’s proxy voting guidelines in emerging markets addresses six broad areas:

 

    Directors and Boards;

 

    Accounting and Audit Related Issues;

 

    Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues;

 

    Remuneration;

 

    Environmental and Social Issues; and

 

    General/Routine Issues.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. However, several factors such as low overall independence level requirements by market regulators, poor biographical disclosure of director profiles, prevalence of related-party transactions and the general resistance from controlling shareholders to increase board independence renders the election of directors as one of the most important fiduciary duties SSGA performs in emerging market companies.

SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. SSGA expects companies to meet minimum overall board independence standards as defined in a corporate governance code or market practice. Therefore, in several countries, SSGA will vote against select non-independent directors if overall board independence levels do not meet market standards.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in emerging market companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders and other employees; and

 

    Attendance levels.

 

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In some countries, market practice calls for the establishment of a board level audit committee. In such cases, SSGA believes companies should have an audit committee that is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well as their effectiveness and resource levels. Based on our desire to enhance the quality of financial and accounting oversight provided by independent directors, SSGA expects that listed companies have an audit committee that is constituted of a majority of independent directors.

Audit Related Issues

The disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for the investment process. As a result, board oversight of internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely on financial statements. SSGA believes that audit committees provide the necessary oversight on the selection and appointment of auditors, a company’s internal controls and accounting policies, and the overall audit process. In emerging markets, SSGA encourages boards to appoint an audit committee composed of a majority of independent auditors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appointment at the annual meeting. SSGA believes that it is imperative for audit committees to select outside auditors who are independent from management.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

SSGA believes that changes to a company’s capital structure such as changes in authorized share capital, share repurchase and debt issuances are critical decisions made by the board. SSGA believes the company should have a well explained business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and should not overly dilute its shareholders.

Related Party Transactions

Most companies in emerging markets have a controlled ownership structure that often include complex cross-shareholdings between subsidiaries and parent companies (“related companies”). As a result, there is a high prevalence of related-party transactions between the company and its various stakeholders such as directors and management. In addition, inter-group loan and loan guarantees provided to related companies are some of the other related-party transactions that increase the risk profile of companies. In markets where shareholders are required to approve such transactions, SSGA expects companies to provide details of the transaction, such as the nature, value and purpose of such a transaction. It also encourages independent directors to ratify such transactions. Further, SSGA encourages companies to 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.

Share Repurchase Programs

With regard to share repurchase programs, SSGA expects companies to clearly state the business purpose for the program and a definitive number of shares to be repurchased.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA evaluates mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    Offer premium;

 

    Strategic rationale;

 

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    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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

SSGA will actively seek direct dialogue with the board and management of companies we have identified through our screening processes. Such engagements may lead to further monitoring to ensure the company improves its governance or sustainability practices. In these cases, the engagement process represents the most meaningful opportunity for SSGA to protect long-term shareholder value from excessive risk due to poor governance and sustainability practices.

Remuneration

SSGA considers it to be the board’s responsibility to set appropriate levels of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive compensation; there should be a direct relationship between executive compensation and company performance over the long-term. In emerging markets we encourage companies to disclose information on senior executive remuneration.

With regard to director remuneration, SSGA supports director pay provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other issuers in the market or industry and are not overly dilutive to existing shareholders.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors can not only have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. Companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change. In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

In emerging markets, shareholders seldom vote on environmental and social issues. Therefore, SSGA addresses a company’s approach to identifying and managing environmental and social risks stemming for various aspects of its operations in its one-on-one engagement with companies.

General/Routine Issues

Some of the other issues that are routinely voted on in emerging markets include approving the allocation of income and accepting financial statements and statutory reports. For these voting items, SSGA’s policies consider several factors including historical dividend payouts, pending litigation, governmental investigations, charges of fraud or other indication of significant concerns.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’ express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6416 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Japan

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Japan Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines complement and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines in Japan address areas including: board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in Japan, SSGA takes into consideration the unique aspects of Japanese corporate governance structures. We recognize that under Japanese corporate law, companies may choose between two structures of corporate governance: the statutory auditor system or the committee structure. Most Japanese boards predominantly consist of executives and non-independent outsiders affiliated through commercial relationships or cross-shareholdings. Nonetheless, when evaluating companies, SSGA expects Japanese companies to address conflicts of interest, risk management and demonstrate an effective process for monitoring management. In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in Japanese companies, SSGA also considers guidance issued by the Corporate Law Subcommittee of the Legislative Council within the Ministry of Justice as well as private study groups.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, and environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in Japan.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practices, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice.

Japanese companies have the option of having a traditional board of directors with statutory auditors, a board with a committee structure, or a hybrid board with board level audit committee. SSGA will generally support companies that seek shareholder approval to adopt a committee or hybrid board structure.

Most Japanese issuers prefer the traditional statutory auditor structure. Statutory auditors act in a quasi-compliance role as they are not involved in strategic decision-making nor are they part of the formal management decision process. Statutory auditors attend board meetings but do not have voting rights at the board; however, they have the right to seek an injunction and conduct broad investigations of unlawful behavior in the company’s operations.

SSGA will support the election of statutory auditors, unless the outside statutory auditor nominee is regarded as non-independent based on SSGA criteria, the outside statutory auditor has attended less than 75 percent of meetings of the board of directors or board of statutory auditors during the year under review, or the statutory auditor has been remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities (fraud, criminal wrong doing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

 

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For companies with a statutory auditor structure there is no legal requirement that boards have outside directors, however, SSGA believes there should be a transparent process of independent and external monitoring of management on behalf of shareholders.

 

    SSGA believes that non-controlled Japanese companies should appoint at least two outside directors, otherwise, SSGA will oppose the top executive who is responsible for the director nomination process; and

 

    For controlled companies with a statutory auditor structure, SSGA will oppose the top executive, if the board does not have at least two independent directors.

For companies with a committee structure or a hybrid board structure, SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering general market practice, as well as the independence of the nominee. SSGA also takes into consideration the overall independence level of the committees. In determining director independence, SSGA considers the following factors:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Past employment with the company;

 

    Provides professional services to the company; and

 

    Family ties with the company.

Regardless of board structure, SSGA may oppose the election of a director for the following reasons:

 

    Failure to attend board meetings; or

 

    In instances of egregious actions related to a director’s service on the board.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ and statutory auditors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. SSGA believes limitations and indemnification are necessary to attract and retain qualified directors.

Audit Related Items

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should have the opportunity to vote on their appointment at the annual meeting.

Ratifying External Auditors

SSGA will generally support the appointment of external auditors unless the external auditor is perceived as being non-independent and there are concerns about the accounts presented and the audit procedures followed.

Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Capital Structure, Reorganization and Mergers

SSGA supports the “one share one vote” policy and favors a share structure where all shares have equal voting rights. SSGA supports proposals to abolish voting caps or multiple voting rights and will oppose measures to introduce these types of restrictions on shareholder rights.

SSGA believes pre-emption rights should be introduced for shareholders in order to provide adequate protection from being overly diluted from the issuance of new shares or convertible securities to third parties or a small number of select shareholders.

 

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Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA generally opposes proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will generally oppose new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add classes of stock with undefined voting rights or classes that may dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.

However, SSGA will support capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Increase in Authorized Capital

SSGA generally supports increases in authorized capital where the company provides an adequate explanation for the use of shares. In the absence of an adequate explanation, SSGA may oppose the request if the increase in authorized capital exceeds 100 percent of the currently authorized capital. Where share issuance requests exceed our standard threshold, SSGA will consider the nature of the specific need, such as mergers and acquisitions and stock splits.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long term financial health.

Share Repurchase Programs

Companies are allowed under Japan Corporate Law to amend their articles to authorize the repurchase of shares at the board’s discretion. SSGA will oppose an amendment to articles allowing the repurchase of shares at the board’s discretion. SSGA believes the company should seek shareholder approval for a share repurchase program at each year’s AGM, providing shareholders the right to evaluate the purpose of the repurchase.

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share repurchase requests that allow share repurchases during a takeover period.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA evaluates mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti-Takeover Measures

In general, SSGA believes that adoption of poison pills that have been structured to protect management and to prevent takeover bids from succeeding is not in shareholders’ interest. A shareholder rights plan may lead to management entrenchment and discourage legitimate tender offers and acquisitions. Even if the premium paid to companies with a shareholder rights plan is higher than that offered to unprotected firms, a company’s chances of receiving a takeover offer in the first place may be reduced by the presence of a shareholder rights plan.

Proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights or have the effect of entrenching incumbent management will not be supported.

Proposals that enhance the right of shareholders to make their own choices as to the desirability of a merger or other proposal are supported.

Shareholder Rights Plans

In evaluating poison pills, the following conditions must be met before SSGA will recommend a vote in favor.

SSGA will support the adoption or renewal of a Japanese issuer’s shareholder rights plans (“poison pill”) if the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, and (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced.

SSGA will vote for an amendment to a shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”) where the terms of the new plans are more favorable to shareholders’ ability to accept unsolicited offers (i.e. if one of the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, or (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced).

Compensation

In Japan, excessive compensation is rarely an issue. Rather, the problem is the lack of connection between pay and performance. Fixed salaries and cash retirement bonuses tend to comprise a significant portion of the compensation structure while performance-based pay is generally a small portion of the total pay. SSGA, where possible, seeks to encourage the use of performance based compensation in Japan as an incentive for executives and as a way to align interests with shareholders.

Approve Adjustment to Aggregate Compensation Ceiling for Directors

Remuneration for directors is generally reasonable. Typically, each company sets the director compensation parameters as an aggregate thereby limiting the total pay to all directors. When requesting a change, a company must disclose the last time the ceiling was adjusted and management provides the rationale for the ceiling increase. SSGA will generally support proposed increases to the ceiling if the company discloses the rationale for the increase. SSGA may oppose proposals to increase the ceiling if there has been corporate malfeasance or sustained poor performance.

Approve Annual Bonuses for Directors/ Statutory Auditors

In Japan, since there are no legal requirements that mandate companies to seek shareholder approval before awarding a bonus, SSGA believes that existing shareholder approval of the bonus should be considered best practice. As a result, SSGA supports management proposals on executive compensation where there is a strong relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period.

Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors/ Statutory Auditors

Retirement bonuses make up a sizeable portion of directors’ and auditors’ lifetime compensation and are based on board tenure. While many companies in Japan have abolished this practice, there remain many proposals seeking shareholder approval for the total amounts paid to directors and statutory auditors as a whole. In general, SSGA supports these payments unless the recipient is an outsider or in instances where the amount is not disclosed.

 

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Approve Stock Plan

Most option plans in Japan are conservative, particularly at large companies. Japan corporate law requires companies to disclose the monetary value of the stock options for directors and/or statutory auditors. Some companies do not disclose the maximum number of options that can be issued per year and shareholders are unable to evaluate the dilution impact. In this case, SSGA cannot calculate the dilution level and, therefore, SSGA may oppose such plans for poor disclosure. SSGA also opposes plans that allow for the repricing of the exercise price.

Deep Discount Options

As Japanese companies move away from the retirement bonus system, deep discount options plans have become more popular. Typically, the exercise price is set at JPY 1 per share. SSGA evaluates deep discount options using the same criteria used to evaluate stock options as well as considering the vesting period.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors can not only have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. Companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

Miscellaneous/Routine Items

Expansion of Business Activities

Japanese companies’ articles of incorporation strictly define the types of businesses in which a company is permitted to engage. In general, SSGA views proposals to expand and diversify the company’s business activities as routine and non-contentious. SSGA will monitor instances where there has been an inappropriate acquisition and diversification away from the company’s main area of competence, which resulted in a decrease of shareholder value.

More Information

Any client who wishes to receive information on how its proxies were voted should contact its SSGA relationship manager.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6433 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Australia

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Australia Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in Australia. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflict of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Australia Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in Australia, SSGA expects all companies at a minimum to comply with the ASX Corporate Governance Principles. Companies should provide detailed explanations under the Principles’ ‘comply or explain’ approach, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests. On some governance matters, such as composition of audit committees, we hold Australian companies to our global standards requiring all directors on the committee to be independent of management.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the region.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound ESG policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. SSGA expects boards of ASX-300 listed companies to be comprised of at least a majority of independent directors. At all other listed companies, SSGA expects boards to be comprised of at least one-third independent directors.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in Australian companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders; and

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

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When considering the election or re-election of a director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive and an executive may undertake as well as attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA monitors other factors that may influence the independence of a non-executive director, such as performance related pay, cross-directorships, significant shareholdings and tenure. SSGA supports the annual election of directors and encourages Australian companies to adopt this practice.

While SSGA is generally supportive of having the roles of chairman and CEO separated in the Australia market, SSGA assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to factors such as the company’s specific circumstances, overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. Similarly, SSGA will monitor for circumstances where a combined chairman/CEO is appointed or where a former CEO becomes chairman.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities when considering their suitability for reappointment. (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities)

SSGA believes companies should have committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Australian Corporate Governance Principles requires ASX listed companies to have an audit committee of at least three members all of whom are non-executive directors and a majority of whom are independent directors. It also requires that the committee be chaired by an independent director who is not the chair of the board. SSGA holds Australian companies to its global standards for developed financial markets, by requiring that all members of the audit committee be independent directors.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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. The nomination committee is responsible for evaluating and keeping under review the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the board and ensuring that adequate succession plans are in place for directors and the CEO. SSGA may vote against the re-election of members of the nomination committee if, over time, the board has failed to address concerns over board structure or succession.

Executive pay is another important aspect of corporate governance. SSGA believes that executive pay should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. Australian Corporate Governance Principles requires ASX listed companies to have a remuneration committee of at least three members all of whom are non-executive directors and a majority of whom are independent directors. Since Australia has a non-binding vote on pay with a two-strike rule requiring a board spill in the event of a second strike, SSGA believes that the vote provides investors a mechanism to address concerns it may have on the quality of oversight provided by the board on remuneration issues. Accordingly SSGA voting guidelines accommodate local market practice.

Indemnification and limitations on liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

 

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Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or to re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

Share Issuances

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholders’ ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seeks to issue new shares without pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share repurchase requests that allow share repurchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long-term financial health.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering the following:

 

    Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock;

 

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    Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

Anti-Takeover Measures

SSGA opposes anti-takeover defenses, such as authorities for the board, when subject to a hostile takeover, to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

There is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where there seems to be a misalignment between pay and shareholders’ interests and where incentive policies and schemes have a re-test option or feature. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure to review its approach.

Equity Incentive Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

Non-Executive Director Pay

Authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company-by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive

 

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advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

 

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In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6423 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Managing Conflicts of Interest Arising From SSGA’S Proxy Voting and Engagement Activity

State Street Corporation has a comprehensive standalone Conflicts of Interest Policy and other policies that address a range of conflicts of interests identified by our parent company. In addition, SSGA maintains a conflicts register that identifies key conflicts and describes systems in place to mitigate the conflicts. This policy is designed to act in conjunction with related policies and practices employed by other groups within the organization. Further, they complement those policies and practices by providing specific guidance on managing the conflicts of interests that may arise through SSGA’s proxy voting activities.

 

LOGO

 

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Managing Conflicts of Interest Related to Proxy Voting

SSGA has policies and procedures designed to prevent undue influence on SSGA’s voting activities that may arise from relationships between proxy issuers or companies and State Street Corporation (“STT”) SSGA, SSGA affiliates, SSGA Funds or SSGA Fund affiliates.

Protocols designed to help mitigate potential conflicts of interest include:

 

    Providing sole voting discretion to members of SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team. Members of the corporate governance team may from time to time discuss views on proxy voting matters, company performance, strategy etc. with other STT or SSGA employees including portfolio managers, senior executives and relationship managers. However, final voting decisions are made solely by the corporate governance team, in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of all clients, taking into account various perspectives on risks and opportunities with a view of maximizing the value of client assets;

 

    Exercising a singular vote decision for each ballot item regardless of SSGA’s investment strategy;

 

    Prohibiting members of SSGA’s corporate governance team from disclosing SSGA’s voting decision to any individual not affiliated with the proxy voting process prior to the meeting or date of written consent, as the case may be;

 

    Mandatory disclosure by members of the SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team, Global Proxy Review Committee (“PRC”) and Investment Committee (“IC”) of any personal conflict of interest (e.g., familial relationship with company management, serves as a director on the board of a listed company) to the Head of the Corporate Governance Team. Members are required to recuse themselves from any engagement or proxy voting activities related to the conflict;

 

    In certain instances, client accounts and/or SSGA pooled funds, where SSGA acts as trustee, may hold shares in STT or other SSGA affiliated entities, such as mutual funds affiliated with SSGA Funds Management, Inc. In general, SSGA will outsource any voting decision relating to a shareholder meeting of STT or other SSGA affiliated entities to independent outside third parties. Delegated third parties exercise vote decisions based upon SSGA’s in-house policies; and

 

    Reporting of voting policy overrides, if any, to the PRC on a quarterly basis.

In general, we do not believe matters that fall within the Guidelines and are voted consistently with the Guidelines present any potential conflicts, since the vote on the matter has effectively been determined without reference to the soliciting entity. However, where matters do not fall within the Guidelines or where we believe that voting in accordance with the Guidelines is unwarranted, we conduct an additional review to determine whether there is a conflict of interest. In circumstances where a conflict has been identified and either: (i) the matter does not fall clearly within the Guidelines; or (ii) SSGA determines that voting in accordance with such policies or guidance is not in the best interests of its clients, the Head of SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team will determine whether a Material Relationship exists. If so, the matter is referred to the SSGA PRC. The SSGA PRC then reviews the matter and determines whether a conflict of interest exists, and if so, how to best resolve such conflict. For example, the SSGA PRC may (i) determine that the proxy vote does not give rise to a conflict due to the issues presented, (ii) refer the matter to the SSGA Investment Committee for further evaluation or (iii) retain an independent fiduciary to determine the appropriate vote.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6331 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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Appendix B

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

Effective Date: January 1, 2011, as last amended October 27, 2014

 

 

 

 

I. General Principles

A. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“NAM”) is an investment sub-adviser for certain of the Nuveen Funds (the “Funds”) and investment adviser for institutional and other separately managed accounts (collectively, with the Funds, “Accounts”). As such, Accounts may confer upon NAM complete discretion to vote proxies.1

B. It is NAM’s duty to vote proxies in the best interests of its clients (which may involve affirmatively deciding that voting the proxies may not be in the best interests of certain clients on certain matters). In voting proxies, NAM also seeks to enhance total investment return for its clients.

C. If NAM contracts with another investment adviser to act as a sub-adviser for an Account, NAM may delegate proxy voting responsibility to the sub-adviser. Where NAM has delegated proxy voting responsibility, the sub-adviser will be responsible for developing and adhering to its own proxy voting policies, subject to oversight by NAM.

D. NAM’s Proxy Voting Committee (“PVC”) provides oversight of NAM’s proxy voting policies and procedures, including (1) providing an administrative framework to facilitate and monitor the exercise of such proxy voting and to fulfill the obligations of reporting and recordkeeping under the federal securities laws; and (2) approving the proxy voting policies and procedures.

 

II. Policies

The PVC after reviewing and concluding that such policies are reasonably designed to vote proxies in the best interests of clients, has approved and adopted the proxy voting policies of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), a leading national provider of proxy voting administrative and research services. As a result, such policies set forth NAM’s positions on recurring proxy issues and criteria for addressing non-recurring issues. These policies are reviewed periodically by ISS, and therefore are subject to change. Even though it has adopted ISS policies, NAM maintains the fiduciary responsibility for all proxy voting decisions.

 

1  NAM does not vote proxies where a client withholds proxy voting authority, and in certain non-discretionary and model programs NAM votes proxies in accordance with its policies and procedures in effect from time to time. Clients may opt to vote proxies themselves, or to have proxies voted by an independent third party or other named fiduciary or agent, at the client’s cost.

 

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III. Procedures

A. Supervision of Proxy Voting. Day-to-day administration of proxy voting may be provided internally or by a third-party service provider, depending on client type, subject to the ultimate oversight of the PVC. The PVC shall supervise the relationships with NAM’s proxy voting services, ISS. ISS apprises Nuveen Global Operations (“NGO”) of shareholder meeting dates, and casts the actual proxy votes. ISS also provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations. ISS serves as NAM’s proxy voting record keepers and generate reports on how proxies were voted.

B. Conflicts of Interest.

 

  1. The following relationships or circumstances may give rise to conflicts of interest2:

 

  a. The issuer or proxy proponent (e.g., a special interest group) is TIAA-CREF, the ultimate principal owner of NAM, or any of its affiliates.

 

  b. The issuer is an entity in which an executive officer of NAM or a spouse or domestic partner of any such executive officer is or was (within the past three years of the proxy vote) an executive officer or director.

 

  c. The issuer is a registered or unregistered fund for which NAM or another Nuveen adviser serves as investment adviser or sub-adviser.

 

  d. Any other circumstances that NAM is aware of where NAM’s duty to serve its clients’ interests, typically referred to as its “duty of loyalty,” could be materially compromised.

 

  2. NAM will vote proxies in the best interest of its clients regardless of such real or perceived conflicts of interest. By adopting ISS policies, NAM believes the risk related to conflicts will be minimized.

 

  3. To further minimize this risk, Compliance will review ISS’ conflict avoidance policy at least annually to ensure that it adequately addresses both the actual and perceived conflicts of interest the proxy voting service may face.

 

2  A conflict of interest shall not be considered material for the purposes of these Policies and Procedures with respect to a specific vote or circumstance if the matter to be voted on relates to a restructuring of the terms of existing securities or the issuance of new securities or a similar matter arising out of the holding of securities, other than common equity, in the context of a bankruptcy or threatened bankruptcy of the issuer, even if a conflict described in III.B.1.a.-d is present.


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  4. In the event that ISS faces a material conflict of interest with respect to a specific vote, the PVC shall direct ISS how to vote. The PVC shall receive voting direction from appropriate investment personnel. Before doing so, the PVC will consult with Legal to confirm that NAM faces no material conflicts of its own with respect to the specific proxy vote.

 

  5. If Legal concludes that a material conflict does exist for NAM, the PVC will recommend to NAM’s Compliance Committee or designee a course of action designed to address the conflict. Such actions could include, but are not limited to:

 

  a. Obtaining instructions from the affected client(s) on how to vote the proxy;

 

  b. Disclosing the conflict to the affected client(s) and seeking their consent to permit NAM to vote the proxy;

 

  c. Voting in proportion to the other shareholders;

 

  e. Recusing the individual with the actual or potential conflict of interest from all discussion or consideration of the matter, if the material conflict is due to such person’s actual or potential conflict of interest; or

 

  f. Following the recommendation of a different independent third party.

 

  6. In addition to all of the above-mentioned and other conflicts, the Head of Equity Research, NGO and any member of the PVC must notify NAM’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) of any direct, indirect or perceived improper influence exerted by any employee, officer or director within the MDP affiliate or Fund complex with regard to how NAM should vote proxies. NAM Compliance will investigate any such allegations and will report the findings to NAM’s Compliance Committee. If it is determined that improper influence was attempted, appropriate action shall be taken. Such appropriate action may include disciplinary action, notification of the appropriate senior managers within the MDP affiliate, or notification of the appropriate regulatory authorities. In all cases, NAM will not consider any improper influence in determining how to vote proxies, and will vote in the best interests of clients.

C. Proxy Vote Override. From time to time, a portfolio manager of an Account (a “Portfolio Manager”) may initiate action to override ISS’s recommendation for a particular vote. Any such override by a NAM Portfolio Manager (but not a sub-adviser Portfolio Manager) shall


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be reviewed by NAM’s Legal Department for material conflicts. If the Legal Department determines that no material conflicts exist, the approval of one member of the PVC shall authorize the override. If a material conflict exists, the conflict and, ultimately, the override recommendation will be addressed pursuant to the procedures described above under “Conflicts of Interest.”

D. Securities Lending.

 

  1. In order to generate incremental revenue, some clients may participate in a securities lending program. If a client has elected to participate in the lending program then it will not have the right to vote the proxies of any securities that are on loan as of the shareholder meeting record date. A client, or a Portfolio Manager, may place restrictions on loaning securities and/or recall a security on loan at any time. Such actions must be affected prior to the record date for a meeting if the purpose for the restriction or recall is to secure the vote.

 

  2. Portfolio Managers and/or analysts who become aware of upcoming proxy issues relating to any securities in portfolios they manage, or issuers they follow, will consider the desirability of recalling the affected securities that are on loan or restricting the affected securities prior to the record date for the matter. If the proxy issue is determined to be material, and the determination is made prior to the shareholder meeting record date the Portfolio Manager(s) will contact the Securities Lending Agent to recall securities on loan or restrict the loaning of any security held in any portfolio they manage, if they determine that it is in the best interest of shareholders to do so.

E. Proxy Voting for ERISA Clients. If a proxy voting issue arises for an ERISA client, NAM is prohibited from voting shares with respect to any issue advanced by a party in interest of the ERISA client, and will rely on its ERISA clients to inform NAM of any actual or perceived client conflicts.

F. Proxy Voting Records. As required by Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, NAM shall make and retain five types of records relating to proxy voting; (1) proxy voting policies and procedures; (2) proxy statements received for client and fund securities; (3) records of votes cast on behalf of clients and funds; (4) records of written requests for proxy voting information and written responses from NAM to either a written or oral request; and (5) any documents prepared by the adviser that were material to making a proxy voting decision or that memorialized the basis for the decision. NAM may rely on ISS to make and retain on NAM’s behalf records pertaining to the rule.

G. Fund of Funds Provision. In instances where NAM provides investment advice to a fund of funds that acquires shares of affiliated funds or three percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of an unaffiliated fund, the acquiring fund shall vote the shares in


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the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of the acquired fund. If compliance with this policy results in a vote of any shares in a manner different than the ISS recommendation, such vote will not require compliance with the Proxy Vote Override procedures set forth above.

H. Legacy Securities. To the extent that NAM receives proxies for securities that are transferred into an Account’s portfolio that were not recommended or selected by it and are sold or expected to be sold promptly in an orderly manner (“legacy securities”), NAM will generally instruct ISS to refrain from voting such proxies. In such circumstances, since legacy securities are expected to be sold promptly, voting proxies on such securities would not further NAM’s interest in maximizing the value of client investments. NAM may agree to an institutional account’s special request to vote a legacy security proxy, and would instruct ISS to vote such proxy in accordance with its guidelines.

I. Terminated Accounts. Proxies received after the termination date of an Account generally will not be voted. An exception will be made if the record date is for a period in which an Account was under management or if a separately managed account (“SMA”) custodian failed to remove the account’s holdings from its aggregated voting list.

J. Non-votes. NGO shall be responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that proxies are voted and submitted in a timely manner. It should not be considered a breach of this responsibility if NAM does not receive a proxy from ISS or a custodian with adequate time to analyze and direct to vote or vote a proxy by the required voting deadline.

NAM may determine not to vote proxies associated with the securities of any issuer if as a result of voting, subsequent purchases or sales of such securities would be blocked. However, NAM may decide, on an individual security basis that it is in the best interests of its clients to vote the proxy associated with such a security, taking into account the loss of liquidity. In addition, NAM may not to vote proxies where the voting would in NAM’s judgment result in some other financial, legal, regulatory disability or burden to the client (such as imputing control with respect to the issuer) or subject to resolution of any conflict of interest as provided herein, to NAM.

In the case of SMAs, NAM may determine not to vote securities where voting would require the transfer of the security to another custodian designated by the issuer. Such transfer is generally outside the scope of NAM’s authority and may result in significant operational limitations on NAM’s ability to conduct transactions relating to the securities during the period of transfer. From time to time, situations may arise (operational or otherwise) that prevent NAM from voting proxies after reasonable attempts have been made.

K. Review and Reports.

 

  1. The PVC shall maintain a review schedule. The schedule shall include reviews of the proxy voting policy (including the policies of any sub-adviser engaged by NAM), the proxy voting record, account maintenance, and other reviews as deemed appropriate by the PVC. The PVC shall review the schedule at least annually.


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  2. The PVC will report to NAM’s Compliance Committee with respect to all identified conflicts and how they were addressed. These reports will include all Accounts, including those that are sub-advised. NAM also shall provide the Funds that it sub-advises with information necessary for preparing Form N-PX.

L. Vote Disclosure to Clients. NAM’s institutional and SMA clients can contact their relationship manager for more information on NAM’s policies and the proxy voting record for their account. The information available includes name of issuer, ticker/CUSIP, shareholder meeting date, description of item and NAM’s vote.

 

IV. Policy Owner

PVC

 

V. Responsible Parties

PVC

NGO

Compliance

Legal Department

 

As amended:   3/1/13  
  6/5/14  
  10/27/14  


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SPDR® SERIES TRUST (THE “TRUST”)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

October 31, 2016

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. With respect to the Trust’s series listed below, this SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated March 4, 2016, as may be revised from time to time (“Prospectus”).

 

ETF

   TICKER  

SPDR® SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF

     SHE   

Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for the ETF: NYSE Arca, Inc.

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 Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2016 may be obtained without charge by writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, the Trust’s principal underwriter (referred to herein as “Distributor” or “Principal Underwriter”), State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Trust’s website at https://www.spdrs.com or by calling 1-866-787-2257. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, financial highlights and financial statements of the Fund included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

SHESAI


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General Description of the Trust      1   
Investment Policies      1   
Special Considerations and Risks      6   
Investment Restrictions      10   
Exchange Listing and Trading      11   
Management of the Trust      12   
Brokerage Transactions      24   
Book Entry Only System      26   
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities      27   
Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units      27   
Determination of Net Asset Value      33   
Dividends and Distributions      34   
Taxes      34   
Capital Stock and Shareholder Reports      41   
Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      41   

Financial Statements

Appendix A - Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

    

 

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A-1

  

  


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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 SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (the “Fund”). The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 12, 1998. The offering of the Fund’s shares (“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return of a specified market index (the “Index”). SSGA Funds Management, Inc. serves as the investment adviser for the Fund (the “Adviser”).

The Fund offers and issues Shares at its net asset value (sometimes referred to herein as “NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). The Fund generally offers and issues Shares either in exchange for (i) a basket of securities included in its Index (“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 the 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 either for (i) portfolio securities and a specified cash payment or (ii) cash (subject to applicable legal requirements). A Creation Unit of the Fund consists of 50,000 Shares.

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

The Fund may invest in the following types of investments, consistent with its investment strategies and objective. Please see the Fund’s Prospectus for additional information regarding its principal investment strategies.

DIVERSIFICATION STATUS

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that the 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 the Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund. The securities of a particular issuer may constitute a greater portion of the Index and, therefore, the securities may constitute a greater portion of the Fund’s portfolio. This may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s performance or subject the Fund’s Shares to greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies.

Although the Fund is non-diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a “regulated investment company” for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Internal Revenue Code”), and to relieve the 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 Fund and may make it less likely that the Fund will meet its investment objective.

COMMERCIAL PAPER

The Fund may invest in 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.

 

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COMMON STOCKS

The Fund may invest in common stocks. Risks inherent in investing in equity securities include the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and therefore a decrease in the value of Shares of the Fund). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions 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 or banking crises.

CONCENTRATION

The Fund’s investments will generally be concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund’s underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries. The securities of issuers in particular industries may dominate the benchmark Index of the Fund and consequently the Fund’s investment portfolio. This may adversely affect the Fund’s performance or subject its Shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by less concentrated investment companies. The Trust’s general policy is to exclude securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities when measuring industry concentration.

In pursuing its objective, the Fund may hold the securities of a single issuer in an amount exceeding 10% of the market value of the outstanding securities of the issuer, subject to restrictions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. In particular, as the Fund’s size grows and its assets increase, it will be more likely to hold more than 10% of the securities of a single issuer if the issuer has a relatively small public float as compared to other components in its benchmark Index.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks 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 the 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 stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, 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 stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline 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 stocks rise 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 stocks. 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.

FUTURES CONTRACTS, OPTIONS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in derivatives, including exchange-traded futures on Treasuries or Eurodollars, U.S. exchange-traded or OTC put and call options contracts and exchange-traded or OTC swap agreements (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, excess return swaps, and credit default swaps). The Fund will segregate cash and/or appropriate liquid assets if required to do so by SEC or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulation or interpretation.

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. Futures contracts are standardized as to maturity date and underlying instrument and are traded on futures exchanges.

 

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The Fund is required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or U.S. government securities 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 margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin 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, the Fund would expect to earn interest income on its margin deposits. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position (“buying” a contract which has previously been “sold” or “selling” a contract previously “purchased”) in an identical contract to terminate the position. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract position is opened or closed.

The 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.

Regulation under the Commodities Exchange Act. The Fund intends to use futures and options in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). The Fund may use exchange-traded futures and options, together with positions in cash and money market instruments, to simulate full investment in its underlying Index. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts may not be currently available for an Index. Under such circumstances, the Adviser may seek to utilize other instruments that it believes to be correlated to the Index components or a subset of the components. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 so that the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.

Restrictions on the Use of Futures and Options. In connection with its management of the Fund, the Adviser has claimed an exclusion from registration as a commodity pool operator under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 and, therefore, is not subject to the registration and regulatory requirements of the CEA. The Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures and options thereon to the extent allowed by the CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. The Fund would take steps to prevent its futures positions from “leveraging” its securities holdings. When it has a long futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank, assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position. When it has a short futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position).

Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate, index and total return swap agreements. Swap agreements 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 agreements will usually be done on a net basis, i.e., where the two parties make net payments with the 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 the 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.

In the case of a credit default swap (“CDS”), the contract gives one party (the buyer) the right to recoup the economic value of a decline in the value of debt securities of the reference issuer if the credit event (a downgrade or default) occurs. This value is obtained by delivering a debt security of the reference issuer to the party in return for a previously agreed payment from the other party (frequently, the par value of the debt security). As the seller of a CDS contract, the Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to debt obligations. In return, the Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

 

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CDSs may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. The Fund will segregate assets necessary to meet any accrued payment obligations when it is the buyer of CDSs. In cases where the Fund is a seller of a CDS, if the CDS is physically settled, the Fund will be required to segregate the full notional amount of the CDS. Such segregation will not limit the Fund’s exposure to loss.

CDS agreements involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, illiquidity risk associated with a particular issuer, and credit risk, each of which will be similar in either case, CDSs are subject to the risk of illiquidity within the CDS market on the whole, as well as counterparty risk. The Fund will enter into CDS agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. The Fund will only enter into CDSs for purposes of better tracking the performance of its Index.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The 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, the Fund will provide appropriate disclosure.

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

The 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), the 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, the Fund’s investment restrictions and the Trust’s exemptive relief, the Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are affiliated funds and/or money market funds in excess of the limits discussed above.

If the 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

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain creditworthy borrowers in U.S. and non-U.S. markets in an amount not to exceed one quarter (25%) of the value of its total 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. The Fund may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the securities loaned. The Fund receives the value of any interest or cash or non-cash distributions paid on the loaned securities. The 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. 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 will be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. The 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, the 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 short-term instruments either directly on behalf of the Fund or through one or more joint accounts or money market funds, which may include those managed by the Adviser.

The 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 of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) who administer the lending program for the Fund in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. In such capacity, the lending agent causes the delivery of loaned securities from the Fund to borrowers, arranges for the return of loaned securities to the Fund at the termination of a loan, requests deposit of collateral, monitors the daily value of the loaned securities and collateral, requests that borrowers add to the collateral when required

 

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by the loan agreements, and provides recordkeeping and accounting services necessary for the operation of the program. 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 Fund 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.

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 the Fund has agreed to pay a borrower), risk of loss of collateral, credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. Although State Street has agreed to provide the Fund with indemnification in the event of a borrower default, the Fund is still exposed to the risk of losses in the event a borrower does not return the Fund’s securities as agreed. For example, delays in recovery of lent securities may cause the Fund to lose the opportunity to sell the securities at a desirable price.

LEVERAGING

While the Fund does not anticipate doing so, the Fund may borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. However, under normal circumstances, the Fund will not borrow money from a bank in an amount greater than 10% 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 the Fund’s assets will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the NAV of the Fund will increase more when the 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

In addition to repurchase agreements, the 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 Standard & Poor’s (“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 risks; 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 the 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, and compliance with many of these amendments were required in October 2016. 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.

PREFERRED SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in preferred securities. Preferred securities pay fixed or adjustable rate dividends to investors, and have “preference” over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of a company’s assets. This means that a company must pay dividends on preferred stock before paying any dividends on its common stock. In order to be payable, distributions on preferred securities must be declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Income payments on typical preferred securities currently outstanding are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accrue even if not declared by the board of directors or otherwise made payable. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on the preferred securities in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

 

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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, the 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.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The 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 the 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 the Fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument.

In these repurchase agreement transactions, the securities acquired by the 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 the Fund’s net assets will be invested in illiquid securities, 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, the 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 the 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

The 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 the 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 the Fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the 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 the 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 the Fund’s assets. The Fund’s exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings. Although there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, the Fund does not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 10% of its total assets.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS

A discussion of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund is contained in the Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

 

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GENERAL

Investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the 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 the 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 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.

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, will be subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.

The principal trading market for some of the securities in the Index 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 the Fund’s Shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities are limited or absent or if bid/ask spreads are wide.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RISK

An investment in the 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 the 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. The 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 the 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 the 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.

 

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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(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 the 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 the 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.

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 the 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, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the 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, the Fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying futures contracts it has sold.

The 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 Fund does not plan to use futures and options contracts, when available, in this manner. 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. The 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 the Fund involves the risk of imperfect or even negative correlation to its benchmark Index if the index underlying the futures contracts differs from the benchmark Index or if the futures contracts do not track the benchmark Index as expected. There is also the risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the 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 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, 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.

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, the 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.

 

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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, the Fund’s counterparty to the transaction is a central derivatives clearing organization, or clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Because the Fund is not a member of a clearing house, and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund holds cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, the 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 the Fund than bilateral (non-cleared) arrangements. For example, the 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 the 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. The Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or which SSGA 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 the 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 the 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 are new and evolving, so their potential impact on the 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 the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. 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 the Fund’s interest.

If the 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.

TAX RISKS

As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares of the 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 the 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 the Fund makes distributions or you sell Shares.

 

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies with respect to the Fund. These restrictions cannot be changed 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 the 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, the Fund may not:

1. Concentrate its investments in securities of issuers in the same industry, except as may be necessary to approximate the composition of the Fund’s underlying Index;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 Fund;

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 Fund;

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 Fund 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 Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the Fund’s 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 Fund.

In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, the Fund observes the following restrictions, which may be changed by the Board without a shareholder vote. The Fund 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 Fund in accordance with its views;

2. Hold illiquid assets in excess of 15% of its net assets. An illiquid asset is any asset which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the investment; and

3. Under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its total assets in component securities that comprise its Index.

The Fund defines the foregoing terms in accordance with the definition of such terms per the Index. 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 and illiquid securities 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 Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays). With respect to the limitation on illiquid securities, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the limitations as soon as reasonably practicable.

The 1940 Act currently permits the Fund to loan up to 33 1/3% of its total assets. With respect to borrowing, the 1940 Act presently allows the Fund 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 Fund’s total assets at the time of the loan, and (3) enter into reverse repurchase agreements. However, under normal circumstances any borrowings by the Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund’s 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, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation. With respect to investments in commodities, the 1940 Act presently permits the Fund to invest in commodities in accordance with investment policies contained in its prospectus and SAI. Any such investment shall also comply with the Commodity Exchange Act

 

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.

 

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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 Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may invest in companies that deal in real estate (including real estate investment trusts (“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 the 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 the Fund are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. The 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 the Fund will continue to be met.

The Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the Shares of the Fund from listing if: (1) following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Shares for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (2) the value of its underlying Index or portfolio of securities on which the Fund is based is no longer calculated or available; (3) the “indicative optimized portfolio value” (“IOPV”) of the Fund is no longer calculated or available; or (4) such other event shall occur or condition exists that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. In addition, the Exchange will remove the Shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Trust or the Fund.

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the Share price of the 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.

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 the Fund is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which the Fund’s net asset value per Share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which Shares of the Fund are listed and traded on the Exchange.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “MANAGEMENT.”

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Fund 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 Fund. The Fund and its 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 (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Fund’s service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of the 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, its 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 the Fund may be exposed.

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund 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 the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the 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 and any sub-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 Fund’s 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 the 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.

 

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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 Fund, 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 the 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 the Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address 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 Fund’s investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the 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 Fund’s 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 six members of the Board of Trustees, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”). Frank Nesvet, 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 (greater than 75%) 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 (and classes of shares) 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

5 YEARS

  NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE†
 

OTHER

DIRECTORSHIPS

HELD BY

TRUSTEE

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES          

FRANK NESVET

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1943

 

Independent

Trustee,

Chairman,

Trustee

Committee

Chair

  Term:
Unlimited

Served:
since

September
2000

  Retired.   206   None.

DAVID M. KELLY

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1938

 

Independent

Trustee,

Audit

Committee

Chair

  Term:
Unlimited

Served:
since
September
2000

  Retired.   206   Chicago Stock Exchange (Former Director, retired); Penson Worldwide Inc. (Former Director, retired).

BONNY EUGENIA BOATMAN

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1950

 

Independent

Trustee

  Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

April
2010

  Retired.   206   None.

 

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NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

 

POSITION(S)

WITH
FUNDS

  TERM OF
OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST

5 YEARS

  NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE†
 

OTHER

DIRECTORSHIPS

HELD BY

TRUSTEE

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

DWIGHT D. CHURCHILL

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1953

 

Independent

Trustee

  Term:
Unlimited

Served:
since

April
2010

  Self-employed consultant since 2010; CEO and President, CFA Institute (June 2014-January 2015).   206   Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (Director).

CARL G. VERBONCOEUR

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1952

 

Independent

Trustee

  Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

April
2010

  Self-employed consultant since 2009.   206   The Motley Fool Funds Trust (Trustee).
INTERESTED TRUSTEE          

JAMES E. ROSS*

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1965

 

Interested

Trustee

  Term:
Unlimited

Served as

Trustee:
since

April
2010

 

Chairman and Director, SSGA

Funds Management,

Inc. (2005-present); Director, State Street Global Markets, LLC (2013-present);

Executive Vice President and

Principal, State Street Global Advisors (2006-present); President, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2005-2012).

  294   None.

 

For the purpose of determining the number of portfolios overseen by the Trustees, “Fund Complex” comprises registered investment companies for which SSGA Fund Management, Inc. serves as investment adviser.
* Mr. Ross is an Interested Trustee because of his employment with the Adviser and ownership interest in an affiliate of the Adviser. Mr. Ross previously served as an Interested Trustee from November 2005 to December 2009.

 

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OFFICERS

 

NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH FUNDS

  

TERM OF

OFFICE AND

LENGTH OF

TIME SERVED

  

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

ELLEN M. NEEDHAM

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1967

   President   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

October 2012

   President and Director, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2001 - present)*; Senior Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (1992 - present).*

ANN M. CARPENTER

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1966

   Vice President; Deputy Treasurer   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

August 2012

   Chief Operating Officer, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2005 - Present)*; Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (2005 - present).*

MICHAEL P. RILEY

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1969

  

Vice

President

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2005

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (2005 - present).*

JOSHUA A. WEINBERG

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1978

  

Chief Legal

Officer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since February 2015

   Vice President and Managing Counsel, State Street Global Advisors (2011-present); Clerk, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2013-present); Associate, Financial Services Group, Dechert LLP (2006-2011).

CHRISTOPHER A. MADDEN

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Hundred Summer Street, SUM0703

Boston, MA 02111

1967

   Secretary   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

August 2013

   Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2013-present); Counsel, Atlantic Fund Services (2009-2013).*

PATRICIA A. MORISETTE

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Hundred Summer Street, SUM 0703

Boston, MA 02111

1973

  

Assistant

Secretary

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2015

   Vice President and Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2014-present); Assistant Vice President and Counsel, John Hancock Financial Services (2011-2013); Independent legal consultant (2009-2011); Associate, Bingham McCutchen LLP (2003-2009).*,. **

BRUCE S. ROSENBERG

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

   Treasurer   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (July 2015 – present); Director, Credit Suisse (April 2008 - July 2015).

 

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NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH FUNDS

  

TERM OF

OFFICE AND

LENGTH OF

TIME SERVED

  

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

CHAD C. HALLETT

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1969

  

Deputy

Treasurer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (November 2014 - present); Vice President, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2001-November 2014).*

DANIEL FOLEY

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

  

Assistant

Treasurer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (April 2007 - present).*

SUJATA UPRETI

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

  

Assistant

Treasurer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (May 2015 – present); Assistant Director, Cambridge Associates, LLC (July 2014-January 2015); Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon (July 2012-August 2013); Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (September 2003-July 2012).

BRIAN HARRIS

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1973

  

Chief

Compliance

Officer;

Anti-Money Laundering

Officer; Code of Ethics Compliance Officer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

November 2013

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (June 2013 - present)*; Senior Vice President and Global Head of Investment Compliance, BofA Global Capital Management (2010-2013); Director of Compliance, AARP Financial Inc. (2008-2010).

 

* Served in various capacities and/or with various affiliated entities during noted time period.
** Served in various capacities and/or with unaffiliated mutual funds or closed-end funds for which State Street Bank and Trust Company or its affiliates act as a provider of services 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 Fund 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 Fund, and to exercise his or her business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the 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. Nesvet should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a financial services consulting company, serving on the boards of other investment companies, and serving as chief financial officer of a major financial services company; his knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of the Trust since 2000.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Kelly should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, his previous directorship experience, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of the Trust since 2000.

 

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The Board has concluded that Ms. Boatman should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as Managing Director of the primary investment division of one of the nation’s leading financial institutions and her knowledge of the financial services industry. Ms. Boatman was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Churchill should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the CFA Institute, serving as the Head of the Fixed Income Division of one of the nation’s leading mutual fund companies and provider of financial services and his knowledge of the financial services industry. Mr. Churchill was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in 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. Mr. Verboncoeur was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

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 the Trust since 2005 (Mr. Ross did not serve as Trustee from December 2009 until April 2010).

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 Fund.

REMUNERATION OF THE TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

No officer, director or employee of the Adviser, its parent or subsidiaries receives any compensation from the Trust for serving as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. The Trust, SSGA Master Trust, SSGA Active Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds (together with the Trust, the “Trusts”) pay, in the aggregate, each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $210,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $50,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $20,000. Prior to July 1, 2016, each Independent Trustee received an annual fee of $200,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board received an additional annual fee of $50,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of $20,000. The Trust also reimburses each Independent Trustee 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.

The table below shows the compensation that the Independent Trustees received during the Trust’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

NAME OF

INDEPENDENT

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)
 

Frank Nesvet

   $ 250,128         N/A         N/A       $ 335,000   

Bonny Boatman

   $ 227,729         N/A         N/A       $ 305,000   

Dwight Churchill

   $ 212,766         N/A         N/A       $ 285,000   

David M. Kelly

   $ 206,278         N/A         N/A       $ 276,250   

Carl Verboncoeur

   $ 205,318         N/A         N/A       $ 275,000   

 

(1) The Fund Complex includes the Trust.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Kelly serves as Chairman. 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 five (5) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

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Trustee Committee. The Board has established a Trustee Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Nesvet 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 Fund; 3) review proposed resolutions and conflicts of interest that may arise in the business of the Fund and may have an impact on the investors of the Fund; 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 Fund on behalf of the investors of the Fund. 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 six (6) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES

As of December 31, 2015, neither the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities in the Adviser, Principal Underwriter or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or Principal Underwriter.

The following table shows, as of December 31, 2015, 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
 

Independent Trustees:

        

Frank Nesvet

     None         None         None   

David M. Kelly

     None         None         None   

Bonny Eugenia Boatman

     None         None         None   

Dwight D. Churchill

     None         None         None   

Carl G. Verboncoeur

     SPDR S&P Dividend ETF         $10,001 to $50,000         $10,001 to $50,000   

Interested Trustee:

        

James Ross

     SPDR Russell 1000 ETF         $50,001 to $100,000         Over $100,000   
     SPDR Russell Small Cap Completeness ETF         $10,001 to $50,000      
     SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF         $10,001 to $50,000      
     SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF         $10,001 to $50,000      
     SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF         $10,001 to $50,000      
     SPDR S&P Dividend ETF         $10,001 to $50,000      
     SPDR S&P Biotech ETF         $10,001 to $50,000      
     SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF         $10,001 to $50,000      

CODES OF ETHICS

The Trust and the Adviser (which includes applicable reporting personnel of the Distributor) have each adopted a code of ethics as required by applicable law, 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 Fund (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 Fund.

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.

 

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PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board believes that the voting of proxies on securities held by the Fund is an important element of the overall investment process. As such, the Board has delegated the responsibility to vote such proxies to the Adviser. The Adviser’s proxy voting policy is attached at the end of this SAI. Information regarding how the 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 Fund’s website at https://www.spdrs.com; 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 Fund’s portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the 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 the 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 Fund, including (a) a service provider, (b) the stock exchanges upon which the 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.

THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

SSGA FM acts as investment adviser to the Trust and, subject to the supervision of the Board, is responsible for the investment management of the Fund. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets. The Adviser’s principal address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The Adviser, a Massachusetts corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), consisting of the Adviser and other investment advisory affiliates of State Street Corporation, is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.

The Adviser and certain of its affiliates intend to make contributions to a charitable organization, which is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, developed to provide financial support to third party charitable organizations which seek to enhance gender equity through educational efforts. Charitable contributions from the Adviser and certain of its affiliates will be benchmarked to the assets under management of the Fund. The charitable organization will seek to make donations to identified charitable organizations that support continuing educational efforts designed to mitigate gender inequality in corporate America, and will aim to engage with other organizations in an effort to increase the amount of philanthropic dollars available for such initiatives.

The charitable organization will not participate in, or have any influence on the day-to-day operations of, the Fund or the Adviser’s management of the Fund. These contributions are made annually, based on the Fund’s average assets during the calendar year. The Fund commenced operation on March 8, 2016 and the initial contribution will be made based on the Fund’s average assets for calendar year 2016. The total amount of contributions made to such charitable organization for each of the three most recently completed calendar years of Fund operations will be disclosed in the SAI, beginning in 2017.

The Adviser serves as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (“Investment Advisory Agreement”) between the Trust and the Adviser. The Investment Advisory Agreement, with respect to the 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

 

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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 the 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 the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. The Investment Advisory Agreement is also terminable upon 60 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 supervision of the Board and in conformity with the stated investment policies of the Fund, manages the investment of the Fund’s assets. The Adviser is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of the 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 willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement regarding the Fund is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2016.

For the services provided to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser monthly fees based on a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets as set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus. From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee. The Adviser pays all expenses of the Fund other than the management fee, distribution fees pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee’s counsel fees), acquired fund fees and expenses, litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses.

For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Fund paid the following amounts to the Adviser:

 

FUND(1)    FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2016
    FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2015
    FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2014
 

SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF

   $ 166,389 (1)    $  N/A (2)    $  N/A (2) 

 

(1) The Fund commenced operations on March 8, 2016.
(2) The Fund was not operational.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Adviser manages the Fund using a team of investment professionals. The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund are:

 

Fund    Portfolio Managers

SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF

   Lynn Blake, Amy Cheng, Melissa Kapitulik and John Tucker

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 Fund 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 June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Registered
Investment
Company
Accounts*
     Assets
Managed
(billions)
     Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Accounts*
     Assets
Managed
(billions)
     Other
Accounts*
     Assets
Managed
(billions)
     Total
Assets
Managed
(billions)
 

Lynn Blake

     158       $ 188.46         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 894.55   

Amy Cheng

     158       $ 188.46         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 894.55   

Melissa Kapitulik

     158       $ 188.46         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 894.55   

John Tucker

     158       $ 188.46         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 894.55   

 

* There are no performance fees associated with the management of these accounts.

 

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The following table lists the dollar range of Shares beneficially owned by portfolio managers listed above as of June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Fund    Dollar Range of Trust Shares
Beneficially Owned

Lynn Blake

   SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF    $1-$10,000

Amy Cheng

   None    None

Melissa Kapitulik

   None    None

John Tucker

   None    None

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 Fund. 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. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures 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 and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation among the portfolio managers’ accounts with the same strategy.

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 the portfolio managers’ responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio managers’ accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally devote 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 Fund. 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 the Fund maintained its position in that security.

A potential conflict may arise when 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. Another potential conflict may arise when the portfolio manager has an investment in one or more accounts that participate in transactions with other accounts. His or her 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 and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.

SSGA’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.

Compensation for SSGA’s staff is based on a number of factors, including external benchmarking data and market trends, State Street performance, SSGA performance, and individual performance. Each year SSGA’s Global Human Resources department participates in compensation surveys in order to provide SSGA with critical, market-based compensation information that helps support individual pay decisions. Additionally, subject to State Street and SSGA business results, State Street allocates an incentive pool to SSGA to reward its employees. Because the size of the incentive pool is based on the firm’s overall profitability and performance against risk-related goals, each staff member is motivated to contribute both as an individual and as a team member.

The discretionary allocation of the incentive pool to the business units within SSGA is influenced by market-based compensation data, as well as the overall performance of each group. 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 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 typically vests over a four-year period. This helps to retain staff and further aligns SSGA employees’ interests with SSGA clients’ and shareholders’ long-term interests.

 

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SSGA’s rewards program enables the firm to effectively attract and retain talented professionals. The rewards program supports the attraction and retention of the key personnel needed to support SSGA’s long-term success. Funding for SSGA’s total rewards program is subject to affordability and is designed to be flexible based on firm performance. However, even in years when funding is constrained, SSGA differentiates pay in order to reward the highest performing teams and individuals.

SSGA 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 SSGA.

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 Administration Agreement”). Pursuant to the SSGA 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 Administration Agreement, manage all of the business and affairs of the Trust.

Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. Prior to June 1, 2015, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) served as the Trust’s administrator, pursuant to an Administration Agreement dated September 22, 2000 (the “SSB Administration Agreement”). As compensation for its services under the SSB Administration Agreement, State Street received a fee for its services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds, of 0.0225% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0075% thereafter.

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 sub-administrative services to the Trust and its series. State Street is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company, and is affiliated with the Adviser. State Street’s mailing address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. .

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 their services provided under the SSGA Administration and Sub-Administration agreements, SSGA FM and State Street, respectively, shall receive fees for the services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds, of 0.0225% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0075% thereafter.

As compensation for its services under the Custodian Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement, State Street shall receive a fee for its services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, State Street shall receive 0.0025% on the first $50 billion, 0.0020% on the next $50 billion and 0.0010% thereafter. In addition, under the Custody Agreement State Street shall be entitled to fees for fund accounting services and shall receive 0.0150% for the first $12.5 billion and 0.0025% thereafter. State Street shall also be entitled to specialized custody, ETF accounting services and transfer agency fees and shall receive 0.0050% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0030% thereafter. For each series of the Trust, a $110,000 annual minimum fee applies. The greater of the minimum fee or the asset based fee will be charged. 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.

 

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THE DISTRIBUTOR

State Street Global Markets, LLC is the principal underwriter and Distributor of Shares. Its principal address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. 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 the 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 (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. 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. 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. As of the date of this SAI, the Adviser and/or Distributor had arrangements to make payments, other than for the educational programs and marketing activities described above, only to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”). Pursuant to these arrangements, Schwab and RBC have agreed to promote 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. These amounts, which may be significant, are paid by the Adviser and/or Distributor as well as an index provider that is not affiliated with the Adviser or Distributor from their own resources and not from Fund assets. In addition, the Adviser or Distributor, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor, may also reimburse expenses or make payments from their own assets to other persons in consideration of services or other activities that they believe may benefit the SPDR business or facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Plan (a “Plan”) pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% may be made. No payments pursuant to the Plan will be made during the next twelve (12) months of operation. Under its terms, the Plan remains in effect from year to year, provided such continuance is approved annually by vote of the Board, including a majority of the “Independent Trustees” (Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreement related to the Plan). The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services provided by the Distributor without approval by the shareholders of the Fund to which the Plan applies, and all material amendments of the Plan also require Board approval (as described above). The Plan may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as such vote is defined in the 1940 Act). Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor will provide the Board with periodic reports of any amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made.

The Distribution Agreement provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, as to the 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 allocation among the Trust’s series of fees and expenses payable under the Distribution Agreement will be made pro rata in accordance with the daily net assets of the respective series.

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.

 

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INDEX PROVIDER AND OTHER PERSONS

An unaffiliated index provider may make payments from its own assets to other persons in consideration for services provided or other activities that may facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities for the Fund is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Trust believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Adviser from obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Adviser relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not ascertainable. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of the Fund’s Shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.

In selecting a broker/dealer for each specific transaction, the Adviser chooses the broker/dealer deemed most capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable execution and does not take the sales of Fund shares into account. The Adviser considers the full range of brokerage services applicable to a particular transaction that may be considered when making this judgment, which may include, but is not limited to: liquidity, price, commission, timing, aggregated trades, capable floor brokers or traders, competent block trading coverage, ability to position, capital strength and stability, reliable and accurate communications and settlement processing, use of automation, knowledge of other buyers or sellers, arbitrage skills, administrative ability, underwriting and provision of information on a particular security or market in which the transaction is to occur. The specific criteria will vary depending upon the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select from among multiple broker/dealers. The Adviser will also use electronic crossing networks when appropriate.

The Adviser does not currently use the Fund’s assets for, or participate in, third party soft dollar arrangements, although the Adviser may receive proprietary research from various full service brokers, the cost of which is bundled with the cost of the broker’s execution services. The Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research. The Adviser may aggregate trades with clients of SSGA, whose commission dollars may be used to generate soft dollar credits for SSGA. Although the Adviser’s clients’ commissions are not used for third party soft dollars, the Adviser’s and SSGA’s clients may benefit from the soft dollar products/services received by SSGA.

The Adviser assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of the Trust for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Trust and one or more other investment companies or clients supervised by the Adviser are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to all by the Adviser. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security so far as the Trust is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions will be beneficial to the Trust. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.

The Fund will not deal with affiliates in principal transactions unless permitted by exemptive order or applicable rule or regulation.

The table below shows the aggregate dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the past three fiscal years ended June 30. Brokerage commissions paid by the Fund may be substantially different from year to year for multiple reasons, including market volatility and the demand for the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO(1)    FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2016
     FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2015
     FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2014
 

SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF (1)

   $ 347         N/A         N/A   

 

(1) The Fund commenced operations on March 8, 2016

 

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Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealer.” The Fund 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.

Holdings in Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers as of June 30, 2016:

 

Wells Fargo & Co.

   $  316,580,945   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   $ 211,418,535   

Citigroup, Inc.

   $ 194,006,460   

Bank of America Corp.

   $ 191,320,915   

Merrill Lynch

   $ 160,490,086   

Goldman Sachs & Co.

   $ 154,893,283   

Morgan Stanley

   $ 150,691,969   

Deutsche Bank

   $ 92,402,994   

Credit Suisse

   $ 60,315,849   

Royal Bank of Canada

   $ 52,081,910   

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 portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is expected to be under 100%. 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.

 

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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 the 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 the FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (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 the 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 the 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.

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.

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Although the Fund does not have information concerning its beneficial ownership held in the names of DTC Participants, as of October 7, 2016, the names, addresses and percentage ownership of each DTC Participant that owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding Shares of the Fund were as follows:

 

Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF

  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

   98.08%

An Authorized Participant (as defined below) may hold of record more than 25% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund. From time to time, Authorized Participants may be a beneficial and/or legal owner of the Fund, may be affiliated with an index provider, may be deemed to have control of the Fund and/or may be able to affect the outcome of matters presented for a vote of the shareholders of the Fund. Authorized Participants may execute an irrevocable proxy granting the Distributor or another affiliate of State Street (the “Agent”) power to vote or abstain from voting such Authorized Participant’s beneficially or legally owned Shares of the 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.

As of October 7, 2016, to the knowledge of the Trust, the following persons held of record or beneficially through one or more accounts 25% or more of the outstanding shares of each Fund.

 

Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 

SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF

  

State Street Bank & Trust Company

1776 Heritage Drive

North Quincy, MA 02171

     98.08

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as a group, own less than 1% of the Trust’s voting securities as of the date of this SAI.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

The 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,” either principally in-kind for securities included in the Index or in cash for the value of such securities. The value of the Fund is determined once each business day, as described under “Determination of Net Asset Value.” The Creation Unit size for the Fund may change. Authorized Participants (as defined below) will be notified of such change. The principal consideration for creations and redemptions for the Fund is set forth in the table below:

 

FUND

   CREATION*      REDEMPTION*  

SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF

     In-Kind         In-Kind   

 

* May be revised at any time without notice.

PURCHASE (CREATION). The Trust issues and sells Shares of the 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 the Fund is, generally, any day on which the NYSE is open for business.

FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the Fund generally consists of either (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit constituting a substantial replication, or a portfolio sampling representation, of the securities included in the Fund’s benchmark Index and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) and “Cash Component,” computed as described below. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, the Fund may incur additional costs associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities that would otherwise be provided by an in-kind purchaser.

 

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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 the 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 the 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 the 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), 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, immediately 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 Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the Fund. Such Fund Deposit is subject to any applicable adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the 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 the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments, interest payments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser 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. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of the Fund’s Index.

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 or the Federal Reserve System for U.S. Treasury 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: (i) permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash; and (ii) include or remove Deposit Securities from the basket in anticipation of index rebalancing changes. 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, in the composition of the subject Index being tracked by the Fund or 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 the 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 the 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.”

 

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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 the 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.

On days when the Exchange or the bond markets close earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. In addition, if a market or markets on which the 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 on such Business Day. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.

 

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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 the 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 the Fund or its agents by no later than the Settlement Date. The “Settlement Date” for the Fund is generally the third Business Day 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 third 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.

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 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 absolute right to reject an order for Creation Units transmitted in respect of the Fund at its discretion, including, without limitation, if (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the 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) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would

 

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otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; (g) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (h) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent 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.

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 the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a Business Day. EXCEPT UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE 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 the Fund, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available immediately 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 the Fund’s portfolio securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities.

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 the Fund, redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist of Fund Securities — as announced by the Custodian on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form 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 Fund 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 Fund 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, 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to the Authorized Participant by the Settlement Date. With respect to in-kind redemptions of the Fund, the calculation of the value of the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund are not delivered by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time (per applicable instructions) on the Settlement Date, the Fund 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 the Fund, in connection with taking delivery of shares of Fund 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 Fund Securities are customarily traded (or such other arrangements as allowed by the Trust or its agents), to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within three Business Days of the trade date. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than three business days after the day on which the redemption request is

 

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received in proper form. The section below entitled “Local Market Holiday Schedules” identifies the instances where more than seven days would be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Pursuant to an order of the SEC, in respect of the Fund, the Trust will make delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds within the number of days stated in the Local Market Holidays section to be the maximum number of days necessary to deliver redemption proceeds. If the Authorized Participant has not made appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such 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 Fund 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 the 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 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 Fund Securities). The 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 Fund Securities but does not differ in net asset value.

An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to represent to the Trust that it (or its client) (i) owns outright or has full legal authority and legal beneficial right to tender for redemption the requisite number of Shares to be redeemed and can receive the entire proceeds of the redemption, and (ii) the Shares to be redeemed have not been loaned or pledged to another party nor are they the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or such other arrangement which would preclude the delivery of such Shares to the Trust. The Trust reserves the right to verify these representations at its discretion, but will typically require verification with respect to a redemption request from the 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 Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the 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 Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities.

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the 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 applicable order form, certain series of the Trust may require orders to be placed up to one or more Business Days 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. 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. The 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 Fund 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.

 

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Creation and Redemption Transaction Fees:

 

FUND

   TRANSACTION
FEE*, **
     MAXIMUM
TRANSACTION
FEE*, **
 

SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF

   $ 750       $ 3,000   

 

* From time to time, the 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 Fund 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 the 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.”

Net asset value per Share for the 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 net asset value. The net asset value of the Fund is calculated by State Street and determined 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. Fixed-income assets are generally valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments in a particular market or exchange. 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 the 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 the 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), (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) or (iii) based on amortized cost. The 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, the 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. The 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. The Adviser may use various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service, as approved by the Board from time to time. A price obtained from a pricing service based on such pricing service’s valuation matrix may be considered a market valuation.

In the event that current market valuations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, the Trust’s procedures require the Oversight Committee to determine a security’s fair value if a market price is not readily available. In determining such value the Oversight Committee 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, market indices, and prices from the Fund’s Index Provider). In these cases, the Fund’s net asset value may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices. The fair value of a portfolio instrument is generally the price which the 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

 

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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. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate the Fund’s net asset value and the prices used by the Fund’s benchmark Index. This may result in a difference between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the Fund’s benchmark Index. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.

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 quarterly by the Fund, but may vary significantly from period to period. 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 for the Fund to improve index tracking or 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 the 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 Fund and its 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 Fund or its 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 FUND. The Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. The 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. The 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, the 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, the 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

 

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Requirement”) and also must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions were not available to the 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 regular corporate rates 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, the 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 the 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 ten years of qualifying as a RIC in a subsequent year. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund for treatment as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its capital gains for each taxable year.

If the 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. The 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 the 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.

The 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. The 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.

The 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.

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, the 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 the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to its shareholders. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses.

 

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TAXATION OF SHAREHOLDERS—DISTRIBUTIONS. The 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). The Fund will report to shareholders annually the amounts of dividends paid from ordinary income, the amount of distributions of net capital gain, the portion of dividends which may qualify for the dividends-received deduction, the portion of dividends which may qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income.

Subject to certain limitations, dividends reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income will be taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. Dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund. Qualified dividend income includes, in general, subject to certain holding period requirements and other requirements, dividend income from certain U.S. and foreign corporations. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States, those incorporated in certain countries with comprehensive tax treaties with the United States and other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is tradable on an established securities market in the United States. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that (i) the shareholder has not held the stock on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for more than 90 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date, (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. The holding period requirements described in this paragraph apply to the shareholders’ investments in the Fund and to the Fund’s investments in underlying dividend-paying stock. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT or another RIC may be treated as qualified dividend income generally only to the extent the dividend distributions are attributable to qualified dividend income received by such REIT or RIC. It is expected that any dividends received by the Fund from a REIT and distributed by the Fund to a shareholder generally will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. If 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.

Certain dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations (generally, dividends received by the Fund in respect of any share of stock (1) with a tax holding period of at least 46 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend as to that dividend and (2) that is held in an unleveraged position) when distributed and appropriately so reported by the Fund may be eligible for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations under the Internal Revenue Code. In order to qualify for the deduction, corporate shareholders must meet the minimum holding period requirement stated above with respect to their Shares, taking into account any holding period reductions from certain hedging or other transactions or positions that diminish their risk of loss with respect to their Shares, and, if they borrow to acquire or otherwise incur debt attributable to Shares, they may be denied a portion of the dividends-received deduction with respect to those Shares. The entire dividend, including the otherwise deductible amount, will be included in determining the excess, if any, of a corporation’s adjusted current earnings over its alternative minimum taxable income, which may increase a corporation’s alternative minimum tax liability. Any corporate shareholder should consult its tax adviser regarding the possibility that its tax basis in its Shares may be reduced, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, by reason of “extraordinary dividends” received with respect to the Shares and, to the extent such basis would be reduced below zero, current recognition of income may be required.

Distributions from the Fund’s net short-term capital gains will generally be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions from the 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 rates of up to 20%.

Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, any dividend declared by the 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 the 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.

 

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Distributions that are reinvested in additional Shares of the Fund 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, interest, dividends, 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.

Distributions of ordinary income and capital gains may also be subject to foreign, state and local taxes depending on a shareholder’s circumstances.

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 rates of up to 20%.

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 is 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 the 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. The Fund does not expect 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 Fund’s 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 the 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 the 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 in amounts necessary to satisfy the RIC distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make appropriate tax elections, and intends to make appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and preserve the Fund’s qualification for treatment as a RIC.

If the Fund acquires any equity interest (under Treasury regulations that may be promulgated in the future, generally including not only stock but also an option to acquire stock such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations (i) that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or (ii) where at least 50% of the corporation’s assets (computed based on average fair market value) either produce or are held for the

 

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production of passive income (“passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs”), the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and nondeductible interest charges on “excess distributions” received from such companies or on gain from the sale of stock in such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. A “qualified electing fund” election or a “mark to market” election may be available that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but such elections could require the Fund to recognize taxable income or gain (subject to the distribution requirements applicable to RICs, as described above) without the concurrent receipt of cash. In order to satisfy the distribution requirements and avoid a tax at the Fund level, the Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund. Gains from the sale of stock of PFICs may also be treated as ordinary income. In order for the Fund to make a qualified electing fund election with respect to a PFIC, the PFIC would have to agree to provide certain tax information to the Fund on an annual basis, which it might not agree to do. The Fund may limit and/or manage its holdings in PFICs to limit its tax liability or maximize its returns from these investments.

The 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. The 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.

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, the 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 the 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 advisors. There are no restrictions preventing the Fund from holding investments in REITs that hold residual interests in REMICs, and the Fund may do so. The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding these issues.

FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS. Dividends, other than capital gains dividends, “short-term capital gain dividends” and “interest-related dividends” (described below), paid by the 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 advisors concerning the applicability of the United States withholding tax and the proper withholding form(s) to be submitted to the Fund. A non-U.S. shareholder who fails to provide an appropriate IRS Form W-8 may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate.

Dividends reported by the 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 Funds “qualified short-term gain,” are generally exempt from this 30% withholding tax. “Qualified net interest income” is the Fund’s net income derived from U.S. source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the 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 the 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 payable to such entities and, after December 31, 2018, redemptions and certain capital gain 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.

 

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Non-U.S. persons are subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a “United States real property interest” (a “USRPI”). Gain on such a disposition is sometimes referred to as “FIRPTA gain”. The Internal Revenue Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of “FIRPTA gain” if certain requirements are met. If the look-through rule applies, certain distributions attributable to income received by the Fund, e.g., from REITs, may be treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at rates of up to 35%, and requiring non-U.S. investors to file nonresident U.S. income tax returns. Also, gain may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. shareholder that is treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Under certain circumstances, Shares may qualify as USRPIs, which could result in 15% withholding on certain distributions and gross redemption proceeds paid to certain non-U.S. investors.

BACKUP WITHHOLDING. The 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) 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 28%. 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 the 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 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).

The Fund has the right to reject an order for Creation Units if the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to section 351 of the 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. The Fund also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial Share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. If the 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.

Persons purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction.

CERTAIN POTENTIAL TAX REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. Under promulgated Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss on disposition of the 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 advisors 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.

 

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INVESTMENT BY AN UNDERTAKING FOR COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT IN TRANSFERABLE SECURITIES

The Adviser has reviewed the investment characteristics and limitations of the Fund and believes that, as of the date of this SAI, the Fund qualifies as an undertaking for collective investment (“UCI”) for purposes of the Luxembourg law of 17 December 2010. However, an Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities should consult its own counsel regarding the qualification of the Fund as a UCI before investing in the Fund.

 

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CAPITAL STOCK AND SHAREHOLDER REPORTS

The Fund issues Shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 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 the Fund, and in the net distributable assets of the 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 (“Funds”) 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 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 the 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 Markets, LLC at State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004, serves as counsel to the Trust. Ernst & Young LLP, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116 serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust. Ernst & Young LLP performs annual audits of the Fund’s financial statements and provides other audit, tax and related services.

LOCAL MARKET HOLIDAY SCHEDULES

The Trust generally intends to effect deliveries of portfolio securities on a basis of “T” plus three business days (i.e., days on which the NYSE is open) in the relevant foreign market of the Fund. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind redemptions within three business days 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 securities, 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 closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within three business days.

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. Such periods are listed in the table below, as are instances where more than seven days will be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Since certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years, the number of days required to deliver redemption proceeds in any given year may exceed the maximum number of days listed in the table below. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays, or changes in local securities delivery practices, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future and longer (worse) redemption periods are possible.

 

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Listed below are the dates in calendar year 2016 (the only year for which holidays are known at the time of this SAI filing) in which the regular holidays in non-U.S. markets may impact Fund settlement. This list is based on information available to the Funds. The list may not be accurate or complete and is subject to change:

 

Angola

  

Argentina

   Australia    Austria    Azerbaijan

January 1

January 25

February 4

February 9

March 8

March 25

April 4

  

January 1

February 8-9

March 24-25

May 25

June 20

August 15

October 10

November 28

December 8, 30

   January 1, 26

March 7, 8, 14, 25, 28

April 12, 25

May 2, 16

June 6, 13-14

August 1

September 26

October 3

November 1-2

December 23, 26-
28, 30

   January 1, 6

March 25, 28

May 5, 16, 26

August 15

October 26

November 1

December 8, 26, 30

   January 1-2, 4, 20

March 8, 20-25

Bahamas

  

Bahrain*

   Bangladesh*    Belgium    Bermuda

January 1

March 25, 28

May 16

June 3

July 11

August 1

October 14

December 20, 27

November 7

December 12-13, 25

  

May 1

July 6, 7

September 11-14

October 2, 10-12

December 11-12, 18

   February 21

March 17, 26

April 14

May 1, 23

July 3, 6, 7

August 15, 24-25

September 11-14

October 11-12

   January 1

March 25, 28

May 5-6, 16

July 21

August 15

November 1, 11

December 26

   January 1

March 25

May 24

June 20

July 28-29

September 5

November 11

December 26-27

  

*  Market closed every Friday

   *  Market closed
    every Friday
     
           

Botswana

  

Brazil

   Canada    Cayman Islands    Chile

January 1-2

March 25-26, 28

May 2, 5

July 1, 18-19

September 30

October 1

December 26-27

  

January 1, 20, 25

February 8-9

March 25

April 21

May 26

September 7

October 12

November 2, 15

December 30

   January 1, 4

February 15

March 25

May 23

June 24

July 1

August 1

September 5

October 10

November 11

December 26-27

   January 1, 25

February 10

March 25, 28

May 16

June 13

July 4

November 14

December 23, 26-27, 30

   January 1

March 24-25

May 23

June 27

August 15

September 16, 18-19

October 10, 31

November 1

December 8, 23, 30

China

  

Columbia

   Costa Rica    Cote d’Ivoire    Croatia

January 1, 18

February 8-12, 15

April 4

May 2-6, 30

June 9

July 4

September 5, 15

  

January 1, 11

March 21, 24-25

May 9, 30

June 6

July 4, 20

August 15

October 17

   January 1

March 24-25

April 11

July 25

August 2, 15

September 15

October 17

   January 1

March 28

   January 1, 6

March 25, 28

May 26

June 22

August 5, 15

November 1

December 26

October 3-7, 10

November 11, 24

December 26

  

November 7, 14

December 8, 30

   December 26-30      

 

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Cyprus

 

Czech Republic

  Denmark  

The Dominican Republic

  Ecuador

January 1, 6

March 14, 25, 28

April 1, 29

May 2-3

June 20

August 15

October 28

December 26

 

January 1

March 28

July 5-6

September 28

October 28

November 17

December 26, 30

  January 1

March 24-25, 28

April 22

May 5-6, 16

December 26

 

January 1, 4, 21, 25

March 25

May 2, 16, 26

August 16

  January 1

February 8-9

March 25

May 27

August 12

November 2-3

December 6, 30

Egypt*

 

El Salvador

  Estonia  

Finland

  France

January 7, 25

April 25

May 1-2

July 6-7

September 11-13

October 2, 6

December 11, 12

*Market closed every Friday

 

January 1

March 24-26

  January 1

February 24

March 25, 28

May 5

June 23-24

December 26

 

January 1, 6

March 25, 28

May 5

June 24

December 6, 26

  January 1

March 25, 28

May 5

May 16, 20, 31

July 14-15

August 15

October 31

November 1, 11

December 26

Gabon

 

Germany

  Ghana  

Greece

  Guernsey

January 1

March 28

April 17

 

January 1, 6

February 8

March 25, 28

May 5, 16, 26

August 15

October 3

November 1

December 26, 30

  January 1

March 7, 25, 28

May 2, 25

July 1, 6

September 12, 21

December 2, 26-27

 

January 1, 6

February 8

March 14, 25, 28

April 29

May 2, 16

June 20

August 15

October 28

December 26

  January 1

March 25, 28

May 2, 9, 30

August 29

December 23, 26-27, 30

Hong Kong

 

Hungary

  Iceland  

India

  Indonesia
January 1   January 1   January 1, 4   January 1, 26   January 1
February 8-10   March 14-15, 25, 28   March 24, 25, 28   March 7, 23, 25   February 8
March 25, 28   May 16   April 21   April 1, 8, 14-15, 19   March 9, 25
April 4   October 31   May 5, 16   May 21   April 8
May 2   November 1, 26   June 17   June 30   May 5-6
June 9   December 30   August 1   July 1, 6-7   July 4-8
July 1     December 26   August 15, 17, 19, 22   August 17
September 16       September 5, 12-13, 30   September 12-13
October 19       October 11-12, 31   October 3
December 26-27       November 1, 14   December 12, 26, 30
      December 12-13  

Iran*

 

Iraq

  Ireland  

Israel*

  Italy
March 20-23   January 1, 6   January 1   March 24   January 1, 6
April 2   March 5, 21   March 17, 25, 28   April 25-29   March 25, 28
May 22   April 9   May 2   May 11-13   April 25
June 4-5, 26     June 6   June 12   June 2, 9
July 6     August 1   August 14   August 15
September 12, 20     October 31   October 2-4, 11-12,   November 1
October 10-11     December 23, 26-28, 30   16-20, 23-24   December 8, 26
November 28       December 25  
December 12        

*  Market closed every Thursday and Friday

     

*  Market closed every

Friday

 

 

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Jamaica

  

Japan

   Jordan    Kazakhstan      Kenya  
January 1    January 1, 11    May 1, 5, 25      January 1, 4, 7         January 1   
February 10    February 11    July 4-7, 10      March 8, 21-23         March 25, 28   
March 25, 28    March 21    September 11-15      May 2, 9         May 2   
May 23    April 29    October 2      July 6         June 1   
August 1    May 3-5    November 14      August 30         July 6, 7   
October 17    July 18    December 12, 25, 29      September 12         October 10, 20   
December 26, 27    August 11         December 1, 16, 19         December 12, 26-27   
   September 19, 22         
   October 10         
   November 23         
   December 23         

Kuwait*

  

Latvia

   Lebanon    Lithuania      Luxembourg  
January 3    January 1    January 1, 6      January 1         January 1   
February 25, 28    March 25, 28    February 9      February 15-16         March 25, 28   
May 5    May 2, 4-5    March 25, 28      March 11, 25, 28-29         May 5, 16   
July 5-7    July 23-24    April 29      May 2, 5         June 23   
September 8, 11-14    November 18    May 2, 25      June 24         August 15   
October 2, 6, 12    December 26    July 6-7      July 6         November 1   
December 12, 15, 29       August 15      August 15         December 26   

*       Market closed every Friday

      September 12-13      October 31      
      October 11      November 1      
      November 12      December 27      
      December 12      

Malaysia

  

Malta

   Mauritius    Mexico      Mongolia  
January 1    January 1    January 1      January 1         January 1   
February 1, 8-9    February 10    February 1, 8      February 1         February 8-11   
May 2, 23, 30-31    March 25, 28, 31    March 7      March 21, 24-25         March 8   
June 4    June 7, 29    April 8      September 16      
July 6-8    August 15    July 6      November 2, 21      
August 31    September 8, 21    August 15      December 12      
September 12, 16    December 8, 13, 26    September 5-6      
October 3, 31       October 31      
December 12, 26       November 2      

Morocco

  

Namibia

   The Netherlands    The Netherlands Antilles      New Zealand  
January 1, 11    January 1    January 1      January 1         January 1, 4, 25   
July 6-7    March 21, 25, 28    March 25, 28      February 8         February 1   
September 12-14    April 27    April 27      March 25, 28         March 24-25, 28   
October 3    May 2, 4-5, 12, 16    May 5, 12, 16      May 5         May 5   
November 18    December 16, 26    December 26      October 21         October 21   
December 12-13            December 26         December 26   

 

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Nigeria

 

Norway

  Oman*   Pakistan   Panama
January 1   January 1   May 7   January 1   January 1
March 25, 28   March 23-25, 28   July 6, 7, 9   February 5   February 8-10
May 2, 30   May 5, 16-17   September 11-14   March 23   March 24-25
July 6-7   December 26   October 2   June 6-7, 24   May 2
September 12-13     November 19   July 1, 6-9   August 15
October 3     December 12   September 12-15   November 3-4, 10
December 12, 26-27     *   Market closed

      every Friday

  October 11-12   December 8, 26
      November 9  
      December 12-13  

Papua

 

Paraguay

  Peru   The Philippines   Poland
January 1   January 1   January 1   January 1   January 1, 6
March 25, 28   March 1, 23-25   March 24-25   February 8, 25   March 25, 28
April 25   May 1   June 29   March 24-25   May 3, 26
June 13   June 4   July 28-29   May 9   August 15
September 16   November 11   August 30   July 6-7   November 1, 11
December 26-27   December 24-25, 31   November 1   August 26, 29   December 26
    December 8   September 12  
      November 1-2, 30  
      December 30  

Portugal

 

Qatar

  Romania   Russia   Saudi Arabia*
January 1   March 6   January 1   January 1, 4-8   July 4-7, 9
February 9   July 6, 7   May 2   February 22-23   September 10-15, 24
March 25, 28   September 11-15   June 20   March 7-8   *    Market closed

      every Friday

April 25   December 18   August 15   May 2, 9-10  
May 26     December 1   June 13  
June 10, 13     December 26   November 4  
August 15        
October 5        
November 1        
December 1, 8, 26        

Serbia

 

Singapore

  The Slovak Republic   Slovenia   South Africa

January 1, 7

February 15-16

April 29

May 2-3

November 11

 

January 1

February 8-9

March 25

May 2, 21, 23

July 6-7

August 9

September 12-13

October 29, 31

December 26

  January 1, 6

March 25, 28

July 5

August 29

September 1, 15

November 1, 17

December 27-30

  January 1

February 8

  January 1

March 21, 25, 28

April 27

May 2

June 16

August 9

December 16, 23,

26-27,

30

 

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Table of Contents

South Korea

 

Spain

  Sri Lanka   Sweden   Switzerland

January 1, 4

February 8-10

March 1

April 5, 13-14

May 5

June 6

August 15

September 14-16

October 3

November 10

December 30

 

January 1, 6

March 24-25, 28

April 8, 12

May 2-3, 26

July 25

August 15-16

September 9

October 12

November 1, 9

December 6, 8, 26

  January 1, 15

February 4, 22

March 7, 22, 25

April 13, 14, 21

May 2, 23

July 6, 19

August 17

September 12, 16

October 31

November 14

December 12-13, 26

  January 1, 5-6

March 24-25, 28

May 4-5

June 6, 24

November 4

December 26

  January 1, 6

March 25, 28

May 5, 16, 26

June 29

August 1, 15

September 8

November 1

December 8, 26

Taiwan

 

Thailand

  Trinidad and Tobago   Tunisia   Turkey

January 1-2

February 4-5, 8-12

April 4-5

May 2

June 9

September 15

October 3-5, 10

 

January 1

February 22

April 6, 13-15

May 2, 5, 23

July 1, 18-19

August 12

October 24

December 5, 12

  January 1

February 8-9

March 25, 28, 30

May 26, 30

June 20

July 6

August 1, 31

December 26-27

  January 1

February 4

March 21

July 6-7, 25

August 19

September 12

October 26

November 7, 15

December 12

  January 1

April 23

May 1, 19

July 5-8

August 30

September 12-16

October 28-29

Ukraine

 

The United Arab Emirates*

  The United Kingdom   The United States
Bond Market
  Uruguay

January 1, 4, 7

March 8

May 2-3, 9

June 20, 28

August 24

 

January 2

May 4-5

July 5-7

August 6

September 10-14

October 2

December 3-4, 11-12

  January 1

March 25, 28

May 2, 30

August 29

December 23, 26-27, 30

  January 1, 18

February 15

March 24*, 25

May 29*, 30

July 4

September 5

October 10

November 11, 24, 25*

December 24*, 25, 31*

  January 1, 6

February 8, 9

March 24-25

April 18

May 16

July 18

August 25

October 10

November 2

 

*  Market closed every Friday

    *   The U.S. bond

      market has

      recommended

      early close

 

 

Venezuela

  

Vietnam

   Zambia    Zimbabwe

January 1, 11

February 8-9

March 24-25

April 19

May 9, 30

June 24, 27

July 5

August 15

October 12, 31

December 12

  

January 1

February 8-10

April 18

May 2-3

September 2

   January 1

March 8, 25, 28

May 5, 25

July 4, 5

August 1

October 24

December 26

   January 1

March 25, 28

April 18

May 2, 25

August 8, 9

December 22, 26

 

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Redemptions. The longest redemption cycle for a Fund is a function of the longest redemption cycle among the countries and regions whose securities comprise the Fund. In the calendar year 2016 (the only year for which holidays are known at the time of this SAI filing), the dates of regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case redemption cycles* for a Fund as follows:

 

2016

        

Country

   Trade
Date
     Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle
 

Australia

     12/23/15         01/04/16         12   
     12/20/16         12/29/16         9   
     12/21/16         01/02/17         12   
     12/22/16         01/03/17         12   

Bahrain

     09/07/16         09/15/16         8   
     09/08/16         09/18/16         10   

Bangladesh

     06/30/16         07/10/16         10   
     09/06/16         09/15/16         9   
     09/07/16         09/18/16         11   
     09/08/16         09/19/16         11   

China

     02/03/16         02/17/16         14   
     02/04/16         02/18/16         14   
     02/05/16         02/19/16         14   
     04/27/16         05/09/16         12   
     04/28/16         05/10/16         12   
     04/29/16         05/11/16         12   
     09/28/16         10/11/16         13   
     09/29/16         10/12/16         13   
     09/30/16         10/13/16         13   

Colombia

     03/18/16         03/28/16         10   

Costa Rica

     12/21/16         01/02/17         12   
     12/22/16         01/03/17         12   
     12/23/16         01/04/17         12   

Indonesia

     06/29/16         07/11/16         12   
     06/30/16         07/12/16         12   
     07/01/16         07/13/16         12   

Ireland

     12/21/16         12/29/16         8   
     12/22/16         01/02/17         11   

Israel

     04/20/16         05/01/16         11   
     04/21/16         05/02/16         11   
     10/10/16         10/25/16         15   
     10/13/16         10/26/16         13   

Japan

     04/27/16         05/06/16         9   
     04/28/16         05/09/16         11   
     05/02/16         05/10/16         8   

Jordan

     06/30/16         07/11/16         11   
     07/03/16         07/12/16         9   
     09/08/16         09/18/16         10   
     09/11/16         09/19/16         8   

Kuwait

     09/06/16         09/15/16         9   
     09/07/16         09/18/16         11   

Malaysia

     07/01/16         07/11/16         10   
     07/04/16         07/12/16         8   
     07/05/16         07/13/16         8   

 

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2016

        

Country

   Trade
Date
     Settlement
Date
     Number of
Days to
Settle
 

Mexico

     03/18/16         03/28/16         10   

Morocco

     09/07/16         09/15/16         8   
     09/08/16         09/16/16         8   
     09/09/16         09/19/16         10   

Namibia

     12/23/15         01/04/16         12   
     12/24/15         01/05/16         12   
     12/28/15         01/06/16         9   
     12/29/15         01/07/16         9   
     12/30/15         01/08/16         9   
     03/14/16         03/22/16         8   
     03/15/16         03/23/16         8   
     03/16/16         03/24/16         8   
     03/17/16         03/29/16         12   
     03/18/16         03/30/16         12   
     03/22/16         03/31/16         9   
     03/23/16         04/01/16         9   
     03/24/16         04/04/16         11   
     04/20/16         04/28/16         8   
     04/21/16         04/29/16         8   
     04/22/16         05/03/16         11   
     04/25/16         05/06/16         11   
     04/26/16         05/09/16         13   
     04/28/16         05/10/16         12   
     04/29/16         05/11/16         12   
     05/03/16         05/12/16         9   
     05/18/16         05/26/16         8   
     05/19/16         05/27/16         8   
     05/20/16         05/30/16         10   
     05/23/16         05/31/16         8   
     05/24/16         06/01/16         8   
     06/09/16         06/17/16         8   
     06/10/16         06/20/16         10   
     06/13/16         06/21/16         8   
     06/14/16         06/22/16         8   
     06/15/16         06/23/16         8   
     08/02/16         08/10/16         8   
     08/03/16         08/11/16         8   
     08/04/16         08/12/16         8   
     08/05/16         08/15/16         10   
     08/08/16         08/16/16         8   
     08/19/16         08/29/16         10   
     08/22/16         08/30/16         8   
     08/23/16         08/31/16         8   
     08/24/16         09/01/16         8   
     08/25/16         09/02/16         8   

 

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     12/09/16         12/19/16         10   
     12/12/16         12/20/16         8   
     12/13/16         12/21/16         8   
     12/14/16         12/22/16         8   
     12/15/16         12/23/16         8   
     12/19/16         12/27/16         8   
     12/20/16         12/28/16         8   
     12/21/16         12/29/16         8   
     12/22/16         12/30/16         8   
     12/23/16         01/02/17         10   

New Zealand

     03/21/16         03/29/16         8   
     03/22/16         03/30/16         8   
     03/23/16         03/31/16         8   
     12/20/16         12/28/16         8   
     12/21/16         12/29/16         8   
     12/22/16         01/02/17         11   

Norway

     03/21/16         03/29/16         8   
     03/22/16         03/30/16         8   

Oman

     09/06/16         09/15/16         9   
     09/07/16         09/18/16         11   
     09/08/16         09/19/16         11   

Pakistan

     09/08/16         09/16/16         8   
     09/09/16         09/19/16         10   

Philippines

     12/23/15         01/04/16         12   
     12/28/15         01/05/16         8   
     12/29/15         01/06/16         8   

Qatar

     09/06/16         09/18/16         12   
     09/07/16         09/19/16         12   
     09/08/16         09/20/16         12   

Saudi Arabia

     06/30/16         07/10/16         10   
     07/03/16         07/11/16         8   
     09/07/16         09/18/16         11   
     09/08/16         09/19/16         11   

Serbia

     04/26/16         05/04/16         8   
     04/27/16         05/05/16         8   
     04/28/16         05/06/16         8   

Slovakia

     12/22/16         01/02/17         11   
     12/23/16         01/03/17         11   

South Africa

     12/24/15         01/04/16         11   
     12/28/15         01/05/16         8   
     12/29/15         01/06/16         8   
     12/30/15         01/07/16         8   
     12/31/15         01/08/16         8   
     03/14/16         03/22/16         8   
     03/15/16         03/23/16         8   
     03/16/16         03/24/16         8   
     03/17/16         03/29/16         12   
     03/18/16         03/30/16         12   
     03/22/16         03/31/16         9   

 

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     03/23/16         04/01/16         9   
     03/24/16         04/04/16         11   
     04/20/16         04/28/16         8   
     04/21/16         04/29/16         8   
     04/22/16         05/03/16         11   
     04/25/16         05/04/16         9   
     04/26/16         05/05/16         9   
     04/28/16         05/06/16         8   
     04/29/16         05/09/16         10   
     06/09/16         06/17/16         8   
     06/10/16         06/20/16         10   
     06/13/16         06/21/16         8   
     06/14/16         06/22/16         8   
     06/15/16         06/23/16         8   
     08/02/16         08/10/16         8   
     08/03/16         08/11/16         8   
     08/04/16         08/12/16         8   
     08/05/16         08/15/16         10   
     08/08/16         08/16/16         8   
     12/09/16         12/19/16         10   
     12/12/16         12/20/16         8   
     12/13/16         12/21/16         8   
     12/14/16         12/22/16         8   
     12/15/16         12/28/16         13   
     12/16/16         12/28/16         12   
     12/19/16         12/29/16         10   
     12/20/16         01/02/17         13   
     12/21/16         01/03/17         13   
     12/22/16         01/04/17         13   
     12/28/16         01/05/17         8   
     12/29/16         01/06/17         8   

Sweden

     12/30/15         01/07/16         8   

Taiwan

     02/02/16         02/15/16         13   
     02/03/16         02/16/16         13   

Thailand

     04/08/16         04/18/16         10   
     04/11/16         04/19/16         8   
     04/12/16         04/20/16         8   

Trinidad and Tobago

     03/23/16         03/31/16         8   
     03/24/16         04/01/16         8   

Turkey

     07/01/16         07/11/16         10   
     07/04/16         07/12/16         8   
     09/08/16         09/19/16         11   
     09/09/16         09/20/16         11   

Ukraine

     12/31/15         01/08/16         8   

United Arab Emirates

     09/07/16         09/15/16         8   
     09/08/16         09/18/16         10   

Vietnam

     02/03/16         02/11/16         8   
     02/04/16         02/12/16         8   
     02/05/16         02/15/16         10   

 

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Table of Contents

Zimbabwe

     12/24/15         01/04/16         11   
     12/28/15         01/05/16         8   
     12/29/15         01/06/16         8   
     12/30/15         01/07/16         8   
     12/31/15         01/08/16         8   
     03/18/16         03/29/16         9   
     03/21/16         03/30/16         9   
     03/22/16         03/31/16         9   
     03/23/16         04/01/16         8   
     03/24/16         04/04/16         11   
     04/11/16         04/19/16         8   
     04/12/16         04/20/16         8   
     04/13/16         04/21/16         8   
     04/14/16         04/22/16         8   
     04/15/16         04/25/16         10   
     04/25/16         05/03/16         8   
     04/26/16         05/04/16         8   
     04/27/16         05/05/16         8   
     04/28/16         05/06/16         8   
     04/29/16         05/09/16         10   
     05/18/16         05/26/16         8   
     05/19/16         05/27/16         8   
     05/20/16         05/30/16         10   
     05/23/16         05/31/16         8   
     05/24/16         06/01/16         8   
     08/01/16         08/10/16         9   
     08/02/16         08/11/16         9   
     08/03/16         08/12/16         9   
     08/04/16         08/15/16         11   
     08/05/16         08/16/16         11   
     12/15/16         12/23/16         8   
     12/16/16         12/27/16         11   
     12/19/16         12/28/16         9   
     12/20/16         12/29/16         9   
     12/21/16         12/30/16         9   
     12/23/16         01/02/17         10   

 

 

* These worst-case redemption cycles are based on information regarding regular holidays. Based on changes in holidays, longer (worse) redemption cycles are possible.

 

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Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements and financial highlights of the Fund for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, along with the Reports of Ernst & Young LLP, the Trust’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, included in the Trust’s Annual Reports to Shareholders on Form N-CSR under the 1940 Act, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information.

 

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Table of Contents

APPENDIX A

March 2016

Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles

State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), one of the industry’s largest institutional asset managers, is the investment management arm of State Street Bank and Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a leading provider of financial services to institutional investors. As an investment manager, SSGA has discretionary proxy voting authority over most of its client accounts, and SSGA votes these proxies in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments as described in the SSGA Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles.

 

LOGO

 

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Table of Contents

SSGA maintains Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines for select markets, including: the US, the EU, the UK, Australia, emerging markets and Japan. International markets that do not have specific guidelines are reviewed and voted consistent with our Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles; however, SSGA also endeavors to show sensitivity to local market practices when voting in these various markets.

SSGA’s Approach to Proxy Voting and Issuer Engagement

At SSGA, we take our fiduciary duties as an asset manager very seriously. We have a dedicated team of corporate governance professionals who help us carry out our duties as a responsible investor. These duties include engaging with companies, developing and enhancing in-house corporate governance policies, analyzing corporate governance issues on a case-by-case basis at the company level, and exercising our voting rights—all to maximize shareholder value.

SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles (the “Principles”) may take different perspectives on common governance issues that vary from one market to another and, likewise, engagement activity may take different forms in order to best achieve long-term engagement goals. We believe that proxy voting and engagement with portfolio companies is often the most direct and productive way shareholders can exercise their ownership rights, and taken together, we view these tools to be an integral part of the overall investment process.

We believe engagement and voting activity have a direct relationship. As a result, the integration of our engagement activities, while leveraging the exercise of our voting rights, provides a meaningful shareholder tool that we believe protects and enhances the long-term economic value of the holdings in our client accounts. SSGA maximizes its voting power and engagement by maintaining a centralized proxy voting and active ownership process covering all holdings, regardless of strategy. Despite the different investment views and objectives across SSGA, depending on the product or strategy, the fiduciary responsibilities of share ownership and voting for which SSGA has voting discretion are carried out with a single voice and objective.

The Principles support governance structures that we believe add to, or maximize shareholder value at the companies held in our clients’ portfolios. SSGA conducts issuer specific engagements with companies to discuss our principles, including sustainability related risks. In addition, we encourage issuers to find ways of increasing 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. Conversely, where appropriate, we conduct collaborative engagement activities with multiple shareholders and communicate with company representatives about common concerns.

In conducting our engagements, SSGA also evaluates the various factors that play into the corporate governance framework of a country, including the macroeconomic conditions and broader political system, the quality of regulatory oversight, the enforcement of property and shareholder rights and the independence of the judiciary to name a few. SSGA understands that regulatory requirements and investor expectations relating to governance practices and engagement activities differ from country-to-country. As a result, SSGA engages with issuers, regulators, or both, depending on the market. SSGA also is a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy at the country level as well as issuer specific concerns at a company level.

To help mitigate company specific risk, the team may collaborate with members of the active investment teams to engage with companies on corporate governance issues and address any specific concerns, or to get more information regarding shareholder items that are to be voted on at upcoming shareholder meetings. Outside of proxy voting season, SSGA conducts issuer specific engagements with companies covering various corporate governance and sustainability related topics.

The SSGA Governance Team uses a blend of quantitative and qualitative research and data to support screens to help identify issuers where active engagement may be necessary to protect and promote shareholder value. Issuer engagement may also be event driven, focusing on issuer specific corporate governance, sustainability concerns or wider industry related trends. SSGA also gives consideration to the size of our total position of the issuer in question and/or the potential negative governance, performance profile, and circumstance at hand. As a result, SSGA believes issuer engagement can take many forms and be triggered under numerous circumstances. The following methods represent how SSGA defines engagement methods:

Active

SSGA uses screening tools designed to capture a mix of company specific data including governance and sustainability profiles to help us focus our voting and engagement activity.

 

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SSGA will actively seek direct dialogue with the board and management of companies we have identified through our screening processes. Such engagements may lead to further monitoring to ensure the company improves its governance or sustainability practices. In these cases, the engagement process represents the most meaningful opportunity for SSGA to protect long-term shareholder value from excessive risk due to poor governance and sustainability practices.

Reactive

Reactive engagement is initiated by the issuers. SSGA routinely discusses specific voting issues and items with the issuer community. Reactive engagement is an opportunity to address not only voting items, but also a wide range of governance and sustainability issues.

SSGA has established an engagement protocol that further describes our approach to issuer engagement.

Measurement

Assessing the effectiveness of our issuer engagement process is often difficult. To limit the subjectivity of measuring our success we actively seek issuer feedback and monitor the actions issuers take post-engagement to identify tangible changes. By doing so, we are able to establish indicators to gauge how issuers respond to our concerns and to what degree these responses satisfy our requests. It is also important to note that successful engagement activity can be measured over differing time periods depending on the facts and circumstances involved. Engagements can last as short as a single meeting or span multiple years.

Depending on the issue and whether the engagement activity is reactive, recurring, or active, engagement with issuers can take the form of written communication, conference calls, or face-to-face meetings. SSGA believes active engagement is best conducted directly with company management or board members. Collaborative engagement, where multiple shareholders communicate with company representatives, can serve as a potential forum for issues that are not identified by SSGA as requiring active engagement, such as shareholder conference calls.

Proxy Voting Procedure

Oversight

The SSGA Corporate Governance Team is responsible for developing and implementing the Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), case-by-case voting items, issuer engagement activities, and research and analysis of governance-related issues. The implementation of the Guidelines is overseen by the SSGA Global Proxy Review Committee (“SSGA PRC”), a committee of investment, compliance and legal professionals, who provide guidance on proxy issues as described in greater detail below. Oversight of the proxy voting process is ultimately the responsibility of the SSGA Investment Committee. The SSGA Investment Committee reviews and approves amendments to the Guidelines. The SSGA PRC reports to the SSGA Investment Committee, and may refer certain significant proxy items to that committee.

Proxy Voting Process

In order to facilitate SSGA’s proxy voting process, SSGA retains Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), a firm with expertise in proxy voting and corporate governance. SSGA utilizes ISS’s services in three ways: (1) as SSGA’s proxy voting agent (providing SSGA with vote execution and administration services); (2) for applying the Guidelines; and (3) as providers of research and analysis relating to general corporate governance issues and specific proxy items.

The SSGA Corporate Governance Team reviews the Guidelines with ISS on an annual basis or on a case-by-case basis as needed. On most routine proxy voting items (e.g., ratification of auditors), ISS will affect the proxy votes in accordance with the Guidelines.

In other cases, the Corporate Governance Team will evaluate the proxy solicitation to determine how to vote based on facts and circumstances, consistent with the Principles, and the accompanying Guidelines, that seek to maximize the value of our client accounts.

In some instances, the Corporate Governance Team may refer significant issues to the SSGA PRC for a determination of the proxy vote. In addition, in determining whether to refer a proxy vote to the SSGA PRC, the Corporate Governance Team will consider whether a material conflict of interest exists between the interests of our client and those of SSGA or its affiliates (as explained in greater detail in our “Conflict of Interest” Policy).

 

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Table of Contents

SSGA votes in all markets where it is feasible; however, SSGA may refrain from voting meetings when power of attorney documentation is required, where voting will have a material impact on our ability to trade the security, where issuer-specific special documentation is required, or where various market or issuer certifications are required. SSGA is 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.

Conflict of Interest

See SSGA’s standalone Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles

Directors and Boards

The election of directors is one of the most important fiduciary duties SSGA performs as a shareholder. SSGA believes that well-governed companies can protect and pursue shareholder interests better and withstand the challenges of an uncertain economic environment. As such, SSGA seeks to vote director elections in a way which we, as a fiduciary, believe will maximize the long-term value of each portfolio’s holdings.

Principally, a board acts on behalf of shareholders by protecting their interests and preserving their rights. This concept establishes the standard by which board and director performance is measured. To achieve this fundamental principle, the role of the board, in SSGA’s view, is to carry out its responsibilities in the best long-term interest of the company and its shareholders. An independent and effective board oversees management, provides guidance on strategic matters, selects the CEO and other senior executives, creates a succession plan for the board and management, provides risk oversight and assesses the performance of the CEO and management. In contrast, management implements the business and capital allocation strategies and runs the company’s day-to-day operations. As part of SSGA’s engagement process, SSGA routinely discusses the importance of these responsibilities with the boards of issuers.

SSGA believes the quality of a board is a measure of director independence, director succession planning, board evaluations and refreshment and company governance practices. In voting to elect nominees, SSGA considers many factors. SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will effectively monitor management, maintain appropriate governance practices and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. SSGA also believes the right mix of skills, independence and qualifications among directors provides boards with the knowledge and direct experience to deal with risks and operating structures that are often unique and complex from one industry to another.

Accounting and Audit Related Issues

SSGA believes audit committees are critical and necessary as part of the board’s risk oversight role. The audit committee is responsible for setting out an internal audit function to provide robust audit and internal control systems designed to effectively manage potential and emerging risks to the company’s operations and strategy. SSGA believes audit committees should have independent directors as members, and SSGA will hold the members of the audit committee responsible for overseeing the management of the audit function.

The disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for the investment process. As a result, board oversight of the internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely on financial statements. Also, it is important for the audit committee to appoint external auditors who are independent from management as we expect auditors to provide assurance as of a company’s financial condition.

Capital Structure, Reorganization and Mergers

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow and 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 and in making such a critical decision, SSGA believes the company should have a well explained business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and not overly dilutive to its shareholders.

 

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Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.

Proposals that are in the best interests of shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In evaluating mergers and acquisitions, SSGA considers the adequacy of the consideration and the impact of the corporate governance provisions to shareholders. In all cases, SSGA uses its discretion in order to maximize shareholder value.

Occasionally, companies add anti-takeover provisions that reduce the chances of a potential acquirer making an offer, or reducing the likelihood of a successful offer. SSGA does not support proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights, entrench management or reduce the likelihood of shareholder’s right to vote on reasonable offers.

Compensation

SSGA considers the board’s responsibility to include setting the appropriate level of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive compensation; SSGA believes 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also consider executive compensation practices when re-electing members of the remuneration committee.

SSGA recognizes that compensation policies and practices are unique from market to market; often with significant differences between the level of disclosures, the amount and forms of compensation paid, and the ability of shareholders to approve executive compensation practices. As a result, our ability to assess the appropriateness of executive compensation is often dependent on market practices and laws.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. Environmental and social factors may not only have an impact on the reputation of companies but may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could be the result of anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends to shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on a company, its industry, operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of board members if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder requests to amend them.

 

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General/Routine

Although SSGA does not seek involvement in the day-to-day operations of an organization, SSGA recognizes the need for conscientious oversight and input into management decisions that may affect a company’s value. SSGA supports proposals that encourage economically advantageous corporate practices and governance, while leaving decisions that are deemed to be routine or constitute ordinary business to management and the board of directors.

Fixed Income Stewardship

The two elements of SSGA’s fixed income stewardship program are:

Proxy Voting:

While matters that come up for a vote at bondholder meetings vary by jurisdiction, examples of common proxy voting resolutions at bondholder meetings include:

 

    Approving amendments to debt covenants and/or terms of issuance;

 

    Authorizing procedural matters such as filing of required documents/other formalities;

 

    Approving debt restructuring plans;

 

    Abstaining from challenging the bankruptcy trustees;

 

    Authorizing repurchase of issued debt security;

 

    Approving the placement of unissued debt securities under the control of directors; and,

 

    Approve spin-off/absorption proposals.

Given the nature of the items that come up for vote at bondholder meetings, SSGA takes a case-by-case approach to voting bondholder resolutions. Where necessary, SSGA will engage with issuers on voting matters prior to arriving at voting decisions. All voting decisions will be made in the best interest of our clients.

Issuer Engagement:

SSGA recognizes that debt holders have limited leverage with companies on a day-to-day basis. However, we believe that given the size of our holdings in corporate debt, SSGA can meaningfully influence ESG practices of companies through issuer engagement. Our guidelines for engagement with fixed income issuers broadly follow the engagement guidelines for our equity holdings as described above.

Securities on Loan

For funds where SSGA acts as trustee, SSGA may recall securities in instances where SSGA believes that a particular vote will have a material impact on the fund(s). Several factors shape this process. First, SSGA must receive notice of the vote in sufficient time to recall the shares on or before the record date. In many cases, SSGA does not receive timely notice, and is unable to recall the shares on or before the record date. Second, SSGA, exercising its discretion may recall shares if it believes the benefit of voting shares will outweigh the foregone lending income. This determination requires SSGA, with the information available at the time, to form judgments about events or outcomes that are difficult to quantify. Given past experience in this area, however, we believe that the recall of securities will rarely provide an economic benefit that outweighs the cost of the foregone lending income.

Reporting

Any client who wishes to receive information on how its proxies were voted should contact its SSGA relationship manager.

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

United States

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) US Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in the US. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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SSGA’s US Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, director tenure, audit related issues, capital structure, executive compensation, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in the US, SSGA expects all companies to act in a transparent manner and provide detailed disclosure on board profiles, related-party transactions, executive compensation and other governance issues that impact shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagements to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagements and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the US.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practices, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

Director related proposals at US companies include issues submitted to shareholders that deal with the composition of the board or with members of a corporation’s board of directors. In deciding which director nominee to support, SSGA considers numerous factors.

Director Elections

SSGA’s director election policy focuses on companies’ governance profile to identify if a company demonstrates appropriate governance practices or if it exhibits negative governance practices. Factors SSGA considers when evaluating governance practices include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    Shareholder rights;

 

    Board independence; and

 

    Board structure.

 

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If a company demonstrates appropriate governance practices, SSGA believes a director should be classified as independent based on the relevant listing standards or local market practice standards. In such cases, the composition of the key oversight committees of a board should meet the minimum standards of independence. Accordingly, SSGA will vote against a nominee at a company with appropriate governance practices if the director is classified as non-independent under relevant listing standards or local market practice AND serves on a key committee of the board (compensation, audit, nominating or committees required to be fully independent by local market standards).

Conversely, if a company demonstrates negative governance practices, SSGA believes the classification standards for director independence should be elevated. In such circumstances, we will evaluate all director nominees based on the following classification standards:

 

  Is the nominee an employee of or related to an employee of the issuer or its auditor;

 

  Does the nominee provide professional services to the issuer;

 

  Has the nominee attended an appropriate number of board meetings; or

 

  Has the nominee received non-board related compensation from the issuer.

Where companies demonstrate negative governance practices, these stricter standards will apply not only to directors who are a member of a key committee but to all directors on the board as market practice permits. Accordingly, SSGA will vote against a nominee (with the exception of the CEO) where the board has inappropriate governance practices and is considered not independent based on the above independence criteria.

Additionally, SSGA may withhold votes from directors based on the following:

 

    When overall average board tenure is excessive and/or individual director tenure is excessive. In assessing excessive tenure, SSGA gives consideration to factors such as the preponderance of long tenured directors, board refreshment practices, and classified board structures;

 

    When directors attend less than 75% of board meetings without appropriate explanation or providing reason for their failure to meet the attendance threshold;

 

    CEOs of a public company who sit on more than three public company boards;

 

    Director nominees who sit on more than six public company boards;

 

    Directors of companies that have not been responsive to a shareholder proposal which received a majority shareholder support at the last annual or special meeting; consideration maybe given if management submits the proposal(s) on the ballot as a binding management proposal, recommending shareholders vote for the particular proposal(s);

 

    Directors of companies have unilaterally adopted/ amended company bylaws that negatively impact SSGA’s shareholder rights (such as fee-shifting, forum selection and exclusion service bylaws) without putting such amendments to a shareholder vote;

 

    Compensation committee members where there is a weak relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period;

 

    Audit committee members if non-audit fees exceed 50% of total fees paid to the auditors; and

 

    Directors who appear to have been remiss in their duties.

Director Related Proposals

SSGA generally votes for the following director related proposals:

 

    Discharge of board members’ duties, in the absence of pending litigation, regulatory investigation, charges of fraud or other indications of significant concern;

 

    Proposals to restore shareholders’ ability to remove directors with or without cause;

 

    Proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies; and

 

    Shareholder proposals seeking disclosure regarding the company, board, or compensation committee’s use of compensation consultants, such as company name, business relationship(s) and fees paid.

 

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SSGA generally votes against the following director related proposals:

 

    Requirements that candidates for directorships own large amounts of stock before being eligible to be elected;

 

    Proposals that relate to the “transaction of other business as properly comes before the meeting”, which extend “blank check” powers to those acting as proxy; and

 

    Proposals requiring two candidates per board seat.

Majority Voting

SSGA will generally support a majority vote standard based on votes cast for the election of directors.

SSGA will generally vote to support amendments to bylaws that would require simple majority of voting shares (i.e. shares cast) to pass or repeal certain provisions.

Annual Elections

SSGA generally supports the establishment of annual elections of the board of directors. Consideration is given to the overall level of board independence and the independence of the key committees as well as whether there is a shareholders rights plan.

Cumulative Voting

SSGA does not support cumulative voting structures for the election of directors.

Separation Chair/CEO

SSGA analyzes proposals for the separation of Chair/CEO on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration numerous factors, including but not limited to, the appointment of and role played by a lead director, a company’s performance and the overall governance structure of the company.

Proxy Access

In general, SSGA believes that proxy access is a fundamental right and an accountability mechanism for all long-term shareholders. SSGA will consider proposals relating to Proxy Access on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will support shareholder proposals that set parameters to empower long-term shareholders while providing management the flexibility to design a process that is appropriate for the company’s circumstances.

SSGA will review the terms of all other proposals and will support those proposals that have been introduced in the spirit of enhancing shareholder rights.

Considerations include but are not limited to the following:

 

    The ownership thresholds and holding duration proposed in the resolution;

 

    The binding nature of the proposal;

 

    The number of directors that shareholders may be able to nominate each year;

 

    Company governance structure;

 

    Shareholder rights; and

 

    Board performance.

Age/Term Limits

Generally, SSGA will vote against age and term limits unless the company is found to have poor board refreshment and director succession practices and has a preponderance of non-executive directors with excessively long-tenures serving on the board.

 

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Approve Remuneration of Directors

Generally, SSGA will support directors’ compensation, provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other issuers in the market or industry. In making our determination, we review whether the compensation is overly dilutive to existing shareholders.

Indemnification

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Classified Boards

SSGA generally supports annual elections for the board of directors.

Confidential Voting

SSGA will support confidential voting.

Board Size

SSGA will support proposals seeking to fix the board size or designate a range for the board size and will vote against proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the board outside of a specified range without shareholder approval.

Audit Related Issues

Ratifying Auditors and Approving Auditor Compensation

SSGA supports the approval of auditors and auditor compensation provided that the issuer has properly disclosed audit and non-audit fees relative to market practice and the audit fees are not deemed excessive. SSGA deems audit fees to be excessive if the non-audit fees for the prior year constituted 50% or more of the total fees paid to the auditor. SSGA will support the disclosure of auditor and consulting relationships when the same or related entities are conducting both activities and will support the establishment of a selection committee responsible for the final approval of significant management consultant contract awards where existing firms are already acting in an auditing function.

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.

SSGA will support the discharge of auditors and requirements that auditors attend the annual meeting of shareholders.1

Capital Related Issues

Capital structure proposals include requests by management for approval of amendments to the certificate of incorporation that will alter the capital structure of the company.

The most common request is for an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock, usually in conjunction with a stock split or dividend. Typically, requests that are not unreasonably dilutive or enhance the rights of common shareholders are supported. In considering authorized share proposals, the typical threshold for approval is 100% over current authorized shares. However, the threshold may be increased if the company offers a specific need or purpose (merger, stock splits, growth purposes, etc.). All proposals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s specific financial situation.

Increase in Authorized Common Shares

In general, SSGA supports share increases for general corporate purposes up to 100% of current authorized stock.

 

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SSGA supports increases for specific corporate purposes up to 100% of the specific need plus 50% of current authorized common stock for US firms.

When applying the thresholds, SSGA will also consider the nature of the specific need, such as mergers and acquisitions and stock splits.

Increase in Authorized Preferred Shares

SSGA votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to increase the number of preferred shares.

Generally, SSGA will vote for the authorization of preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.

SSGA will support proposals to create “declawed” blank check preferred stock (stock that cannot be used as a takeover defense). However, SSGA will vote against proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock authorized for issuance when no shares have been issued or reserved for a specific purpose.

Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA will not support proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will vote against new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add “blank check” classes of stock (i.e. classes of stock with undefined voting rights) or classes that dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.

However, SSGA will support capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.

Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported.

In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering the following:

 

    Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock, especially in some non-US markets;

 

    Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti–Takeover Issues

Typically, these are proposals relating to requests by management to amend the certificate of incorporation or bylaws to add or delete a provision that is deemed to have an anti-takeover effect. The majority of these proposals deal with management’s attempt to add some provision that makes a hostile takeover more difficult or will protect incumbent management in the event of a change in control of the company.

Proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights or have the effect of entrenching incumbent management will not be supported.

Proposals that enhance the right of shareholders to make their own choices as to the desirability of a merger or other proposal are supported.

Shareholder Rights Plans

SSGA will support mandates requiring shareholder approval of a shareholder rights plans (“poison pill”) and repeals of various anti-takeover related provisions.

In general, SSGA will vote against the adoption or renewal of a US issuer’s shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”).

SSGA will vote for an amendment to a shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”) where the terms of the new plans are more favorable to shareholders’ ability to accept unsolicited offers (i.e. if one of the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, and (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced).

Special Meetings

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals related to special meetings at companies that do not provide shareholders the right to call for a special meeting in their bylaws if:

 

    The company also does not allow shareholders to act by written consent; or

 

    The company allows shareholders to act by written consent but the ownership threshold for acting by written consent is set above 25% of outstanding shares.

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals related to special meetings at companies that give shareholders (with a minimum 10% ownership threshold) the right to call for a special meeting in their bylaws if:

 

    The current ownership threshold to call for a special meeting is above 25% of outstanding shares.

SSGA will vote for management proposals related to special meetings.

Written Consent

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals on written consent at companies if:

 

    The company does not have provisions in their bylaws giving shareholders the right to call for a special meeting; or

 

    The company allows shareholders the right to call for a special meeting but the current ownership threshold to call for a special meeting is above 25% of outstanding shares; and

 

    The company has a poor governance profile.

SSGA will vote management proposals on written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

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Super–Majority

SSGA will generally vote against amendments to bylaws requiring super-majority shareholder votes to pass or repeal certain provisions. SSGA will vote for the reduction or elimination of super-majority vote requirements, unless management of the issuer was concurrently seeking to or had previously made such a reduction or elimination.

Remuneration Issues

Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides the analysis of all compensation plans; namely, are the terms of the plan designed to provide an incentive for executives and/or employees to align their interests with those of the shareholders and thus work toward enhancing shareholder value. Plans which benefit participants only when the shareholders also benefit are those most likely to be supported.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Frequency

SSGA believes executive compensation plays a critical role in aligning executives interest with shareholder’s, attracting, retaining and incentivizing key talent, and ensuring positive correlation between the performance achieved by management and the benefits derived by shareholders. SSGA supports management proposals on executive compensation where there is a strong relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period. SSGA seeks adequate disclosure of different compensation 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. Further, shareholders should have the opportunity to assess whether pay structures and levels are aligned with business performance on an annual basis.

Employee Equity Award Plans

SSGA considers numerous criteria when examining equity award proposals. Generally, SSGA does not vote against plans for lack of performance or vesting criteria. Rather, the main criteria that will result in a vote against an equity award plan are:

Excessive voting power dilution To assess the dilutive effect, we divide the number of shares required to fully fund the proposed plan, the number of authorized but unissued shares and the issued but unexercised shares by the fully diluted share count. SSGA reviews that number in light of certain factors, including the industry of the issuer.

Historical option grants Excessive historical option grants over the past three years. Plans that provide for historical grant patterns of greater than five to eight percent are generally not supported.

Repricing SSGA will vote against any plan where repricing is expressly permitted. If a company has a history of repricing underwater options, the plan will not be supported.

Other criteria include the following:

 

    Number of participants or eligible employees;

 

    The variety of awards possible; and

 

    The period of time covered by the plan.

There are numerous factors that we view as negative, and together, may result in a vote against a proposal:

 

    Grants to individuals or very small groups of participants;

 

    “Gun-jumping” grants which anticipate shareholder approval of a plan or amendment;

 

    The power of the board to exchange “underwater” options without shareholder approval; this pertains to the ability of a company to reprice options, not the actual act of repricing described above;

 

    Below market rate loans to officers to exercise their options;

 

    The ability to grant options at less than fair market value;

 

    Acceleration of vesting automatically upon a change in control; and

 

    Excessive compensation (i.e. compensation plans which are deemed by SSGA to be overly dilutive).

 

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Share Repurchases If a company makes a clear connection between a share repurchase program and its intent to offset dilution created from option plans and the company fully discloses the amount of shares being repurchased, the voting dilution calculation may be adjusted to account for the impact of the buy back.

Companies who do not (i) clearly state the intentions of any proposed share buy-back plan or (ii) disclose a definitive number of the shares to be bought back, (iii) specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares and, (iv) disclose the time frame during which the shares will be bought back, will not have any such repurchase plan factored into the dilution calculation.

162(m) Plan Amendments If a plan would not normally meet the SSGA criteria described above, but is primarily being amended to add specific performance criteria to be used with awards designed to qualify for performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, then SSGA will support the proposal to amend the plan.

Employee Stock Option Plans

SSGA generally votes for stock purchase plans with an exercise price of not less than 85% of fair market value. However, SSGA takes market practice into consideration.

Compensation Related Items

SSGA will generally support the following proposals:

 

    Expansions to reporting of financial or compensation-related information, within reason; and

 

    Proposals requiring the disclosure of executive retirement benefits if the issuer does not have an independent compensation committee.

SSGA will generally vote against the following proposals:

 

    Retirement bonuses for non-executive directors and auditors.

Miscellaneous/Routine Items

SSGA generally supports the following miscellaneous/routine governance items:

 

    Reimbursement of all appropriate proxy solicitation expenses associated with the election when voting in conjunction with support of a dissident slate;

 

    Opting-out of business combination provision;

 

    Proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management;

 

    Liquidation of the company if the company will file for bankruptcy if the proposal is not approved;

 

    Shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote;

 

    General updating of, or corrective amendments to, charter and bylaws not otherwise specifically addressed herein, unless such amendments would reasonably be expected to diminish shareholder rights (e.g. extension of directors’ term limits, amending shareholder vote requirement to amend the charter documents, insufficient information provided as to the reason behind the amendment);

 

    Change in corporation name;

 

    Mandates that amendments to bylaws or charters have shareholder approval;

 

    Management proposals to change the date, time, and/or location of the annual meeting unless the proposed change is unreasonable;

 

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    Repeals, prohibitions or adoption of anti-greenmail provisions;

 

    Management proposals to implement a reverse stock split when the number of authorized shares will be proportionately reduced and proposals to implement a reverse stock split to avoid delisting; and

 

    Exclusive forum provisions.

SSGA generally does not support the following miscellaneous/ routine governance items:

 

    Proposals asking companies to adopt full tenure holding periods for their executives;

 

    Reincorporation to a location that we believe has more negative attributes than its current location of incorporation;

 

    Shareholder proposals to change the date, time, and/or location of the annual meeting unless the current scheduling or location is unreasonable;

 

    Proposals to approve other business when it appears as a voting item;

 

    Proposals giving the board exclusive authority to amend the bylaws; and

 

    Proposals to reduce quorum requirements for shareholder meetings below a majority of the shares outstanding unless there are compelling reasons to support the proposal.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, we consider the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business.

Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer-by-issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

 

1 Common for non-US issuers; request from the issuer to discharge from liability the directors or auditors with respect to actions taken by them during the previous year.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6419 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Europe

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) European Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines cover different corporate governance frameworks and practices in European markets excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines in European markets address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management and monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in European markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research in to corporate governance issues in European companies, SSGA also considers guidance issued by the European Commission. Companies should provide detailed explanations under diverse ‘comply or explain’ approaches, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and EMEA investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in European markets.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re–election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices.

A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in European companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related–party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders;

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees;

 

    Employee and government representatives; and

 

    Overall average board tenure and individual director tenure at issuers with classified and de-classified boards, respectively.

 

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While, overall board independence requirements and board structures differ from market to market, SSGA considers voting against directors it deems non–independent if overall board independence is below one third. SSGA also assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case–by–case basis, giving consideration to factors such as overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. SSGA may also not support a proposal to discharge the board, if a company fails to meet adequate governance standards or board level independence.

When considering the election or re-election of a non-executive director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive can undertake and attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA may vote against the election of a director whose biographical disclosures are insufficient to assess his or her role on the board and/or independence.

Although we generally are in favour of the annual election of directors, we recognise that director terms vary considerably in different European markets. SSGA may vote against article/bylaw changes that seek to extend director terms. In addition, in certain markets, SSGA may vote against directors if their director terms extend beyond four years.

SSGA believes companies should have relevant board level committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Similarly, executive pay is an important aspect of corporate governance, and it should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. SSGA may vote against nominees who are executive members of audit or remuneration committees.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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.

In certain European markets it is not uncommon for the election of directors to be presented in a single slate. In these cases, where executives serve on the audit or the remuneration committees, SSGA may vote against the entire slate.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

 

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Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

In some European markets, differential voting rights continue to exist. SSGA supports the “one share one vote” policy and favors a share structure where all shares have equal voting rights. SSGA believes pre-emption rights should be introduced for shareholders in order to provide adequate protection from being overly diluted from the issuance of new shares or convertible securities to third parties or a small number of select shareholders.

Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA generally opposes proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will generally oppose new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add classes of stock with undefined voting rights or classes that may dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders. SSGA supports proposals to abolish voting caps and capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Increase in Authorized Capital

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholder’s ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seek to issue new shares whilst dis-applying pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for a specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share re-purchase requests that allow share re-purchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long-term financial health.

Related Party Transactions

Certain companies in European markets have a controlled ownership structure and have 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, SSGA expects companies to provide details of the transaction, such as the nature, value and purpose of such a transaction. It also encourages independent directors to ratify such transactions. Further, SSGA encourages companies to 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.

 

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Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price

Anti–Takeover Measures

European markets have diverse regulations concerning the use of share issuances as takeover defenses with legal restrictions lacking in some markets. SSGA supports a one-share, one-vote policy, for example, given that dual-class capital structures entrench certain shareholders and management, insulating them from possible takeovers. SSGA opposes unlimited share issuance authorizations as they may be used as antitakeover devices, and they have the potential for substantial voting and earnings dilution. SSGA also monitors the duration of authorities to issue shares and whether there are restrictions and caps on multiple issuance authorities during the specified time periods. SSGA opposes antitakeover defenses such as authorities for the board, when subject to a hostile takeover, to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

Despite the differences among the types of plans and awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure to review its approach.

Equity Incentives Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

 

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Non–Executive Director Pay

In European markets, authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company-by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 0232066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6418 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

United Kingdom

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”), UK Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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SSGA’s UK Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in the UK and Ireland, SSGA expects all companies, regardless of domicile, that obtain a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange or the Irish Stock Exchange to comply with the UK Corporate Governance Code. Companies should provide detailed explanations under the Code’s ‘comply or explain’ approach, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and EMEA investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the UK and European markets.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices.

A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in UK companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Excessive tenure and a preponderance of long-tenured directors:

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders; and

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

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When considering the election or re-election of a director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive and an executive may undertake as well as attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA monitors other factors that may influence the independence of a non-executive director, such as performance related pay, cross-directorships, significant shareholdings and tenure. SSGA supports the annual election of directors.

While SSGA is generally supportive of having the roles of chairman and CEO separated in the UK market, SSGA assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to factors such as the company’s specific circumstances, overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. Similarly, SSGA will monitor for circumstances where a combined chairman/CEO is appointed or where a former CEO becomes chairman.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities when considering their suitability for reappointment. (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

SSGA believes companies should have committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Similarly, executive pay is an important aspect of corporate governance, and it should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. SSGA will vote against nominees who are executive members of audit or remuneration committees.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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. The nomination committee is responsible for evaluating and keeping under review the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the board and ensuring that adequate succession plans are in place for directors and the CEO. SSGA may vote against the re-election of members of the nomination committee if, over time, the board has failed to address concerns over board structure or succession.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if an adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

 

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Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

Share Issuances

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholders’ ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seek to issue new shares whilst dis-applying pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for a specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share re-purchase requests that allow share re-purchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long term financial health.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize share-holder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti-Takeover Measures

SSGA opposes anti-takeover defenses such as authorities for the board when subject to a hostile takeover to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

Despite the differences among the types of plans and awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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 policies and reports, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

Equity Incentives Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

Non-Executive Director Pay

Authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company- by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

 

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In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

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© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Emerging Markets

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Emerging Market Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines cover different corporate governance frameworks and practices in emerging markets. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles which provides a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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At SSGA, we recognize that countries in emerging markets are disparate in their corporate governance frameworks and practices. Concurrent with developing a company specific voting and engagement program, SSGA also evaluates the various factors that play into the corporate governance framework of a country. These factors include: (i) the macroeconomic conditions and broader political system in a country; (ii) quality of regulatory oversight, enforcement of property and shareholder rights; and (iii) the independence of judiciary—to name a few. While emerging market countries tend to pose broad common governance issues across all markets, such as concentrated ownership, poor disclosure of financial and related-party transactions, and weak enforcement of rules and regulation, SSGA’s emerging market proxy voting policy is designed to identify and address specific governance concerns in each market.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy in Emerging Markets

SSGA’s approach to proxy voting and issuer engagement in emerging markets is designed to increase the value of our investments through the mitigation of governance risks. Since the overall quality of the corporate governance framework in an emerging market country drives the level of governance risks investors assign to a country, improving the macro governance framework in a country may help reduce governance risks, in turn, increasing the overall value of SSGA’s holdings over time. Therefore, in order to improve the overall governance framework and practices in a country, members of our proxy voting and engagement team endeavor to visit emerging market countries and meet with representatives from regulatory agencies and stock markets to highlight potential concerns with the macro governance framework of a country. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in emerging markets. To help mitigate company specific risk, the team works alongside members of the active fundamental and emerging market teams to engage with emerging market companies on governance issues and address any specific concerns or to get more information regarding shareholder items that are to be voted on at upcoming shareholder meetings. This integrated approach to engagement drives SSGA’s proxy voting and engagement philosophy in emerging markets.

SSGA’s proxy voting guidelines in emerging markets addresses six broad areas:

 

    Directors and Boards;

 

    Accounting and Audit Related Issues;

 

    Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues;

 

    Remuneration;

 

    Environmental and Social Issues; and

 

    General/Routine Issues.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. However, several factors such as low overall independence level requirements by market regulators, poor biographical disclosure of director profiles, prevalence of related-party transactions and the general resistance from controlling shareholders to increase board independence renders the election of directors as one of the most important fiduciary duties SSGA performs in emerging market companies.

SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. SSGA expects companies to meet minimum overall board independence standards as defined in a corporate governance code or market practice. Therefore, in several countries, SSGA will vote against select non-independent directors if overall board independence levels do not meet market standards.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in emerging market companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders and other employees; and

 

    Attendance levels.

 

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In some countries, market practice calls for the establishment of a board level audit committee. In such cases, SSGA believes companies should have an audit committee that is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well as their effectiveness and resource levels. Based on our desire to enhance the quality of financial and accounting oversight provided by independent directors, SSGA expects that listed companies have an audit committee that is constituted of a majority of independent directors.

Audit Related Issues

The disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for the investment process. As a result, board oversight of internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely on financial statements. SSGA believes that audit committees provide the necessary oversight on the selection and appointment of auditors, a company’s internal controls and accounting policies, and the overall audit process. In emerging markets, SSGA encourages boards to appoint an audit committee composed of a majority of independent auditors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appointment at the annual meeting. SSGA believes that it is imperative for audit committees to select outside auditors who are independent from management.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

SSGA believes that changes to a company’s capital structure such as changes in authorized share capital, share repurchase and debt issuances are critical decisions made by the board. SSGA believes the company should have a well explained business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and should not overly dilute its shareholders.

Related Party Transactions

Most companies in emerging markets have a controlled ownership structure that often include complex cross-shareholdings between subsidiaries and parent companies (“related companies”). As a result, there is a high prevalence of related-party transactions between the company and its various stakeholders such as directors and management. In addition, inter-group loan and loan guarantees provided to related companies are some of the other related-party transactions that increase the risk profile of companies. In markets where shareholders are required to approve such transactions, SSGA expects companies to provide details of the transaction, such as the nature, value and purpose of such a transaction. It also encourages independent directors to ratify such transactions. Further, SSGA encourages companies to 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.

Share Repurchase Programs

With regard to share repurchase programs, SSGA expects companies to clearly state the business purpose for the program and a definitive number of shares to be repurchased.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA evaluates mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    Offer premium;

 

    Strategic rationale;

 

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    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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

SSGA will actively seek direct dialogue with the board and management of companies we have identified through our screening processes. Such engagements may lead to further monitoring to ensure the company improves its governance or sustainability practices. In these cases, the engagement process represents the most meaningful opportunity for SSGA to protect long-term shareholder value from excessive risk due to poor governance and sustainability practices.

Remuneration

SSGA considers it to be the board’s responsibility to set appropriate levels of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive compensation; there should be a direct relationship between executive compensation and company performance over the long-term. In emerging markets we encourage companies to disclose information on senior executive remuneration.

With regard to director remuneration, SSGA supports director pay provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other issuers in the market or industry and are not overly dilutive to existing shareholders.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors can not only have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. Companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change. In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

In emerging markets, shareholders seldom vote on environmental and social issues. Therefore, SSGA addresses a company’s approach to identifying and managing environmental and social risks stemming for various aspects of its operations in its one-on-one engagement with companies.

General/Routine Issues

Some of the other issues that are routinely voted on in emerging markets include approving the allocation of income and accepting financial statements and statutory reports. For these voting items, SSGA’s policies consider several factors including historical dividend payouts, pending litigation, governmental investigations, charges of fraud or other indication of significant concerns.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’ express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6416 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Japan

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Japan Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines complement and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines in Japan address areas including: board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in Japan, SSGA takes into consideration the unique aspects of Japanese corporate governance structures. We recognize that under Japanese corporate law, companies may choose between two structures of corporate governance: the statutory auditor system or the committee structure. Most Japanese boards predominantly consist of executives and non-independent outsiders affiliated through commercial relationships or cross-shareholdings. Nonetheless, when evaluating companies, SSGA expects Japanese companies to address conflicts of interest, risk management and demonstrate an effective process for monitoring management. In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in Japanese companies, SSGA also considers guidance issued by the Corporate Law Subcommittee of the Legislative Council within the Ministry of Justice as well as private study groups.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, and environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in Japan.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practices, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice.

Japanese companies have the option of having a traditional board of directors with statutory auditors, a board with a committee structure, or a hybrid board with board level audit committee. SSGA will generally support companies that seek shareholder approval to adopt a committee or hybrid board structure.

Most Japanese issuers prefer the traditional statutory auditor structure. Statutory auditors act in a quasi-compliance role as they are not involved in strategic decision-making nor are they part of the formal management decision process. Statutory auditors attend board meetings but do not have voting rights at the board; however, they have the right to seek an injunction and conduct broad investigations of unlawful behavior in the company’s operations.

SSGA will support the election of statutory auditors, unless the outside statutory auditor nominee is regarded as non-independent based on SSGA criteria, the outside statutory auditor has attended less than 75 percent of meetings of the board of directors or board of statutory auditors during the year under review, or the statutory auditor has been remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities (fraud, criminal wrong doing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

 

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For companies with a statutory auditor structure there is no legal requirement that boards have outside directors, however, SSGA believes there should be a transparent process of independent and external monitoring of management on behalf of shareholders.

 

    SSGA believes that non-controlled Japanese companies should appoint at least two outside directors, otherwise, SSGA will oppose the top executive who is responsible for the director nomination process; and

 

    For controlled companies with a statutory auditor structure, SSGA will oppose the top executive, if the board does not have at least two independent directors.

For companies with a committee structure or a hybrid board structure, SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering general market practice, as well as the independence of the nominee. SSGA also takes into consideration the overall independence level of the committees. In determining director independence, SSGA considers the following factors:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Past employment with the company;

 

    Provides professional services to the company; and

 

    Family ties with the company.

Regardless of board structure, SSGA may oppose the election of a director for the following reasons:

 

    Failure to attend board meetings; or

 

    In instances of egregious actions related to a director’s service on the board.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ and statutory auditors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. SSGA believes limitations and indemnification are necessary to attract and retain qualified directors.

Audit Related Items

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should have the opportunity to vote on their appointment at the annual meeting.

Ratifying External Auditors

SSGA will generally support the appointment of external auditors unless the external auditor is perceived as being non-independent and there are concerns about the accounts presented and the audit procedures followed.

Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Capital Structure, Reorganization and Mergers

SSGA supports the “one share one vote” policy and favors a share structure where all shares have equal voting rights. SSGA supports proposals to abolish voting caps or multiple voting rights and will oppose measures to introduce these types of restrictions on shareholder rights.

SSGA believes pre-emption rights should be introduced for shareholders in order to provide adequate protection from being overly diluted from the issuance of new shares or convertible securities to third parties or a small number of select shareholders.

 

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Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA generally opposes proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will generally oppose new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add classes of stock with undefined voting rights or classes that may dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.

However, SSGA will support capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Increase in Authorized Capital

SSGA generally supports increases in authorized capital where the company provides an adequate explanation for the use of shares. In the absence of an adequate explanation, SSGA may oppose the request if the increase in authorized capital exceeds 100 percent of the currently authorized capital. Where share issuance requests exceed our standard threshold, SSGA will consider the nature of the specific need, such as mergers and acquisitions and stock splits.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long term financial health.

Share Repurchase Programs

Companies are allowed under Japan Corporate Law to amend their articles to authorize the repurchase of shares at the board’s discretion. SSGA will oppose an amendment to articles allowing the repurchase of shares at the board’s discretion. SSGA believes the company should seek shareholder approval for a share repurchase program at each year’s AGM, providing shareholders the right to evaluate the purpose of the repurchase.

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share repurchase requests that allow share repurchases during a takeover period.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA evaluates mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti-Takeover Measures

In general, SSGA believes that adoption of poison pills that have been structured to protect management and to prevent takeover bids from succeeding is not in shareholders’ interest. A shareholder rights plan may lead to management entrenchment and discourage legitimate tender offers and acquisitions. Even if the premium paid to companies with a shareholder rights plan is higher than that offered to unprotected firms, a company’s chances of receiving a takeover offer in the first place may be reduced by the presence of a shareholder rights plan.

Proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights or have the effect of entrenching incumbent management will not be supported.

Proposals that enhance the right of shareholders to make their own choices as to the desirability of a merger or other proposal are supported.

Shareholder Rights Plans

In evaluating poison pills, the following conditions must be met before SSGA will recommend a vote in favor.

SSGA will support the adoption or renewal of a Japanese issuer’s shareholder rights plans (“poison pill”) if the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, and (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced.

SSGA will vote for an amendment to a shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”) where the terms of the new plans are more favorable to shareholders’ ability to accept unsolicited offers (i.e. if one of the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, or (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced).

Compensation

In Japan, excessive compensation is rarely an issue. Rather, the problem is the lack of connection between pay and performance. Fixed salaries and cash retirement bonuses tend to comprise a significant portion of the compensation structure while performance-based pay is generally a small portion of the total pay. SSGA, where possible, seeks to encourage the use of performance based compensation in Japan as an incentive for executives and as a way to align interests with shareholders.

Approve Adjustment to Aggregate Compensation Ceiling for Directors

Remuneration for directors is generally reasonable. Typically, each company sets the director compensation parameters as an aggregate thereby limiting the total pay to all directors. When requesting a change, a company must disclose the last time the ceiling was adjusted and management provides the rationale for the ceiling increase. SSGA will generally support proposed increases to the ceiling if the company discloses the rationale for the increase. SSGA may oppose proposals to increase the ceiling if there has been corporate malfeasance or sustained poor performance.

Approve Annual Bonuses for Directors/ Statutory Auditors

In Japan, since there are no legal requirements that mandate companies to seek shareholder approval before awarding a bonus, SSGA believes that existing shareholder approval of the bonus should be considered best practice. As a result, SSGA supports management proposals on executive compensation where there is a strong relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period.

Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors/ Statutory Auditors

Retirement bonuses make up a sizeable portion of directors’ and auditors’ lifetime compensation and are based on board tenure. While many companies in Japan have abolished this practice, there remain many proposals seeking shareholder approval for the total amounts paid to directors and statutory auditors as a whole. In general, SSGA supports these payments unless the recipient is an outsider or in instances where the amount is not disclosed.

 

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Approve Stock Plan

Most option plans in Japan are conservative, particularly at large companies. Japan corporate law requires companies to disclose the monetary value of the stock options for directors and/or statutory auditors. Some companies do not disclose the maximum number of options that can be issued per year and shareholders are unable to evaluate the dilution impact. In this case, SSGA cannot calculate the dilution level and, therefore, SSGA may oppose such plans for poor disclosure. SSGA also opposes plans that allow for the repricing of the exercise price.

Deep Discount Options

As Japanese companies move away from the retirement bonus system, deep discount options plans have become more popular. Typically, the exercise price is set at JPY 1 per share. SSGA evaluates deep discount options using the same criteria used to evaluate stock options as well as considering the vesting period.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors can not only have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. Companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

Miscellaneous/Routine Items

Expansion of Business Activities

Japanese companies’ articles of incorporation strictly define the types of businesses in which a company is permitted to engage. In general, SSGA views proposals to expand and diversify the company’s business activities as routine and non-contentious. SSGA will monitor instances where there has been an inappropriate acquisition and diversification away from the company’s main area of competence, which resulted in a decrease of shareholder value.

More Information

Any client who wishes to receive information on how its proxies were voted should contact its SSGA relationship manager.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6433 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Australia

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Australia Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in Australia. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflict of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Australia Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in Australia, SSGA expects all companies at a minimum to comply with the ASX Corporate Governance Principles. Companies should provide detailed explanations under the Principles’ ‘comply or explain’ approach, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests. On some governance matters, such as composition of audit committees, we hold Australian companies to our global standards requiring all directors on the committee to be independent of management.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the region.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound ESG policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. SSGA expects boards of ASX-300 listed companies to be comprised of at least a majority of independent directors. At all other listed companies, SSGA expects boards to be comprised of at least one-third independent directors.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in Australian companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders; and

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

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When considering the election or re-election of a director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive and an executive may undertake as well as attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA monitors other factors that may influence the independence of a non-executive director, such as performance related pay, cross-directorships, significant shareholdings and tenure. SSGA supports the annual election of directors and encourages Australian companies to adopt this practice.

While SSGA is generally supportive of having the roles of chairman and CEO separated in the Australia market, SSGA assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to factors such as the company’s specific circumstances, overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. Similarly, SSGA will monitor for circumstances where a combined chairman/CEO is appointed or where a former CEO becomes chairman.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities when considering their suitability for reappointment. (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities)

SSGA believes companies should have committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Australian Corporate Governance Principles requires ASX listed companies to have an audit committee of at least three members all of whom are non-executive directors and a majority of whom are independent directors. It also requires that the committee be chaired by an independent director who is not the chair of the board. SSGA holds Australian companies to its global standards for developed financial markets, by requiring that all members of the audit committee be independent directors.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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. The nomination committee is responsible for evaluating and keeping under review the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the board and ensuring that adequate succession plans are in place for directors and the CEO. SSGA may vote against the re-election of members of the nomination committee if, over time, the board has failed to address concerns over board structure or succession.

Executive pay is another important aspect of corporate governance. SSGA believes that executive pay should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. Australian Corporate Governance Principles requires ASX listed companies to have a remuneration committee of at least three members all of whom are non-executive directors and a majority of whom are independent directors. Since Australia has a non-binding vote on pay with a two-strike rule requiring a board spill in the event of a second strike, SSGA believes that the vote provides investors a mechanism to address concerns it may have on the quality of oversight provided by the board on remuneration issues. Accordingly SSGA voting guidelines accommodate local market practice.

Indemnification and limitations on liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

 

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Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or to re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

Share Issuances

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholders’ ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seeks to issue new shares without pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share repurchase requests that allow share repurchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long-term financial health.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering the following:

 

    Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock;

 

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    Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

Anti-Takeover Measures

SSGA opposes anti-takeover defenses, such as authorities for the board, when subject to a hostile takeover, to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

There is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where there seems to be a misalignment between pay and shareholders’ interests and where incentive policies and schemes have a re-test option or feature. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure to review its approach.

Equity Incentive Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

Non-Executive Director Pay

Authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company-by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive

 

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advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

 

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In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6423 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Managing Conflicts of Interest Arising From SSGA’S Proxy Voting and Engagement Activity

State Street Corporation has a comprehensive standalone Conflicts of Interest Policy and other policies that address a range of conflicts of interests identified by our parent company. In addition, SSGA maintains a conflicts register that identifies key conflicts and describes systems in place to mitigate the conflicts. This policy is designed to act in conjunction with related policies and practices employed by other groups within the organization. Further, they complement those policies and practices by providing specific guidance on managing the conflicts of interests that may arise through SSGA’s proxy voting activities.

 

LOGO

 

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Managing Conflicts of Interest Related to Proxy Voting

SSGA has policies and procedures designed to prevent undue influence on SSGA’s voting activities that may arise from relationships between proxy issuers or companies and State Street Corporation (“STT”) SSGA, SSGA affiliates, SSGA Funds or SSGA Fund affiliates.

Protocols designed to help mitigate potential conflicts of interest include:

 

    Providing sole voting discretion to members of SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team. Members of the corporate governance team may from time to time discuss views on proxy voting matters, company performance, strategy etc. with other STT or SSGA employees including portfolio managers, senior executives and relationship managers. However, final voting decisions are made solely by the corporate governance team, in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of all clients, taking into account various perspectives on risks and opportunities with a view of maximizing the value of client assets;

 

    Exercising a singular vote decision for each ballot item regardless of SSGA’s investment strategy;

 

    Prohibiting members of SSGA’s corporate governance team from disclosing SSGA’s voting decision to any individual not affiliated with the proxy voting process prior to the meeting or date of written consent, as the case may be;

 

    Mandatory disclosure by members of the SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team, Global Proxy Review Committee (“PRC”) and Investment Committee (“IC”) of any personal conflict of interest (e.g., familial relationship with company management, serves as a director on the board of a listed company) to the Head of the Corporate Governance Team. Members are required to recuse themselves from any engagement or proxy voting activities related to the conflict;

 

    In certain instances, client accounts and/or SSGA pooled funds, where SSGA acts as trustee, may hold shares in STT or other SSGA affiliated entities, such as mutual funds affiliated with SSGA Funds Management, Inc. In general, SSGA will outsource any voting decision relating to a shareholder meeting of STT or other SSGA affiliated entities to independent outside third parties. Delegated third parties exercise vote decisions based upon SSGA’s in-house policies; and

 

    Reporting of voting policy overrides, if any, to the PRC on a quarterly basis.

In general, we do not believe matters that fall within the Guidelines and are voted consistently with the Guidelines present any potential conflicts, since the vote on the matter has effectively been determined without reference to the soliciting entity. However, where matters do not fall within the Guidelines or where we believe that voting in accordance with the Guidelines is unwarranted, we conduct an additional review to determine whether there is a conflict of interest. In circumstances where a conflict has been identified and either: (i) the matter does not fall clearly within the Guidelines; or (ii) SSGA determines that voting in accordance with such policies or guidance is not in the best interests of its clients, the Head of SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team will determine whether a Material Relationship exists. If so, the matter is referred to the SSGA PRC. The SSGA PRC then reviews the matter and determines whether a conflict of interest exists, and if so, how to best resolve such conflict. For example, the SSGA PRC may (i) determine that the proxy vote does not give rise to a conflict due to the issues presented, (ii) refer the matter to the SSGA Investment Committee for further evaluation or (iii) retain an independent fiduciary to determine the appropriate vote.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6331 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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SPDR® SERIES TRUST (THE “TRUST”)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

October 31, 2016

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. With respect to the Trust’s series listed below, this SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated October 31, 2016, as may be revised from time to time (“Prospectus”).

 

ETF    TICKER  

SPDR® Dorsey Wright® Fixed Income Allocation ETF

     DWFI   

Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for the ETF: 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 Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2016 may be obtained without charge by writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, the Trust’s principal underwriter (referred to herein as “Distributor” or “Principal Underwriter”), State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Trust’s website at https://www.spdrs.com or by calling 1-866-787-2257. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, financial highlights and financial statements of the Fund included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

General Description of the Trust      3   
Investment Policies      3   
Special Considerations and Risks      17   
Investment Restrictions      20   
Exchange Listing and Trading      21   
Management of the Trust      21   
Brokerage Transactions      32   
Book Entry Only System      34   
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities      35   
Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units      35   
Determination of Net Asset Value      40   
Dividends and Distributions      41   
Taxes      41   
Capital Stock and Shareholder Reports      48   
Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      49   
Local Market Holiday Schedules      49   
Financial Statements      57   
Appendix A – Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures      A-1   


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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 SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation ETF (the “Fund”). The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 12, 1998. The offering of the Fund’s shares (“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of a specified market index (the “Index”). SSGA Funds Management, Inc. serves as the investment adviser for the Fund (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”).

The Fund offers and issues Shares at its net asset value (sometimes referred to herein as “NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). The Fund generally offers and issues Shares either in exchange for (i) a basket of securities included in its Index (“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 the 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 either for (i) portfolio securities and a specified cash payment or (ii) cash (subject to applicable legal requirements). A Creation Unit of the Fund consists of 25,000 Shares.

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

The Fund may invest directly, or indirectly through an underlying ETF, in the following types of investments, consistent with its investment strategies and objective. Please see the Fund’s Prospectus for additional information regarding its principal investment strategies.

DIVERSIFICATION STATUS

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that the 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 the Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund. The securities of a particular issuer may constitute a greater portion of the Index and, therefore, the securities may constitute a greater portion of the Fund’s portfolio. This may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s performance or subject the Fund’s Shares to greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies.

Although the Fund is non-diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”) for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Internal Revenue Code”), and to relieve the 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 Fund and may make it less likely that the Fund will meet its investment objective.

ASSET-BACKED AND COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities backed by installment contracts, credit-card receivables or other assets. Commercial mortgage-backed securities are securities backed by commercial real estate properties. Both asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of assets in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are made on a regular basis. The payments are, in effect, “passed through” to the holder of the securities (net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities). The average life of asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities varies with the maturities of the underlying instruments and, as a result of prepayments, can often be less than the original maturity of the assets underlying the securities. For this and other reasons, an asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed security’s stated maturity may be shortened, and the security’s total return may be difficult to predict precisely.

 

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BONDS

The Fund may invest in 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 the 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).

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. The 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.

COMMERCIAL PAPER

The Fund may invest in 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.

COMMON STOCKS

The Fund may invest in common stocks. Risks inherent in investing in equity securities include the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and therefore a decrease in the value of Shares of the Fund). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions 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 or banking crises.

CONCENTRATION

The Fund’s investments will generally be concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund’s underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries. The securities of issuers in particular industries may dominate the benchmark Index of the Fund and consequently the Fund’s investment portfolio. This may adversely affect the Fund’s performance or subject its Shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by less concentrated investment companies. The Trust’s general policy is to exclude securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities when measuring industry concentration.

 

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In pursuing its objective, the Fund may hold the securities of a single issuer in an amount exceeding 10% of the market value of the outstanding securities of the issuer, subject to restrictions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. In particular, as the Fund’s size grows and its assets increase, it will be more likely to hold more than 10% of the securities of a single issuer if the issuer has a relatively small public float as compared to other components in its benchmark Index.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks 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 the 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 stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, 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 stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline 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 stocks rise 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 stocks. 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

The Fund may invest in other exchange-traded funds (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. 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 the 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.

FUTURES CONTRACTS, OPTIONS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in derivatives, including exchange-traded futures on Treasuries or Eurodollars, U.S. exchange-traded or OTC put and call options contracts and exchange-traded or OTC swap agreements (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, excess return swaps, and credit default swaps). The Fund will segregate cash and/or appropriate liquid assets if required to do so by SEC or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulation or interpretation.

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. Futures contracts are standardized as to maturity date and underlying instrument and are traded on futures exchanges.

 

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The Fund is required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or U.S. government securities 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 margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin 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, the Fund would expect to earn interest income on its margin deposits. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position (“buying” a contract which has previously been “sold,” or “selling” a contract previously “purchased”) in an identical contract to terminate the position. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract position is opened or closed.

The 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.

Regulation under the Commodities Exchange Act. The Fund intends to use futures and options in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). The Fund may use exchange-traded futures and options, together with positions in cash and money market instruments, to simulate full investment in its underlying Index. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts may not be currently available for an Index. Under such circumstances, the Adviser may seek to utilize other instruments that it believes to be correlated to the applicable Index components or a subset of the components. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 so that the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.

Restrictions on the Use of Futures and Options. In connection with its management of the Fund, the Adviser has claimed an exclusion from registration as a commodity pool operator under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 and, therefore, is not subject to the registration and regulatory requirements of the CEA. The Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures and options thereon to the extent allowed by the CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. The Fund would take steps to prevent its futures positions from “leveraging” its securities holdings. When it has a long futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position. When it has a short futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position).

Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate, index and total return swap agreements. Swap agreements 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 agreements will usually be done on a net basis, i.e., where the two parties make net payments with the 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 the 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.

In the case of a credit default swap (“CDS”), the contract gives one party (the buyer) the right to recoup the economic value of a decline in the value of debt securities of the reference issuer if the credit event (a downgrade or default) occurs. This value is obtained by delivering a debt security of the reference issuer to the party in return for a previously agreed payment from the other party (frequently, the par value of the debt security). As the seller of a CDS contract, the Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to debt obligations. In return, the Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

 

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CDSs may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. The Fund will segregate assets necessary to meet any accrued payment obligations when it is the buyer of CDSs. In cases where the Fund is a seller of a CDS, if the CDS is physically settled, the Fund will be required to segregate the full notional amount of the CDS. Such segregation will not limit the Fund’s exposure to loss.

CDS agreements involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, illiquidity risk associated with a particular issuer, and credit risk, each of which will be similar in either case, CDSs are subject to the risk of illiquidity within the CDS market on the whole, as well as counterparty risk. The Fund will enter into CDS agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. The Fund will only enter into CDSs for purposes of better tracking the performance of its Index.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The 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, the Fund will provide appropriate disclosure.

HIGH YIELD SECURITIES

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in high yield securities. Investment in high yield securities 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 the 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 the 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 the Fund could sell a high yield security, and could adversely affect the daily net asset value per share of the 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.

 

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INFLATION-PROTECTED OBLIGATIONS

The Fund may invest in inflation-protected obligations. An inflation-protected debt security is a type of security issued by a government that is designed to provide inflation protection to investors. Inflation-protected debt securities 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.

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

The 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), the 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, the Fund’s investment restrictions and the Trust’s exemptive relief, the Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are affiliated funds and/or money market funds in excess of the limits discussed above.

If the 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

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain creditworthy borrowers in U.S. and non-U.S. markets in an amount not to exceed one quarter (25%) of the value of its total 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. The Fund may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the securities loaned. The Fund receives the value of any interest or cash or non-cash distributions paid on the loaned securities. The 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. 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 will be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. The 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, the 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 short-term instruments either directly on behalf of the Fund or through one or more joint accounts or money market funds, which may include those managed by the Adviser.

The 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 of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) who administer the lending program for the Fund in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. In such capacity, the lending agent causes the delivery of loaned securities from the Fund to borrowers, arranges for the return of loaned securities to the Fund at the termination of a loan, requests deposit of collateral, monitors the daily value of the loaned securities and collateral, requests that borrowers add to the collateral when required by the loan agreements, and provides recordkeeping and accounting services necessary for the operation of the program. 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 Fund 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.

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 the Fund has agreed to pay a borrower), risk of loss of

 

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collateral, credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. Although State Street has agreed to provide the Fund with indemnification in the event of a borrower default, the Fund is still exposed to the risk of losses in the event a borrower does not return the Fund’s securities as agreed. For example, delays in recovery of lent securities may cause the Fund to lose the opportunity to sell the securities at a desirable price.

LEVERAGING

While the Fund does not anticipate doing so, the Fund may borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. However, under normal circumstances, the Fund will not borrow money from a bank in an amount greater than 10% 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 the Fund’s assets will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the NAV of the Fund will increase more when the 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.

MUNICIPAL SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in municipal securities. Municipal securities are securities issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. Municipal securities share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. The municipal securities which the Fund may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax-exempt industrial development bonds generally are also revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor).

Some longer-term municipal securities give the investor the right to “put” or sell the security at par (face value) within a specified number of days following the investor’s request—usually one to seven days. This demand feature enhances a security’s liquidity by shortening its effective maturity and enables it to trade at a price equal to or very close to par. If a demand feature terminates prior to being exercised, the Fund would hold the longer-term security, which could experience substantially more volatility.

The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, than non-municipal securities. There may also be less information available on the financial condition of issuers of municipal securities than for public corporations. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, and municipal securities may be more difficult for the Fund to value accurately than securities of public corporations. If the Fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal securities, the Fund may have greater exposure to liquidity risk than a fund that invests in non-municipal securities. In addition, the municipal securities market is generally characterized as a buy and hold investment strategy. As a result, the accessibility of municipal securities in the market is generally greater closer to the original date of issue of the securities and lessens as the securities move further away from such issuance date.

Municipal securities are subject to credit and market risk. Generally, prices of higher quality issues tend to fluctuate more with changes in market interest rates than prices of lower quality issues and prices of longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices of shorter maturity issues.

Prices and yields on municipal securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money-market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal security market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. A number of these factors, including the ratings of particular issues, are subject to change from time to time. Information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal securities may not be as extensive as that which is made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. As a result, municipal securities may be more difficult to value than securities of public corporations.

 

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Obligations of issuers of municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. Congress or state legislatures may seek to extend the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. In addition, municipal securities are subject to the risk that their tax treatment could be changed by Congress or state legislatures, thereby affecting the value of outstanding municipal securities. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their municipal securities may be materially affected or their obligations may be found to be invalid or unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for municipal securities or certain segments thereof, or of materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of the Fund’s municipal securities in the same manner.

Municipal Insurance. A municipal security may be covered by insurance that guarantees the bond’s scheduled payment of interest and repayment of principal. This type of insurance may be obtained by either (i) the issuer at the time the bond is issued (primary market insurance), or (ii) another party after the bond has been issued (secondary market insurance).

Both primary and secondary market insurance guarantee timely and scheduled repayment of all principal and payment of all interest on a municipal security in the event of default by the issuer, and cover a municipal security to its maturity, enhancing its credit quality and value.

Municipal security insurance does not insure against market fluctuations or fluctuations in the Fund’s share price. In addition, a municipal security insurance policy will not cover: (i) repayment of a municipal security before maturity (redemption), (ii) prepayment or payment of an acceleration premium (except for a mandatory sinking fund redemption) or any other provision of a bond indenture that advances the maturity of the bond, or (iii) nonpayment of principal or interest caused by negligence or bankruptcy of the paying agent. A mandatory sinking fund redemption may be a provision of a municipal security issue whereby part of the municipal security issue may be retired before maturity.

Because a significant portion of the municipal securities issued and outstanding is insured by a small number of insurance companies, an event involving one or more of these insurance companies could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the securities insured by that insurance company and on the municipal markets as a whole.

Municipal Market Disruption Risk. The value of municipal securities may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal securities holders in the event of a bankruptcy. Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal securities are introduced before Congress from time to time. Proposals also may be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal fund’s distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of municipal securities and the value of a municipal fund’s holdings would be affected. Municipal bankruptcies are relatively rare, and certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such bankruptcies are unclear and remain untested. Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state. These legal uncertainties could affect the municipal securities market generally, certain specific segments of the market, or the relative credit quality of particular securities. Any of these effects could have a significant impact on the prices of some or all of the municipal securities held by the Fund.

OTHER SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS

In addition to repurchase agreements, the 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 Standard & Poor’s (“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 risks; 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 the 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, and compliance with many of these amendments were required in October 2016. 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.

 

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PREFERRED SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in preferred securities. Preferred securities pay fixed or adjustable rate dividends to investors, and have “preference” over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of a company’s assets. This means that a company must pay dividends on preferred stock before paying any dividends on its common stock. In order to be payable, distributions on preferred securities must be declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Income payments on typical preferred securities currently outstanding are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accrue even if not declared by the board of directors or otherwise made payable. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on the preferred securities in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

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, the 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.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

The 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 the 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 the Fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument.

In these repurchase agreement transactions, the securities acquired by the 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 the Fund’s net assets will be invested in illiquid securities, 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, the 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 the 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

The 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 the 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 the Fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the 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 the 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 the Fund’s assets. The Fund’s exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings. Although there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, the Fund does not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 10% of its total assets.

 

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SENIOR LOANS

The Fund may invest in Senior Loans. Senior Loans consist generally of obligations of companies and other entities (collectively, “borrowers”) incurred for the purpose of reorganizing the assets and liabilities of a borrower; acquiring another company; taking over control of a company (leveraged buyout); temporary refinancing; or financing internal growth or other general business purposes. Senior Loans are often obligations of borrowers who have incurred a significant percentage of debt compared to their total assets and thus are highly leveraged. The Fund does not treat the banks originating or acting as agents for the lenders, or granting or acting as intermediary in participation interests, in loans held by the Fund as the issuers of such loans.

Senior Loans may be acquired by direct investment as a lender at the inception of the loan or by assignment of a portion of a loan previously made to a different lender or by purchase of a participation interest. If the Fund makes a direct investment in a Senior Loan as one of the lenders, it generally acquires the loan at or below par. This means the Fund receives a return at or above the full interest rate for the loan. If the Fund acquires its interest in Senior Loans in the secondary market or acquires a participation interest, the loans may be purchased or sold above, at, or below par, which can result in a yield that is below, equal to, or above the stated interest rate of the loan. At times, the Fund may be able to invest in Senior Loans only through assignments or participations.

When the 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. These rights include the ability to vote along with the other lenders on such matters as enforcing the terms of the loan agreement (e.g., declaring defaults, initiating collection actions, etc.). Taking such actions typically requires at least a vote of the lenders holding a majority of the investment in the loan and may require a vote by lenders holding two-thirds or more of the investment in the loan. Because the Fund usually does not hold a majority of the investment in any loan, it will not be able by itself to control decisions that require a vote by the lenders.

The Fund may, but will not typically, invest in Senior Loans through participations. A participation interest represents a fractional interest in a loan held by the lender selling the Fund the participation interest. In the case of participations, the Fund will not have any direct contractual relationship with the borrower, the Fund’s rights to consent to modifications of the loan are limited and it is dependent upon the participating lender to enforce the Fund’s rights upon a default. The Fund will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest, and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the borrower. The Fund will only purchase participations from lenders with credit ratings of Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or BBB- or higher by S&P or Fitch, or a comparable rating by another nationally recognized rating agency.

The Fund may be affected by the credit of both the agent and the lender from whom the Fund acquires a participation interest. These credit risks may include delay in receiving payments of principal and interest paid by the borrower to the agent or by the agent to the lender or offsets against payments received from the borrower. In the event of the borrower’s bankruptcy, the borrower’s obligation to repay the loan may be subject to defenses that the borrower can assert as a result of improper conduct by the agent.

Historically, the amount of public information available about a specific Senior Loan has been less extensive than if the loan were registered or exchange-traded.

The loans in which the Fund will invest will, in most instances, be Senior Loans, which are secured and senior to other indebtedness of the borrower. Each Senior Loan will generally be secured by collateral such as accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, real estate, intangible assets such as trademarks, copyrights and patents, and securities of subsidiaries or affiliates. The value of the collateral generally will be determined by reference to financial statements of the borrower, by an independent appraisal, by obtaining the market value of such collateral, in the case of cash or securities if readily ascertainable, or by other customary valuation techniques considered appropriate by the Adviser. The value of collateral may decline after the Fund’s investment, and collateral may be difficult to sell in the event of default. Consequently, the Fund may not receive all the payments to which it is entitled. By virtue of their senior position and collateral, Senior Loans typically provide lenders with the first right to cash flows or proceeds from the sale of a borrower’s collateral if the borrower becomes insolvent (subject to the limitations of bankruptcy law, which may provide higher priority to certain claims such as employee salaries, employee pensions, and taxes). This means Senior Loans are generally repaid before unsecured bank loans, corporate bonds, subordinated debt, trade creditors, and preferred or common stockholders. To the extent that the Fund invests in unsecured loans, if the borrower defaults on such loan, there is no specific collateral on which the lender can foreclose. If the borrower defaults on a subordinated loan, the collateral may not be sufficient to cover both the senior and subordinated loans.

 

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Senior Loans will usually require, in addition to scheduled payments of interest and principal, the prepayment of the Senior Loan from free cash flow, as further described below. The degree to which borrowers prepay Senior Loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, the financial condition of the borrower and competitive conditions among loan investors, among others. As such, prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Recent market conditions, including falling default rates among others, have led to increased prepayment frequency and loan renegotiations. These renegotiations are often on terms more favorable to borrowers. Upon a prepayment, either in part or in full, the actual outstanding debt on which the Fund derives interest income will be reduced. However, the Fund may receive a prepayment penalty fee assessed against the prepaying borrower.

Senior Loans typically pay interest at least quarterly at rates which equal a fixed percentage spread over a base rate such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). For example, if LIBOR were 0.3% and the borrower was paying a fixed spread of 2.50%, the total interest rate paid by the borrower would be 2.80%. Additionally, many Senior Loans also have a minimum base rate, or floor, which will be used if the actual base rate is below this minimum base rate. This measure is designed to ensure lenders receive a minimum interest rate in periods of low interest rates. By illustration, if LIBOR were 0.3% and the borrower was paying a fixed spread of 2.50%, the total interest rate paid by the borrower would be 2.80%. However, if the same Senior Loan had a LIBOR floor of 1.50%, then 1.50% would be used as the base rate notwithstanding that LIBOR was currently at 0.3%, thereby making the interest rate paid the borrower 4.00% (1.50% LIBOR floor base rate plus 2.50% fixed spread). During periods when LIBOR is greater than the LIBOR floor, the LIBOR floor would have no impact on the interest rate paid by the borrower. Not all Senior Loans have LIBOR floors and this feature is a relatively recent invention which may not persist in future issuances of Senior Loans.

Although a base rate such as LIBOR can change every day, loan agreements for Senior Loans typically allow the borrower the ability to choose how often the base rate for its loan will reset. A single loan may have multiple reset periods at the same time, with each reset period applicable to a designated portion of the loan. Such reset periods can range from one day to one year, with most borrowers choosing monthly or quarterly reset periods. During periods of rising interest rates, borrowers will tend to choose longer reset periods, and during periods of declining interest rates, borrowers will tend to choose shorter reset periods. The fixed spread over the base rate on a Senior Loan typically does not change.

Senior Loans generally are arranged through private negotiations between a borrower and several financial institutions represented by an agent who is usually one of the originating lenders. In larger transactions, it is common to have several agents; however, generally only one such agent has primary responsibility for ongoing administration of a Senior Loan. Agents are typically paid fees by the borrower for their services.

The agent is primarily responsible for negotiating the loan agreement which establishes the terms and conditions of the Senior Loan and the rights of the borrower and the lenders. The agent also is responsible for monitoring collateral and for exercising remedies available to the lenders such as foreclosure upon collateral. The Sub-Adviser or its affiliates may from time to time borrow from financial institutions that act as agents for loans.

Loan agreements may provide for the termination of the agent’s agency status in the event that it fails to act as required under the relevant loan agreement, becomes insolvent, enters Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) receivership or, if not FDIC insured, enters into bankruptcy. Should such an agent, lender or assignor with respect to an assignment interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower become insolvent or enter FDIC receivership or bankruptcy, any interest in the Senior Loan of such person and any loan payment held by such person for the benefit of the Fund should not be included in such person’s or entity’s bankruptcy estate. If, however, any such amount were included in such person’s or entity’s bankruptcy estate, the Fund would incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment or could suffer a loss of principal or interest. In this event, the Fund could experience a decrease in the NAV.

Most borrowers pay their debts from cash flow generated by their businesses. If a borrower’s cash flow is insufficient to pay its debts, it may attempt to restructure its debts rather than sell collateral. Borrowers may try to restructure their debts by filing for protection under the federal bankruptcy laws or negotiating a work-out. If a borrower becomes involved in a bankruptcy proceeding, access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws. Such action by a court could be based, for example, on a “fraudulent conveyance” claim to the effect that the borrower did not receive fair consideration for granting the security interest in the loan collateral to the Fund. If a court decides that access to collateral is limited or void, the Fund may not recover the full amount of principal and interest that is due.

 

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A borrower must comply with certain restrictive covenants contained in the loan agreement. In addition to requiring the scheduled payment of principal and interest, these covenants may include restrictions on the payment of dividends and other distributions to the borrower’s shareholders, provisions requiring compliance with specific financial ratios, and limits on total indebtedness. The agreement may also require the prepayment of the loans from excess cash flow. A breach of a covenant that is not waived by the agent (or lenders directly) is normally an event of default, which provides the agent and lenders the right to call for repayment of the outstanding loan. The typical practice of an agent or a loan investor in relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the borrower to monitor the borrower’s compliance with covenants may involve a risk of fraud by the borrower.

In the process of buying, selling and holding Senior Loans, the Fund may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions and prepayment penalty fees. When the Fund buys or sells a Senior Loan it may pay a facility fee. On an ongoing basis, the Fund may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit portion of a Senior Loan. In certain circumstances, the Fund may receive a prepayment penalty fee upon prepayment of a Senior Loan. Other fees received by the Fund may include covenant waiver fees, covenant modification fees or other consent or amendment fees.

Notwithstanding its intention in certain situations to not receive material, non-public information with respect to its management of investments in Senior Loans, the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser may from time to time come into possession of material, non-public information about the issuers of loans that may be held in the Fund’s portfolio. Possession of such information may in some instances occur despite the Adviser’s and/or Sub-Adviser’s efforts to avoid such possession, but in other instances the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser may choose to receive such information (for example, in connection with participation in a creditors’ committee with respect to a financially distressed issuer). The Adviser’s and/or Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade in these Senior Loans for the account of the Fund could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on the Adviser’s and/or Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the Fund by, for example, preventing the Fund from selling a Senior Loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.

The loan market, as represented by the S&P/LSTA (Loan Syndications and Trading Association) Leveraged Loan Index, experienced significant growth in terms of number and aggregate volume of loans outstanding since the inception of the index in 1997. In 1997, the total amount of loans in the market aggregated less than $10 billion. By April of 2000, it had grown to over $100 billion, and by July of 2007 the market had grown to over $500 billion. The size of the market peaked in November of 2008 at $594 billion. During this period, the demand for loans and the number of investors participating in the loan market also increased significantly.

Since 2008, the aggregate size of the market has contracted, characterized by limited new loan issuance and payoffs of outstanding loans. From the peak in 2008 through July 2010, the overall size of the loan market contracted by approximately 15%. The number of market participants also decreased during that period. There can be no assurance that the size of the loan market, and the number of participants, will return to earlier levels.

An increase in demand for Senior Loans may benefit the Fund by providing increased liquidity for such loans and higher sales prices, but it may also adversely affect the rate of interest payable on such loans acquired by the Fund and the rights provided to the Fund under the terms of the applicable loan agreement, and may increase the price of loans that the Fund wishes to purchase in the secondary market. A decrease in the demand for Senior Loans may adversely affect the price of loans in the Fund’s portfolio, which could cause the Fund’s and, therefore, the Fund’s net asset value to decline.

The Fund may acquire interests in Senior Loans which are designed to provide temporary or “bridge” financing to a borrower pending the sale of identified assets or the arrangement of longer-term loans or the issuance and sale of debt obligations. The Fund may also invest in Senior Loans of borrowers that have obtained bridge loans from other parties. A borrower’s use of bridge loans involves a risk that the borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the borrower’s perceived creditworthiness. Bridge loans may have less liquidity than other Senior Loans that were issued to fund corporate purposes on a longer term basis.

Although not anticipated in the normal course, the Fund may occasionally acquire warrants and other equity securities as part of a unit combining a Senior Loan and equity securities of a borrower or its affiliates. The acquisition of such equity securities will only be incidental to the Fund’s purchase of a Senior Loan. The Fund may also acquire equity securities or credit securities (including non-dollar denominated equity or credit securities) issued in exchange for a Senior Loan or issued in connection with the debt restructuring or reorganization of a Borrower, or if such acquisition, in the judgment of the Adviser may enhance the value of a Senior Loan or would otherwise be consistent with the Fund’s investment policies. Such warrants and equity securities will typically have limited value and there is no assurance that such securities will ever obtain value.

 

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OTHER LOANS

The Fund may invest in secured loans that are not first lien and loans that are unsecured. These loans have the same characteristics as Senior Loans except that such loans are not first in priority of repayment and/or are not secured by collateral. Accordingly, the risks associated with these loans are higher than the risks for loans with first priority over the collateral. Because these loans are lower in priority and/or unsecured, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the secured obligations of the borrower. In the event of default on such a loan, the first priority lien holder has first claim to the underlying collateral of the loan. It is possible that no value would remain for the holders of secured loans that are not first lien and loans that are unsecured and therefore result in a loss of investment to the Fund.

Secured loans that are not first lien and loans that are unsecured generally have greater price volatility than Senior Loans and may be less liquid. There is also a possibility that originators will not be able to sell participations in these loans, which would create greater credit risk exposure for the holders of such loans. Secured loans that are not first lien and loans that are unsecured share the same risks as other below investment grade instruments.

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 London Inter-Bank Offered Rate) 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.

The 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 Fund 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, the 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, the 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, the Fund could be held liable as a co-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 the 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 the 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.

 

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U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in 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 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 (Farmer Mac). 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 Agreement 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 will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount of $3 billion. The U.S. Treasury stated that the purpose of the change was to wind down Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and to benefit taxpayers. At the start of 2013, the unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired—Fannie Mae’s bailout is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion. In August 2013, President Obama announced his proposal to shut down Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae as part of a plan to overhaul the U.S.’s mortgage finance system. Until further action is taken, the actions of the U.S. Treasury are intended to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Treasury initiatives will be successful.

VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in variable and floating rate securities. Variable rate securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by entities such as (1) US Government, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, (2) states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of 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. The 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 US 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.

 

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SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS

A discussion of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund is contained in the Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

GENERAL

Investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the 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 the 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.

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, will be subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.

The principal trading market for some of the securities in the Index 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 the Fund’s Shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities are limited or absent or if bid/ask spreads are wide.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RISK

An investment in the 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 the 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. The 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 the 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 the 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.

 

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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(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 the 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 the 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.

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 the 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, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the 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, the Fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying futures contracts it has sold.

The 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 Fund does not plan to use futures and options contracts, when available, in this manner. 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. The 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 the Fund involves the risk of imperfect or even negative correlation to its benchmark Index if the index underlying the futures contracts differs from the benchmark Index or if the futures contracts do not track the benchmark Index as expected. There is also the risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option.

 

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Certain financial futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The 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, 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.

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, the 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, the Fund’s counterparty to the transaction is a central derivatives clearing organization, or clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Because the Fund is not a member of a clearing house, and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund holds cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, the 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 the Fund than bilateral (non-cleared) arrangements. For example, the 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 the 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. The Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or which SSGA 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 the 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 the 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 are new and evolving, so their potential impact on the 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 the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. 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 the Fund’s interest.

If the 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.

TAX RISKS

As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares of the 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 the Fund.

 

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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 the Fund makes distributions or you sell Shares.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies with respect to the Fund. These restrictions cannot be changed 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 the 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, the Fund may not:

1. Concentrate its investments in securities of issuers in the same industry, except as may be necessary to approximate the composition of the Fund’s underlying Index;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 Fund;

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 Fund;

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 Fund 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 Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the Fund’s 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 Fund.

In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, the Fund observes the following restrictions, which may be changed by the Board without a shareholder vote. The Fund 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 Fund in accordance with its views;

2. Hold illiquid assets in excess of 15% of its net assets. An illiquid asset is any asset which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the investment;

3. Under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its total assets in component securities that comprise its Index; and

4. Under normal circumstances, invest directly, or indirectly through underlying ETFs, less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in fixed income securities. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice.

The Fund defines the foregoing terms in accordance with the definition of such terms per the Index. 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 and illiquid securities 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 Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays). With respect to the limitation on illiquid securities, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the limitations as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

 

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.

 

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The 1940 Act currently permits the Fund to loan up to 33 1/3% of its total assets. With respect to borrowing, the 1940 Act presently allows the Fund 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 Fund’s total assets at the time of the loan, and (3) enter into reverse repurchase agreements. However, under normal circumstances any borrowings by the Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund’s 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, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation. With respect to investments in commodities, the 1940 Act presently permits the Fund to invest in commodities in accordance with investment policies contained in its prospectus and SAI. Any such investment shall also comply with the Commodity Exchange Act 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 Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may invest in companies that deal in real estate (including real estate investment trusts (“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 the 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 the Fund are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. The 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 the Fund will continue to be met.

The Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the Shares of the Fund from listing if: (1) following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Shares for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (2) the value of its underlying Index or portfolio of securities on which the Fund is based is no longer calculated or available; (3) the “indicative optimized portfolio value” (“IOPV”) of the Fund is no longer calculated or available; or (4) such other event shall occur or condition exists that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. In addition, the Exchange will remove the Shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Trust or the Fund.

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the Share price of the 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.

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 the Fund is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which the Fund’s net asset value per Share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which Shares of the 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.”

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Fund 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 Fund. The Fund and its 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 (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Fund’s service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

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The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of the 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, its 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 the Fund may be exposed.

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund 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 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 the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the 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 Fund’s 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 the 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 Fund, 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 the 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 the Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address 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 Fund’s investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the 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 Fund’s 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 six members of the Board of Trustees, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”). Frank Nesvet, 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 (greater than 75%) 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 (and classes of shares) 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.

 

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TRUSTEES

 

NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

 

POSITION(S)

WITH

FUNDS

 

TERM OF

OFFICE AND

LENGTH OF

TIME SERVED

 

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING PAST

5 YEARS

 

NUMBER OF

PORTFOLIOS

IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE†

 

OTHER

DIRECTORSHIPS

HELD BY

TRUSTEE

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

         

FRANK NESVET

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1943

 

Independent

Trustee,

Chairman, Trustee Committee Chair

 

Term:

Unlimited

Served: since

September 2000

  Retired.   206   None.

DAVID M. KELLY

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1938

 

Independent

Trustee, Audit Committee Chair

 

Term:

Unlimited

Served: since September 2000

  Retired.   206   Chicago Stock Exchange (Former Director, retired); Penson Worldwide Inc. (Former Director, retired).

BONNY EUGENIA BOATMAN

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1950

 

Independent

Trustee

 

Term:

Unlimited

Served: since

April 2010

  Retired.   206   None.

DWIGHT D. CHURCHILL

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1953

 

Independent

Trustee

 

Term:

Unlimited

Served: since

April 2010

 

Self-employed

consultant since 2010; CEO and President,

CFA Institute (June

2014-January 2015).

  206   Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (Director).

CARL G. VERBONCOEUR

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1952

 

Independent

Trustee

 

Term:

Unlimited

Served: since

April 2010

 

Self-employed

consultant since 2009.

  206   The Motley Fool Funds Trust (Trustee).

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

         

JAMES E. ROSS*

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1965

 

Interested

Trustee

 

Term:

Unlimited

Served as

Trustee: since

April 2010

 

Chairman and

Director, SSGA

Funds Management,

Inc. (2005-present); Director, State Street Global Markets, LLC (2013-present);

Executive Vice President and Principal, State Street

Global Advisors

(2006-present);

President, SSGA

Funds Management,

Inc. (2005-2012).

  294   None.

 

For the purpose of determining the number of portfolios overseen by the Trustees, “Fund Complex” comprises registered investment companies for which SSGA Fund Management, Inc. serves as investment adviser.
* Mr. Ross is an Interested Trustee because of his employment with the Adviser and ownership interest in an affiliate of the Adviser. Mr. Ross previously served as an Interested Trustee from November 2005 to December 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

OFFICERS

 

NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH FUNDS

  

TERM OF

OFFICE AND

LENGTH OF

TIME SERVED

  

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

ELLEN M. NEEDHAM

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1967

   President   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

October 2012

   President and Director, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2001 - present)*; Senior Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (1992 - present).*

ANN M. CARPENTER

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1966

   Vice President; Deputy Treasurer   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

August 2012

   Chief Operating Officer, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2005 - Present)*; Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (2005 - present).*

MICHAEL P. RILEY

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1969

   Vice President   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2005

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (2005 - present).*

JOSHUA A. WEINBERG

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1978

  

Chief Legal

Officer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since February 2015

   Vice President and Managing Counsel, State Street Global Advisors (2011-present); Clerk, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2013-present); Associate, Financial Services Group, Dechert LLP (2006-2011).

CHRISTOPHER A. MADDEN

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Hundred Summer Street, SUM0703

Boston, MA 02111

1967

   Secretary   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

August 2013

   Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2013-present); Counsel, Atlantic Fund Services (2009-2013).*

PATRICIA A. MORISETTE

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Hundred Summer Street, SUM 0703

Boston, MA 02111

1973

  

Assistant

Secretary

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2015

   Vice President and Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2014-present); Assistant Vice President and Counsel, John Hancock Financial Services (2011-2013); Independent legal consultant (2009-2011); Associate, Bingham McCutchen LLP (2003-2009).*,. **

BRUCE S. ROSENBERG

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

   Treasurer   

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (July 2015 – present); Director, Credit Suisse (April 2008 - July 2015).

 

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Table of Contents

NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH FUNDS

  

TERM OF

OFFICE AND

LENGTH OF

TIME SERVED

  

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

CHAD C. HALLETT

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1969

  

Deputy

Treasurer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (November 2014 - present); Vice President, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2001-November 2014).*

DANIEL FOLEY

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

  

Assistant

Treasurer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (April 2007 - present).*

SUJATA UPRETI

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

  

Assistant

Treasurer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (May 2015 – present); Assistant Director, Cambridge Associates, LLC (July 2014-January 2015); Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon (July 2012-August 2013); Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (September 2003-July 2012).

BRIAN HARRIS

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1973

  

Chief

Compliance

Officer;

Anti-Money Laundering

Officer; Code of Ethics Compliance Officer

  

Term: Unlimited

Served: since

November 2013

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (June 2013 - present)*; Senior Vice President and Global Head of Investment Compliance, BofA Global Capital Management (2010-2013); Director of Compliance, AARP Financial Inc. (2008-2010).

 

* Served in various capacities and/or with various affiliated entities during noted time period.
** Served in various capacities and/or with unaffiliated mutual funds or closed-end funds for which State Street Bank and Trust Company or its affiliates act as a provider of services 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 Fund 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 Fund, and to exercise his or her business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the 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.

 

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The Board has concluded that Mr. Nesvet should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a financial services consulting company, serving on the boards of other investment companies, and serving as chief financial officer of a major financial services company; his knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of the Trust since 2000.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Kelly should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, his previous directorship experience, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of the Trust since 2000.

The Board has concluded that Ms. Boatman should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as Managing Director of the primary investment division of one of the nation’s leading financial institutions and her knowledge of the financial services industry. Ms. Boatman was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

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, serving as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the CFA Institute and his knowledge of the financial services industry. Mr. Churchill was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in 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. Mr. Verboncoeur was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

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 the Trust since 2005 (Mr. Ross did not serve as Trustee from December 2009 until April 2010).

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 Fund.

REMUNERATION OF THE TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

No officer, director or employee of the Adviser, its parent or subsidiaries receives any compensation from the Trust for serving as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. The Trust, SSGA Master Trust, SSGA Active Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds (together with the Trust, the “Trusts”) pay, in the aggregate, each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $210,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $50,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $20,000. Prior to July 1, 2016, each Independent Trustee received an annual fee of $200,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board received an additional annual fee of $50,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of $20,000. The Trusts also reimburse each Independent Trustee 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.

The table below shows the compensation that the Independent Trustees received during the Trust’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

NAME OF

INDEPENDENT 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)
 

Frank Nesvet

   $ 250,128         N/A         N/A       $ 335,000   

Bonny Boatman

   $ 227,729         N/A         N/A       $ 305,000   

Dwight Churchill

   $ 212,766         N/A         N/A       $ 285,000   

David M. Kelly

   $ 206,278         N/A         N/A       $ 276,250   

Carl Verboncoeur

   $ 205,318         N/A         N/A       $ 275,000   

 

(1) The Fund Complex includes the Trust.

 

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STANDING COMMITTEES

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Kelly serves as Chairman. 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 five (5) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

Trustee Committee. The Board has established a Trustee Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Nesvet 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 Fund; 3) review proposed resolutions and conflicts of interest that may arise in the business of the Fund and may have an impact on the investors of the Fund; 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 Fund on behalf of the investors of the Fund. 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 six (6) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES

As of December 31, 2015, neither the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities in the Adviser, Principal Underwriter or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or Principal Underwriter.

The following table shows, as of December 31, 2015, 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
Independent Trustees:         
Frank Nesvet    None    None    None
David M. Kelly    None    None    None
Bonny Eugenia Boatman    None    None    None
Dwight D. Churchill    None    None    None
Carl G. Verboncoeur    SPDR S&P Dividend ETF    $10,001 to $50,000    $10,001 to $50,000
Interested Trustee:         
James Ross    SPDR Russell 1000 ETF

SPDR Russell Small Cap Completeness ETF

SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

   $50,001 to $100,000

$10,001 to $50,000

$10,001 to $50,000

$10,001 to $50,000

$10,001 to $50,000

$10,001 to $50,000

$10,001 to $50,000

$10,001 to $50,000

   Over $100,000

CODES OF ETHICS

The Trust and the Adviser (which includes applicable reporting personnel of the Distributor) have each adopted a code of ethics as required by applicable law, 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 Fund (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 Fund.

 

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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 believes that the voting of proxies on securities held by the Fund is an important element of the overall investment process. As such, the Board has delegated the responsibility to vote such proxies to the Adviser. The Adviser’s proxy voting policy is attached at the end of this SAI. Information regarding how the 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 Fund’s website at https://www.spdrs.com; 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 Fund’s portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the 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 the 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 Fund, including (a) a service provider, (b) the stock exchanges upon which the 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.

THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

SSGA FM acts as investment adviser to the Trust and, subject to the supervision of the Board, is responsible for the investment management of the Fund. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets. The Adviser’s principal address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The Adviser, a Massachusetts corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), 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 the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (“Investment Advisory Agreement”) between the Trust and the Adviser. The Investment Advisory Agreement, with respect to the 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 the 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 the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. The Investment Advisory Agreement is also terminable upon 60 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 supervision of the Board and in conformity with the stated investment policies of the Fund, manages the investment of the Fund’s assets. The Adviser is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of the 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 willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement regarding the Fund is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2016.

For the services provided to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser monthly fees based on a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets as set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus reduced by any acquired fund fees and expenses attributable to the Fund’s investments in other investment companies. From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee. The Adviser pays all expenses of the Fund other than the management fee, distribution fees pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee’s counsel fees), litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses.

 

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For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Fund paid the following amounts to the Adviser:

 

FUND(1)    FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2016
    FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2015
    FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2014
 

SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation ETF

   $ 4,252 (1)    $  N/A (2)    $  N/A (2) 

 

(1) The Fund commenced operations on June 2, 2016.
(2) The Fund was not operational.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Adviser manages the Fund using a team of investment professionals. The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund are John Tucker, Mike Feehily and Karl Schneider. 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 Fund 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 June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio

Manager

  

Registered

Investment

Company

Accounts*

    

Assets

Managed

(billions)

    

Pooled

Investment

Vehicle

Accounts*

    

Assets

Managed

(billions)

    

Other

Accounts*

    

Assets

Managed

(billions)

    

Total

Assets

Managed

(billions)

 

John Tucker

     158       $ 188.72         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 894.81   

Mike Feehily

     158       $ 188.72         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 894.81   

Karl Schneider

     158       $ 188.72         382       $ 484.74         331       $ 221.35       $ 894.81   

 

* There are no performance fees associated with the management of these accounts.

The following table lists the dollar range of Shares beneficially owned by portfolio managers listed above as of June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Fund

  

Dollar Range of Trust Shares

Beneficially Owned

John Tucker    None    None
Mike Feehily   

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF

SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility ETF

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF

  

$50,0001 - $100,000

$50,0001 - $100,000

$50,0001 - $100,000

$50,0001 - $100,000

Karl Schneider    None    None

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 Fund. 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. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures 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 and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation among the portfolio managers’ accounts with the same strategy.

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

 

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interest may arise as a result of the portfolio managers’ responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio managers’ accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally devote 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 Fund. 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 the Fund maintained its position in that security.

A potential conflict may arise when 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. Another potential conflict may arise when the portfolio manager has an investment in one or more accounts that participate in transactions with other accounts. His or her 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 and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.

SSGA’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.

Compensation for SSGA’s staff is based on a number of factors, including external benchmarking data and market trends, State Street performance, SSGA performance, and individual performance. Each year SSGA’s Global Human Resources department participates in compensation surveys in order to provide SSGA with critical, market-based compensation information that helps support individual pay decisions. Additionally, subject to State Street and SSGA business results, State Street allocates an incentive pool to SSGA to reward its employees. Because the size of the incentive pool is based on the firm’s overall profitability and performance against risk-related goals, each staff member is motivated to contribute both as an individual and as a team member.

The discretionary allocation of the incentive pool to the business units within SSGA is influenced by market-based compensation data, as well as the overall performance of each group. 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 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 typically vests over a four-year period. This helps to retain staff and further aligns SSGA employees’ interests with SSGA clients’ and shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s rewards program enables the firm to effectively attract and retain talented professionals. The rewards program supports the attraction and retention of the key personnel needed to support SSGA’s long-term success. Funding for SSGA’s total rewards program is subject to affordability and is designed to be flexible based on firm performance. However, even in years when funding is constrained, SSGA differentiates pay in order to reward the highest performing teams and individuals.

SSGA 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 SSGA.

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 Administration Agreement”). Pursuant to the SSGA 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 Administration Agreement, manage all of the business and affairs of the Trust.

Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. Prior to June 1, 2015, State Street served as the Trust’s administrator, pursuant to an Administration Agreement dated September 22, 2000 (the “SSB Administration Agreement”). As compensation for its services under the SSB Administration Agreement, State Street received a fee for its services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds, of 0.0225% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0075% thereafter.

 

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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 sub-administrative services to the Trust and its series. State Street is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company, and is affiliated with the Adviser. State Street’s mailing address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

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 their services provided under the SSGA Administration and Sub-Administration agreements, SSGA FM and State Street, respectively, shall receive fees for the services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds, of 0.0225% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0075% thereafter.

As compensation for its services under the Custodian Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement, State Street shall receive a fee for its services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, State Street shall receive 0.0025% on the first $50 billion, 0.0020% on the next $50 billion and 0.0010% thereafter. In addition, under the Custody Agreement State Street shall be entitled to fees for fund accounting services and shall receive 0.0150% for the first $12.5 billion and 0.0025% thereafter. State Street shall also be entitled to specialized custody, ETF accounting services and transfer agency fees and shall receive 0.0050% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0030% thereafter. For each series of the Trust, a $110,000 annual minimum fee applies. The greater of the minimum fee or the asset based fee will be charged. 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.

THE DISTRIBUTOR

State Street Global Markets, LLC is the principal underwriter and Distributor of Shares. Its principal address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. 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 the 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 (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. 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. 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 Fund, or for other activities, such as participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems. As of the date of this SAI, the Adviser and/or Distributor had arrangements to make payments, other than for the educational programs and marketing activities described above, only to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”). Pursuant to these arrangements, Schwab and RBC have agreed to promote 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. These amounts, which may be significant, are paid by the Adviser and/or Distributor from their own resources and not from Fund assets. In addition, the Adviser or Distributor, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor, as well as an index provider that is not affiliated with the Adviser or Distributor, may also reimburse expenses or make payments from their own assets to other persons in consideration of services or other activities that they believe may benefit the SPDR business or facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

 

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The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Plan (a “Plan”) pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% may be made. No payments pursuant to the Plan will be made during the next twelve (12) months of operation. Under its terms, the Plan remains in effect from year to year, provided such continuance is approved annually by vote of the Board, including a majority of the “Independent Trustees” (Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreement related to the Plan). The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services provided by the Distributor without approval by the shareholders of the Fund to which the Plan applies, and all material amendments of the Plan also require Board approval (as described above). The Plan may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as such vote is defined in the 1940 Act). Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor will provide the Board with periodic reports of any amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made.

The Distribution Agreement provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, as to the 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 allocation among the Trust’s series of fees and expenses payable under the Distribution Agreement will be made pro rata in accordance with the daily net assets of the respective series.

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.

INDEX PROVIDER AND OTHER PERSONS

An unaffiliated index provider may make payments from its own assets to other persons in consideration for services provided or other activities that may facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities for the Fund is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Trust believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Adviser from obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Adviser relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not ascertainable. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of the Fund’s Shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.

In selecting a broker/dealer for each specific transaction, the Adviser chooses the broker/dealer deemed most capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable execution and does not take the sales of Fund shares into account. The Adviser considers the full range of brokerage services applicable to a particular transaction that may be considered when making this judgment, which may include, but is not limited to: liquidity, price, commission, timing, aggregated trades, capable floor brokers or traders, competent block trading coverage, ability to position, capital strength and stability, reliable and accurate communications and settlement processing, use of automation, knowledge of other buyers or sellers, arbitrage skills, administrative ability, underwriting and provision of information on a particular security or market in which the transaction is to occur. The specific criteria will vary depending upon the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select from among multiple broker/dealers. The Adviser will also use electronic crossing networks when appropriate.

 

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The Adviser does not currently use the Fund’s assets for, or participate in, third party soft dollar arrangements, although the Adviser may receive proprietary research from various full service brokers, the cost of which is bundled with the cost of the broker’s execution services. The Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research. The Adviser may aggregate trades with clients of SSGA, whose commission dollars may be used to generate soft dollar credits for SSGA. Although the Adviser’s clients’ commissions are not used for third party soft dollars, the Adviser’s and SSGA’s clients may benefit from the soft dollar products/services received by SSGA.

The Adviser assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of the Trust for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Trust and one or more other investment companies or clients supervised by the Adviser are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to all by the Adviser. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security so far as the Trust is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions will be beneficial to the Trust. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.

The Fund will not deal with affiliates in principal transactions unless permitted by exemptive order or applicable rule or regulation.

The table below shows the aggregate dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the past three fiscal years ended June 30. Brokerage commissions paid by the Fund may be substantially different from year to year for multiple reasons, including market volatility and the demand for the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO(1)    FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2016
     FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2015
     FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2014
 

SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation ETF(1)

   $ 51         N/A         N/A   

 

(1) The Fund commenced operations on June 2, 2016.

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealer.” The Fund 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.

Holdings in Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers as of June 30, 2016:

 

Wells Fargo & Co.

   $  316,580,945   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   $ 211,418,535   

Citigroup, Inc.

   $ 194,006,460   

Bank of America Corp.

   $ 191,320,915   

Merrill Lynch

   $ 160,490,086   

Goldman Sachs & Co.

   $ 154,893,283   

Morgan Stanley

   $ 150,691,969   

Deutsche Bank

   $ 92,402,994   

Credit Suisse

   $ 60,315,849   

Royal Bank of Canada

   $ 52,081,910   

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.

 

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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 the 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 the FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (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 the 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 the 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.

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.

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Although the Fund does not have information concerning its beneficial ownership held in the names of DTC Participants, as of October 7, 2016, the names, addresses and percentage ownership of each DTC Participant that owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding Shares of the Fund are as follows:

 

Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 

SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation ETF

  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     25.12
  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     18.33
  

Pershing LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, NJ 07399

     13.68
  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

     12.34
  

National Financial Services Corporation

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

     9.16
  

FOLIOfn Investments, Inc.

8180 Greensboro Drive, 8th Floor

McLean, VA 22102

     5.15

An Authorized Participant (as defined below) may hold of record more than 25% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund. From time to time, Authorized Participants may be a beneficial and/or legal owner of the Fund, may be affiliated with an index provider, may be deemed to have control of the Fund and/or may be able to affect the outcome of matters presented for a vote of the shareholders of the Fund. Authorized Participants may execute an irrevocable proxy granting the Distributor or another affiliate of State Street (the “Agent”) power to vote or abstain from voting such Authorized Participant’s beneficially or legally owned Shares of the 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.

As of October 7, 2016, to the knowledge of the Trust, the following persons held of record or beneficially through one or more accounts 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

Fund    Name and Address   

Percentage

of

Ownership

 

SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation ETF

  

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

4211 South 102nd Street

Omaha, NE 68127

     25.12

The Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as a group, own less than 1% of the Trust’s voting securities as of the date of this SAI.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

The 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,” either principally in-kind for securities included in the Index or in cash for the value of such securities. The value of the Fund is determined once each business day, as described under “Determination of Net Asset Value.” The Creation Unit size for the Fund may change. Authorized Participants (as defined below) will be notified of such change. The principal consideration for creations and redemptions for the Fund is set forth in the table below:

 

FUND

   CREATION*      REDEMPTION*  

SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation ETF

     In-Kind         In-Kind   

 

* May be revised at any time without notice.

 

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PURCHASE (CREATION). The Trust issues and sells Shares of the 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 the Fund is, generally, any day on which the NYSE is open for business.

FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the Fund generally consists of either (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit constituting a substantial replication, or a portfolio sampling representation, of the securities included in the Fund’s benchmark Index and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) and “Cash Component,” computed as described below. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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), 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, immediately prior to the opening of business on the NYSE (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 Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for the Fund. Such Fund Deposit is subject to any applicable adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the 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 the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments, interest payments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. Information regarding a 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. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of the Fund’s Index.

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 or the Federal Reserve System for U.S. Treasury 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: (i) permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash; and (ii) include or remove Deposit Securities from the basket in anticipation of index rebalancing changes. 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, in the composition of the subject Index being tracked by the Fund or resulting from certain corporate actions.

 

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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 the 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 the 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 the 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.

On days when the Exchange or the bond markets close earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. In addition, if a market or markets on which the 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 on such Business Day. 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 the 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 the Fund or its agents by no later than the Settlement Date. The “Settlement Date” for the Fund is generally the third Business Day 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 third 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.

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.

 

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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 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 absolute right to reject an order for Creation Units transmitted in respect of the Fund at its discretion, including, without limitation, if (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the 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) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; (g) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (h) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent 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.

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 the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a Business Day. EXCEPT UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE 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 the Fund, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available immediately prior to the opening of business on the NYSE (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time) on each Business Day, the list of the names and share quantities of the Fund’s portfolio securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities.

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 the Fund, redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist of Fund Securities — as announced by the Custodian on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities.

 

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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 Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to the Authorized Participant by the Settlement Date. With respect to in-kind redemptions of the Fund, the calculation of the value of the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund are not delivered by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time (per applicable instructions) on the Settlement Date, the Fund 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 the Fund, in connection with taking delivery of shares of Fund 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 Fund Securities are customarily traded (or such other arrangements as allowed by the Trust or its agents), to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within three Business Days of the trade date. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than three business days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. The section below entitled “Local Market Holiday Schedules” identifies the instances where more than seven days would be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Pursuant to an order of the SEC, in respect of the Fund, the Trust will make delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds within the number of days stated in the Local Market Holidays section to be the maximum number of days necessary to deliver redemption proceeds. If the Authorized Participant has not made appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such 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 Fund 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 the 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 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 Fund Securities). The 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 Fund Securities but does not differ in net asset value.

An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to represent to the Trust that it (or its client) (i) owns outright or has full legal authority and legal beneficial right to tender for redemption the requisite number of Shares to be redeemed and can receive the entire proceeds of the redemption, and (ii) the Shares to be redeemed have not been loaned or pledged to another party nor are they the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or such other arrangement which would preclude the delivery of such Shares to the Trust. The Trust reserves the right to verify these representations at its discretion, but will typically require verification with respect to a redemption request from the 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 Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the 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 Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities.

 

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The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the 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 applicable order form, certain series of the Trust may require orders to be placed up to one or more Business Days 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. 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. The 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 Fund 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*, **
 

SPDR Dorsey Wright Fixed Income Allocation ETF

   $ 75       $ 300   

 

* From time to time, the 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 Fund 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 the 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.”

Net asset value per Share for the 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 net asset value. The net asset value of the Fund is calculated by State Street and determined 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. Fixed-income assets are generally valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments in a particular market or exchange. 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 the 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 the 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), (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) or (iii) based on amortized cost. The 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, the Fund is subject to certain operational risks associated with reliance on its service

 

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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. The 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. The Adviser may use various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service, as approved by the Board from time to time. A price obtained from a pricing service based on such pricing service’s valuation matrix may be considered a market valuation.

In the event that current market valuations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, the Trust’s procedures require the Oversight Committee to determine a security’s fair value if a market price is not readily available. In determining such value the Oversight Committee 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, market indices, and prices from the Fund’s Index Provider). In these cases, the Fund’s net asset value may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices. The fair value of a portfolio instrument is generally the price which the 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. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate the Fund’s net asset value and the prices used by the Fund’s benchmark Index. This may result in a difference between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the Fund’s benchmark Index. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.

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 the Fund, but may vary significantly from period to period. 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 for the Fund to improve index tracking or 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 the Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a 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 Fund and its 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 Fund or its 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.

 

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The following information should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION.”

TAXATION OF THE FUND. The Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. The 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. The 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, the 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, the 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 must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions were not available to the 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 regular corporate rates 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, the 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 the 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 ten years of qualifying as a RIC in a subsequent year. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund for treatment as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its capital gains for each taxable year.

If the 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. The 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 in the Fund 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 the 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.

The 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. The 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.

 

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The 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.

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, the 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 the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to its shareholders. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses.

The Fund will not be able to offset gains distributed by any of the RICs in which it invests (the “Underlying RICs”) against losses incurred by another Underlying RIC because the Underlying RICs cannot distribute losses. The Fund’s redemptions and sales of shares in an Underlying RIC, including those resulting from changes in the allocation among Underlying RICs, could cause the Fund to recognize taxable gain or loss. A portion of any such gains may be short-term capital gains that would be distributable as ordinary income to shareholders of the Fund. Further, a portion of losses on redemptions of shares in the Underlying RICs may be deferred. Short-term capital gains earned by an Underlying RIC will be treated as ordinary dividends when distributed to the Fund and therefore may not be offset by any short-term capital losses incurred by the Fund. Thus, a Fund’s short-term capital losses may offset its long-term capital gains, which might otherwise be eligible for reduced U.S. federal income tax rates for noncorporate shareholders. As a result of these factors, the use of the fund-of-funds structure by the Fund could adversely affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to its shareholders.

TAXATION OF SHAREHOLDERS—DISTRIBUTIONS. The 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). The Fund will report to shareholders annually the amounts of dividends paid from ordinary income, the amount of distributions of net capital gain, the portion of dividends which may qualify for the dividends-received deduction, the portion of dividends which may qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income, and the amount of exempt interest dividends, if any.

Subject to certain limitations, dividends reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income will be taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. Dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund. Qualified dividend income includes, in general, subject to certain holding period requirements and other requirements, dividend income from certain U.S. and foreign corporations. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States, those incorporated in certain countries with comprehensive tax treaties with the United States and other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is tradable on an established securities market in the United States. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that (i) the shareholder has not held the stock on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for more than 90 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date, (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. The holding period requirements described in this paragraph apply to shareholders’ investments in the Fund and to the Fund’s investments in underlying dividend-paying stock. Dividends received by the Fund from the Underlying RICs may generally be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent the Underlying RICs report the dividends as qualified dividend income. If 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.

Certain dividends received by the Fund (or attributable to dividends received by an Underlying RIC) from U.S. corporations (generally, dividends received by the Fund or the applicable Underlying RIC in respect of any share of stock (1) with a tax holding period of at least 46 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend as to that dividend and (2) that is held in an unleveraged position) when distributed and appropriately so reported by the Fund may be eligible for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations under the Internal Revenue Code.

In order to qualify for the deduction, corporate shareholders must meet the minimum holding period requirement stated above with respect to their Shares, taking into account any holding period reductions from certain hedging or other transactions or positions that diminish their risk of loss with respect to their Shares, and, if they borrow to acquire or otherwise incur debt attributable to Shares, they may be denied a portion of the dividends-received deduction with respect to those Shares. The entire dividend, including the

 

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otherwise deductible amount, will be included in determining the excess, if any, of a corporation’s adjusted current earnings over its alternative minimum taxable income, which may increase a corporation’s alternative minimum tax liability. Any corporate shareholder should consult its tax adviser regarding the possibility that its tax basis in its Shares may be reduced, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, by reason of “extraordinary dividends” received with respect to the Shares and, to the extent such basis would be reduced below zero, current recognition of income may be required.

Distributions from the Fund’s net short-term capital gains will generally be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions from the 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 in the Fund. Long-term capital gains are generally taxed to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%.

One or more Underlying RICs may satisfy certain conditions (including requirements as to the proportion of their assets invested in municipal securities) that will enable them to report distributions from the interest income generated by their investments in municipal securities as exempt-interest dividends. The Fund will be eligible to report exempt-interest dividends to the extent that it receives exempt-interest dividends from Underlying RICs. Shareholders receiving exempt-interest dividends will not be subject to regular federal income tax on the amount of such dividends, but (as discussed below) exempt-interest dividends may be taken into account in determining shareholders’ liability under the federal alternative minimum tax. Insurance proceeds received by an Underlying RIC under any insurance policies in respect of scheduled interest payments on defaulted municipal securities will generally be correspondingly excludable from federal gross income. In the case of non-appropriation by a political subdivision, however, there can be no assurance that payments made by the insurer representing interest on non-appropriation lease obligations will be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes.

Exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund and attributable to interest earned on municipal securities issued by a state or its political subdivisions are generally exempt in the hands of a shareholder from income tax imposed by that state, but exempt-interest dividends attributable to interest on municipal securities issued by another state generally will not be exempt from such income tax.

If an Underlying RIC purchases a municipal security at a market discount, any gain realized by the Underlying RIC upon sale or redemption of the municipal security will be treated as taxable interest income to the extent of the market discount, and any gain realized in excess of the market discount will be treated as capital gains.

If you lend your Shares in the Fund pursuant to a securities lending or similar arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends paid by the Fund while the Shares are held by the borrower as tax-exempt income. A portion of interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry Shares of the Fund will not be deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a shareholder receives exempt-interest dividends with respect to any Share of the Fund and if the Share is held by the shareholder for six months or less, then any loss on the sale or exchange of the Share may, to the extent of the exempt-interest dividends, be disallowed. In addition, the Internal Revenue Code may require a shareholder that receives exempt-interest dividends to treat as taxable income a portion of certain otherwise non-taxable social security and railroad retirement benefit payments. Furthermore, a portion of any exempt-interest dividend paid by the Fund that is attributable to income derived from certain revenue or private activity bonds held by an Underlying RIC may not retain its tax-exempt status in the hands of a shareholder who is a “substantial user” of a facility financed by such bonds, or a “related person” thereof. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers as to whether they are “substantial users” with respect to a facility or “related” to such users within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to both corporations and individuals. Interest on certain municipal securities that meet the definition of private activity bonds under the Internal Revenue Code is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer’s alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent that an Underlying RIC receives income from private activity bonds, a portion of the exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund, although otherwise exempt from federal income tax, will be taxable to those shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax regime. The Fund will annually supply shareholders with a report indicating the percentage of their income attributable to municipal securities required to be included in calculating the federal alternative minimum tax.

In addition, the alternative minimum taxable income for corporations is increased by 75% of the difference between an alternative measure of income (“adjusted current earnings”) and the amount otherwise determined to be the alternative minimum taxable income. All exempt-interest dividends distributed by the Fund are generally included in calculating a corporation’s adjusted current earnings.

An Underlying RIC may invest in certain bonds that generate federal income tax credits. If an Underlying RIC Fund invests in tax credit bonds, including certain so-called “Build America Bonds,” it may make an election to pass the credits through to its shareholders. If an Underlying RIC makes such an election for a taxable year, it will not be allowed any credits on those bonds for that taxable year. Instead, the Underlying RIC will include in its gross income, as interest income, an amount equal to the amount that the Underlying RIC would have included in gross income relating to the credits if the election had not been made (generally, the amount of the credits) and will increase its dividends-paid deduction by the same amount. The Fund may also be eligible to make such an election. If such an election is made by the Fund and an Underlying RIC, each shareholder will be required to include in gross income the shareholder’s proportionate share of the interest income attributable to the credits and will be allowed as a credit (subject to applicable limitations) the shareholder’s proportionate share of the credits, in each case not to exceed the amounts thereof reported by the Fund in a year-end statement. If the Fund makes such an election, the Fund will inform its shareholders concerning their allocable

 

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shares of any tax credits passed through as part of its annual reporting. For state income tax purposes, interest income from Build America Bonds will generally be treated the same as if the interest was from any other tax exempt obligation issued by a state or local government. A state may, however, decide to provide for different tax treatment for Build America Bonds. An Underlying RIC may invest in Build America Bonds from a number of different states and, in such case, the Fund will annually provide information regarding the percentage of its income earned in each state. Depending on each state’s tax laws, this information may be used in determining the dividend amount that may be exempt from your state and/or local income taxes. You should be aware that some states require a minimum percentage of home state bonds to permit the state tax exemption. Consult your tax advisor to determine whether such interest is exempt from applicable state and/or local taxes.

Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, any dividend declared by the 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 the 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.

Distributions that are reinvested in additional Shares of the Fund 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, interests, dividends (other than exempt-interest dividends) 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.

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 rates of up to 20%.

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 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.

 

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TAXATION OF FUND INVESTMENTS. Dividends and interest received by an Underlying RIC 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. If the Underlying RIC meets certain requirements, which include a requirement that more than 50% of the value of the Underlying RIC’s total assets at the close of its respective taxable year consists of certain foreign stocks or securities (generally including foreign government securities), then the Underlying RIC should be eligible to file an election with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that may enable its shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a tax deduction, with respect to certain foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. The Fund may make the same election and pass through to its shareholders their pro rata shares of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Underlying RIC. Pursuant to this election, the Fund would treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder would be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit the shareholder may be entitled to use against such shareholder’s federal income tax. If the Fund makes this election, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If the Fund does not make this election, the Fund may be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Underlying RIC. Under certain circumstances, if the Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the Fund’s shareholders could incur a loss, or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

Certain investments of an Underlying RIC 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 the Underlying RIC (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Underlying RIC and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require the Underlying RIC 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 Underlying RIC to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the RIC distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. The Underlying RIC intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make appropriate tax elections, and intends to make appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and preserve the Fund’s qualification for treatment as a RIC.

If an Underlying RIC acquires any equity interest (under Treasury regulations that may be promulgated in the future, generally including not only stock but also an option to acquire stock such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations (i) that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or (ii) where at least 50% of the corporation’s assets (computed based on average fair market value) either produce or are held for the production of passive income (“passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs”), the Underlying RIC could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and nondeductible interest charges on “excess distributions” received from such companies or on gain from the sale of stock in such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Underlying RIC is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. A “qualified electing fund” election or a “mark to market” election may be available that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but such elections could require the Underlying RIC to recognize taxable income or gain (subject to the distribution requirements applicable to RICs, as described above) without the concurrent receipt of cash. In order to satisfy the distribution requirements and avoid a tax at the Underlying RIC level, an Underlying RIC may be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Underlying RIC. Gains from the sale of stock of PFICs may also be treated as ordinary income. In order for an Underlying RIC to make a qualified electing fund election with respect to a PFIC, the PFIC would have to agree to provide certain tax information to the Underlying RIC on an annual basis, which it might not agree to do. The Underlying RICs may limit and/or manage their holdings in PFICs to limit their tax liability or maximize their returns from these investments.

Each Underlying RIC 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. Each Underlying RIC 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 Underlying RIC. 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.

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, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI

 

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from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, tax-exempt shareholders could realize UBTI by virtue of their investment in the Fund where, for example, (i) an Underlying RIC 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 advisors. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding these issues.

FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS. Dividends, other than capital gains dividends, exempt-interest dividends, “short-term capital gain dividends” and “interest-related dividends” (described below), paid by the 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 advisors concerning the applicability of the United States withholding tax and the proper withholding form(s) to be submitted to the Fund. A non-U.S. shareholder who fails to provide an appropriate IRS Form W-8 may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate.

Dividends reported by the 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 the Fund’s net income derived from U.S.-source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the 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 the 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 after and, after December 31, 2018, to redemptions and certain capital gain 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. The 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 28%. 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 the 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).

 

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The Fund has the right to reject an order for Creation Units if the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to section 351 of the 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. The Fund also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial Share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. If the 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, the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) may not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.

Persons purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction.

CERTAIN POTENTIAL TAX REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. Under promulgated Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss on disposition of the 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 advisors 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.

INVESTMENT BY AN UNDERTAKING FOR COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT IN TRANSFERABLE SECURITIES

The Adviser has reviewed the investment characteristics and limitations of the Fund and believes that, as of the date of this SAI, the Fund qualifies as an undertaking for collective investment (“UCI”) for purposes of the Luxembourg law of 17 December 2010. However, an Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities should consult its own counsel regarding the qualification of the Fund as a UCI before investing in the Fund.

CAPITAL STOCK AND SHAREHOLDER REPORTS

The Fund issues Shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 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 the Fund, and in the net distributable assets of the 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 (“Funds”) 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 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 the 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 Markets, LLC at State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

 

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COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, serves as counsel to the Trust. Ernst & Young LLP, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116 serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust. Ernst & Young LLP performs annual audits of the Fund’s financial statements and provides other audit, tax and related services.

LOCAL MARKET HOLIDAY SCHEDULES

The Trust generally intends to effect deliveries of portfolio securities on a basis of “T” plus three business days (i.e., days on which the NYSE is open) in the relevant foreign market of the Fund. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind redemptions within three business days 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 securities, 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 closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within three business days.

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. Such periods are listed in the table below, as are instances where more than seven days will be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Since certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years, the number of days required to deliver redemption proceeds in any given year may exceed the maximum number of days listed in the table below. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays, or changes in local securities delivery practices, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future and longer (worse) redemption periods are possible.

Listed below are the dates in calendar year 2016 (the only year for which holidays are known at the time of this SAI filing) in which the regular holidays in non-U.S. markets may impact Fund settlement. This list is based on information available to the Funds. The list may not be accurate or complete and is subject to change:

 

Angola

  

Argentina

  

Australia

   Austria    Azerbaijan
January 1    January 1    January 1, 26    January 1, 6    January 1-2, 4, 20
January 25    February 8-9    March 7, 8, 14, 25, 28    March 25, 28    March 8, 20-25
February 4    March 24-25    April 12, 25    May 5, 16, 26   
February 9    May 25    May 2, 16    August 15   
March 8    June 20    June 6, 13-14    October 26   
March 25    August 15    August 1    November 1   
April 4    October 10    September 26    December 8, 26, 30   
   November 28    October 3      
   December 8, 30    November 1-2      
      December 23, 26-28, 30      

Bahamas

  

Bahrain*

  

Bangladesh*

   Belgium    Bermuda
January 1    May 1    February 21    January 1    January 1
March 25, 28    July 6, 7    March 17, 26    March 25, 28    March 25
May 16    September 11-14    April 14    May 5-6, 16    May 24
June 3    October 2, 10-12    May 1, 23    July 21    June 20
July 11    December 11-12, 18    July 3, 6, 7    August 15    July 28-29
August 1       August 15, 24-25    November 1, 11    September 5
October 14       September 11-14    December 26    November 11
December 20, 27       October 11-12       December 26-27
November 7            
December 12-13, 25            
  

*       Market closed every Friday

  

*       Market closed every Friday

     

Botswana

  

Brazil

  

Canada

   Cayman Islands    Chile
January 1-2    January 1, 20, 25    January 1, 4    January 1, 25    January 1
March 25-26, 28    February 8-9    February 15    February 10    March 24-25
May 2, 5    March 25    March 25    March 25, 28    May 23
July 1, 18-19    April 21    May 23    May 16    June 27
September 30    May 26    June 24    June 13    August 15
October 1    September 7    July 1    July 4    September 16, 18-19
December 26-27    October 12    August 1    November 14    October 10, 31
   November 2, 15    September 5    December 23, 26-27, 30    November 1
   December 30    October 10       December 8, 23, 30
      November 11      
      December 26-27      

 

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China

  

Columbia

   Costa Rica    Cote d’Ivoire    Croatia
January 1, 18    January 1, 11    January 1    January 1    January 1, 6
February 8-12, 15    March 21, 24-25    March 24-25    March 28    March 25, 28
April 4    May 9, 30    April 11       May 26
May 2-6, 30    June 6    July 25       June 22
June 9    July 4, 20    August 2, 15       August 5, 15
July 4    August 15    September 15       November 1
September 5, 15    October 17    October 17       December 26
October 3-7, 10    November 7, 14    December 26-30      
November 11, 24    December 8, 30         
December 26            

Cyprus

  

Czech Republic

   Denmark    The Dominican Republic    Ecuador
January 1, 6    January 1    January 1    January 1, 4, 21, 25    January 1
March 14, 25, 28    March 28    March 24-25, 28    March 25    February 8-9
April 1, 29    July 5-6    April 22    May 2, 16, 26    March 25
May 2-3    September 28    May 5-6, 16    August 16    May 27
June 20    October 28    December 26       August 12
August 15    November 17          November 2-3
October 28    December 26, 30          December 6, 30
December 26            

Egypt*

  

El Salvador

   Estonia    Finland    France
January 7, 25    January 1    January 1    January 1, 6    January 1
April 25    March 24-26    February 24    March 25, 28    March 25, 28
May 1-2       March 25, 28    May 5    May 5
July 6-7       May 5    June 24    May 16, 20, 31
September 11-13       June 23-24    December 6, 26    July 14-15
October 2, 6       December 26       August 15
December 11, 12             October 31
            November 1, 11
            December 26

*  Market closed every Friday

           

Gabon

  

Germany

   Ghana    Greece    Guernsey
January 1    January 1, 6    January 1    January 1, 6    January 1
March 28    February 8    March 7, 25, 28    February 8    March 25, 28
April 17    March 25, 28    May 2, 25    March 14, 25, 28    May 2, 9, 30
   May 5, 16, 26    July 1, 6    April 29    August 29
   August 15    September 12, 21    May 2, 16    December 23, 26-27, 30
   October 3    December 2, 26-27    June 20   
   November 1       August 15   
   December 26, 30       October 28   
         December 26   

Hong Kong

  

Hungary

   Iceland    India    Indonesia
January 1    January 1    January 1, 4    January 1, 26    January 1
February 8-10    March 14-15, 25, 28    March 24, 25, 28    March 7, 23, 25    February 8
March 25, 28    May 16    April 21    April 1, 8, 14-15, 19    March 9, 25
April 4    October 31    May 5, 16    May 21    April 8
May 2    November 1, 26    June 17    June 30    May 5-6
June 9    December 30    August 1    July 1, 6-7    July 4-8
July 1       December 26    August 15, 17, 19, 22    August 17
September 16          September 5, 12-13, 30    September 12-13
October 19          October 11-12, 31    October 3
December 26-27          November 1, 14    December 12, 26, 30
December 12-13            

 

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Iran*

  

Iraq

   Ireland   

Israel*

   Italy
March 20-23    January 1, 6    January 1    March 24    January 1, 6
April 2    March 5, 21    March 17, 25, 28    April 25-29    March 25, 28
May 22    April 9    May 2    May 11-13    April 25
June 4-5, 26       June 6    June 12    June 2, 9
July 6       August 1    August 14    August 15
September 12, 20       October 31    October 2-4, 11-12,    November 1
October 10-11       December 23, 26-28, 30    16-20, 23-24    December 8, 26
November 28          December 25   
December 12            

*  Market closed every Thursday and Friday

        

*  Market closed every Friday

  

Jamaica

  

Japan

   Jordan   

Kazakhstan

   Kenya
January 1    January 1, 11    May 1, 5, 25    January 1, 4, 7    January 1
February 10    February 11    July 4-7, 10    March 8, 21-23    March 25, 28
March 25, 28    March 21    September 11-15    May 2, 9    May 2
May 23    April 29    October 2    July 6    June 1
August 1    May 3-5    November 14    August 30    July 6, 7
October 17    July 18    December 12, 25, 29    September 12    October 10, 20
December 26, 27    August 11       December 1, 16, 19    December 12, 26-27
   September 19, 22         
   October 10         
   November 23         
   December 23         

Kuwait*

  

Latvia

   Lebanon   

Lithuania

   Luxembourg
January 3    January 1    January 1, 6    January 1    January 1
February 25, 28    March 25, 28    February 9    February 15-16    March 25, 28
May 5    May 2, 4-5    March 25, 28    March 11, 25, 28-29    May 5, 16
July 5-7    July 23-24    April 29    May 2, 5    June 23
September 8, 11-14    November 18    May 2, 25    June 24    August 15
October 2, 6, 12    December 26    July 6-7    July 6    November 1
December 12, 15, 29       August 15    August 15    December 26
      September 12-13    October 31   
      October 11    November 1   
      November 12    December 27   
      December 12      

*  Market closed every

    Friday

           

Malaysia

  

Malta

   Mauritius   

Mexico

   Mongolia
January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1
February 1, 8-9    February 10    February 1, 8    February 1    February 8-11
May 2, 23, 30-31    March 25, 28, 31    March 7    March 21, 24-25    March 8
June 4    June 7, 29    April 8    September 16   
July 6-8    August 15    July 6    November 2, 21   
August 31    September 8, 21    August 15    December 12   
September 12, 16    December 8, 13, 26    September 5-6      
October 3, 31       October 31      
December 12, 26       November 2      

Morocco

  

Namibia

   The Netherlands   

The Netherlands

Antilles

   New Zealand
January 1, 11    January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1, 4, 25
July 6-7    March 21, 25, 28    March 25, 28    February 8    February 1
September 12-14    April 27    April 27    March 25, 28    March 24-25, 28
October 3    May 2, 4-5, 12, 16    May 5, 12, 16    May 5    May 5
November 18    December 16, 26    December 26    October 21    October 21
December 12-13          December 26    December 26

 

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Nigeria

  

Norway

   Oman*    Pakistan    Panama
January 1    January 1    May 7    January 1    January 1
March 25, 28    March 23-25, 28    July 6, 7, 9    February 5    February 8-10
May 2, 30    May 5, 16-17    September 11-14    March 23    March 24-25
July 6-7    December 26    October 2    June 6-7, 24    May 2
September 12-13       November 19    July 1, 6-9    August 15
October 3       December 12    September 12-15    November 3-4, 10
December 12, 26-27          October 11-12    December 8, 26
         November 9   
         December 12-13   
      *  Market closed

    every Friday

     

Papua

  

Paraguay

   Peru    The Philippines    Poland
January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1, 6
March 25, 28    March 1, 23-25    March 24-25    February 8, 25    March 25, 28
April 25    May 1    June 29    March 24-25    May 3, 26
June 13    June 4    July 28-29    May 9    August 15
September 16    November 11    August 30    July 6-7    November 1, 11
December 26-27    December 24-25,31    November 1    August 26, 29    December 26
      December 8    September 12   
         November 1-2, 30   
         December 30   

Portugal

  

Qatar

   Romania    Russia    Saudi Arabia*
January 1    March 6    January 1    January 1, 4-8    July 4-7, 9
February 9    July 6, 7    May 2    February 22-23    September 10-15, 24
March 25, 28    September 11-15    June 20    March 7-8   
April 25    December 18    August 15    May 2, 9-10   
May 26       December 1    June 13   
June 10, 13       December 26    November 4   
August 15            
October 5            
November 1            
December 1, 8, 26            
            * Market closed

    every Friday

Serbia

  

Singapore

   The Slovak Republic    Slovenia    South Africa
January 1, 7    January 1    January 1, 6    January 1    January 1
February 15-16    February 8-9    March 25, 28    February 8    March 21, 25, 28
April 29    March 25    July 5       April 27
May 2-3    May 2, 21, 23    August 29       May 2
November 11    July 6-7    September 1, 15       June 16
   August 9    November 1, 17       August 9
   September 12-13    December 27-30       December 16, 23, 26-27, 30
   October 29, 31         
   December 26         

South Korea

  

Spain

   Sri Lanka    Sweden    Switzerland
January 1, 4    January 1, 6       January 1, 5-6    January 1, 6
February 8-10    March 24-25, 28    January 1, 15    March 24-25, 28    March 25, 28
March 1    April 8, 12    February 4, 22    May 4-5    May 5, 16, 26
April 5, 13-14    May 2-3, 26    March 7, 22, 25    June 6, 24    June 29
May 5    July 25    April 13, 14, 21    November 4    August 1, 15
June 6    August 15-16    May 2, 23    December 26    September 8
August 15    September 9    July 6, 19       November 1
September 14-16    October 12    August 17       December 8, 26
October 3    November 1, 9    September 12, 16      
November 10    December 6, 8, 26    October 31      
December 30       November 14      
December 12-13, 26            

 

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Taiwan

  

Thailand

   Trinidad and Tobago    Tunisia    Turkey
January 1-2    January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1
February 4-5, 8-12    February 22    February 8-9    February 4    April 23
April 4-5    April 6, 13-15    March 25, 28, 30    March 21    May 1, 19
May 2    May 2, 5, 23    May 26, 30    July 6-7, 25    July 5-8
June 9    July 1, 18-19    June 20    August 19    August 30
September 15    August 12    July 6    September 12    September 12-16
October 3-5, 10    October 24    August 1, 31    October 26    October 28-29
   December 5, 12    December 26-27    November 7, 15   
         December 12   

Ukraine

  

The United Arab Emirates*

   The United Kingdom    The United States
Bond Market
   Uruguay
January 1, 4, 7    January 2    January 1    January 1, 18    January 1, 6
March 8    May 4-5    March 25, 28    February 15    February 8, 9
May 2-3, 9    July 5-7    May 2, 30    March 24*, 25    March 24-25
June 20, 28    August 6    August 29    May 29*, 30    April 18
August 24    September 10-14    December 23, 26-27, 30    July 4    May 16
   October 2       September 5    July 18
   December 3-4, 11-12       October 10    August 25
         November 11, 24, 25*    October 10
         December 24*, 25, 31*    November 2
  

*  Market closed every

    Friday

      *  The U.S. bond

    market has

    recommended

    early close

  

Venezuela

  

Vietnam

   Zambia    Zimbabwe     
January 1, 11    January 1    January 1    January 1   
February 8-9    February 8-10    March 8, 25, 28    March 25, 28   
March 24-25    April 18    May 5, 25    April 18   
April 19    May 2-3    July 4, 5    May 2, 25   
May 9, 30    September 2    August 1    August 8, 9   
June 24, 27       October 24    December 22, 26   
July 5       December 26      
August 15            
October 12, 31            
December 12            

Redemptions. The longest redemption cycle for a Fund is a function of the longest redemption cycle among the countries and regions whose securities comprise the Fund. In the calendar year 2016 (the only year for which holidays are known at the time of this SAI filing), the dates of regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case redemption cycles* for a Fund as follows:

 

2016

Country

   Trade
Date
   Settlement
Date
   Number of
Days to Settle

Australia

   12/23/15    01/04/16    12
   12/20/16    12/29/16    9
   12/21/16    01/02/17    12
   12/22/16    01/03/17    12

Bahrain

   09/07/16    09/15/16    8
   09/08/16    09/18/16    10

Bangladesh

   06/30/16    07/10/16    10
   09/06/16    09/15/16    9
   09/07/16    09/18/16    11
   09/08/16    09/19/16    11

China

   02/03/16    02/17/16    14
   02/04/16    02/18/16    14
   02/05/16    02/19/16    14
   04/27/16    05/09/16    12
   04/28/16    05/10/16    12
   04/29/16    05/11/16    12
   09/28/16    10/11/16    13
   09/29/16    10/12/16    13
   09/30/16    10/13/16    13

Colombia

   03/18/16    03/28/16    10

 

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Costa Rica

   12/21/16    01/02/17    12
   12/22/16    01/03/17    12
   12/23/16    01/04/17    12

Indonesia

   06/29/16    07/11/16    12
   06/30/16    07/12/16    12
   07/01/16    07/13/16    12

Ireland

   12/21/16    12/29/16    8
   12/22/16    01/02/17    11

Israel

   04/20/16    05/01/16    11
   04/21/16    05/02/16    11
   10/10/16    10/25/16    15
   10/13/16    10/26/16    13

Japan

   04/27/16    05/06/16    9
   04/28/16    05/09/16    11
   05/02/16    05/10/16    8

Jordan

   06/30/16    07/11/16    11
   07/03/16    07/12/16    9
   09/08/16    09/18/16    10
   09/11/16    09/19/16    8

Kuwait

   09/06/16    09/15/16    9
   09/07/16    09/18/16    11

Malaysia

   07/01/16    07/11/16    10
   07/04/16    07/12/16    8
   07/05/16    07/13/16    8

Mexico

   03/18/16    03/28/16    10

Morocco

   09/07/16    09/15/16    8
   09/08/16    09/16/16    8
   09/09/16    09/19/16    10

Namibia

   12/23/15    01/04/16    12
   12/24/15    01/05/16    12
   12/28/15    01/06/16    9
   12/29/15    01/07/16    9
   12/30/15    01/08/16    9
   03/14/16    03/22/16    8
   03/15/16    03/23/16    8
   03/16/16    03/24/16    8
   03/17/16    03/29/16    12
   03/18/16    03/30/16    12
   03/22/16    03/31/16    9
   03/23/16    04/01/16    9
   03/24/16    04/04/16    11
   04/20/16    04/28/16    8
   04/21/16    04/29/16    8
   04/22/16    05/03/16    11
   04/25/16    05/06/16    11
   04/26/16    05/09/16    13
   04/28/16    05/10/16    12
   04/29/16    05/11/16    12
   05/03/16    05/12/16    9
   05/18/16    05/26/16    8
   05/19/16    05/27/16    8
   05/20/16    05/30/16    10
   05/23/16    05/31/16    8
   05/24/16    06/01/16    8
   06/09/16    06/17/16    8
   06/10/16    06/20/16    10
   06/13/16    06/21/16    8
   06/14/16    06/22/16    8

 

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   06/15/16    06/23/16    8
   08/02/16    08/10/16    8
   08/03/16    08/11/16    8
   08/04/16    08/12/16    8
   08/05/16    08/15/16    10
   08/08/16    08/16/16    8
   08/19/16    08/29/16    10
   08/22/16    08/30/16    8
   08/23/16    08/31/16    8
   08/24/16    09/01/16    8
   08/25/16    09/02/16    8
   12/09/16    12/19/16    10
   12/12/16    12/20/16    8
   12/13/16    12/21/16    8
   12/14/16    12/22/16    8
   12/15/16    12/23/16    8
   12/19/16    12/27/16    8
   12/20/16    12/28/16    8
   12/21/16    12/29/16    8
   12/22/16    12/30/16    8
   12/23/16    01/02/17    10

New Zealand

   03/21/16    03/29/16    8
   03/22/16    03/30/16    8
   03/23/16    03/31/16    8
   12/20/16    12/28/16    8
   12/21/16    12/29/16    8
   12/22/16    01/02/17    11

Norway

   03/21/16    03/29/16    8
   03/22/16    03/30/16    8

Oman

   09/06/16    09/15/16    9
   09/07/16    09/18/16    11
   09/08/16    09/19/16    11

Pakistan

   09/08/16    09/16/16    8
   09/09/16    09/19/16    10

Philippines

   12/23/15    01/04/16    12
   12/28/15    01/05/16    8
   12/29/15    01/06/16    8

Qatar

   09/06/16    09/18/16    12
   09/07/16    09/19/16    12
   09/08/16    09/20/16    12

Saudi Arabia

   06/30/16    07/10/16    10
   07/03/16    07/11/16    8
   09/07/16    09/18/16    11
   09/08/16    09/19/16    11

Serbia

   04/26/16    05/04/16    8
   04/27/16    05/05/16    8
   04/28/16    05/06/16    8

Slovakia

   12/22/16    01/02/17    11
   12/23/16    01/03/17    11

South Africa

   12/24/15    01/04/16    11
   12/28/15    01/05/16    8
   12/29/15    01/06/16    8
   12/30/15    01/07/16    8
   12/31/15    01/08/16    8
   03/14/16    03/22/16    8
   03/15/16    03/23/16    8
   03/16/16    03/24/16    8
   03/17/16    03/29/16    12

 

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   03/18/16    03/30/16    12
   03/22/16    03/31/16    9
   03/23/16    04/01/16    9
   03/24/16    04/04/16    11
   04/20/16    04/28/16    8
   04/21/16    04/29/16    8
   04/22/16    05/03/16    11
   04/25/16    05/04/16    9
   04/26/16    05/05/16    9
   04/28/16    05/06/16    8
   04/29/16    05/09/16    10
   06/09/16    06/17/16    8
   06/10/16    06/20/16    10
   06/13/16    06/21/16    8
   06/14/16    06/22/16    8
   06/15/16    06/23/16    8
   08/02/16    08/10/16    8
   08/03/16    08/11/16    8
   08/04/16    08/12/16    8
   08/05/16    08/15/16    10
   08/08/16    08/16/16    8
   12/09/16    12/19/16    10
   12/12/16    12/20/16    8
   12/13/16    12/21/16    8
   12/14/16    12/22/16    8
   12/15/16    12/28/16    13
   12/16/16    12/28/16    12
   12/19/16    12/29/16    10
   12/20/16    01/02/17    13
   12/21/16    01/03/17    13
   12/22/16    01/04/17    13
   12/28/16    01/05/17    8
   12/29/16    01/06/17    8

Sweden

   12/30/15    01/07/16    8

Taiwan

   02/02/16    02/15/16    13
   02/03/16    02/16/16    13

Thailand

   04/08/16    04/18/16    10
   04/11/16    04/19/16    8
   04/12/16    04/20/16    8

Trinidad and Tobago

   03/23/16    03/31/16    8
   03/24/16    04/01/16    8

Turkey

   07/01/16    07/11/16    10
   07/04/16    07/12/16    8
   09/08/16    09/19/16    11
   09/09/16    09/20/16    11

Ukraine

   12/31/15    01/08/16    8

United Arab Emirates

   09/07/16    09/15/16    8
   09/08/16    09/18/16    10

Vietnam

   02/03/16    02/11/16    8
   02/04/16    02/12/16    8
   02/05/16    02/15/16    10

Zimbabwe

   12/24/15    01/04/16    11
   12/28/15    01/05/16    8
   12/29/15    01/06/16    8
   12/30/15    01/07/16    8
   12/31/15    01/08/16    8
   03/18/16    03/29/16    9
   03/21/16    03/30/16    9

 

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   03/22/16    03/31/16    9
   03/23/16    04/01/16    8
   03/24/16    04/04/16    11
   04/11/16    04/19/16    8
   04/12/16    04/20/16    8
   04/13/16    04/21/16    8
   04/14/16    04/22/16    8
   04/15/16    04/25/16    10
   04/25/16    05/03/16    8

    

   04/26/16    05/04/16    8
   04/27/16    05/05/16    8
   04/28/16    05/06/16    8
   04/29/16    05/09/16    10
   05/18/16    05/26/16    8
   05/19/16    05/27/16    8
   05/20/16    05/30/16    10
   05/23/16    05/31/16    8
   05/24/16    06/01/16    8
   08/01/16    08/10/16    9
   08/02/16    08/11/16    9
   08/03/16    08/12/16    9
   08/04/16    08/15/16    11
   08/05/16    08/16/16    11
   12/15/16    12/23/16    8
   12/16/16    12/27/16    11
   12/19/16    12/28/16    9
   12/20/16    12/29/16    9
   12/21/16    12/30/16    9
   12/23/16    01/02/17    10

 

* These worst-case redemption cycles are based on information regarding regular holidays. Based on changes in holidays, longer (worse) redemption cycles are possible.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements and financial highlights of the Fund for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, along with the Reports of Ernst & Young, LLP, the Trust’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, included in the Trust’s Annual Reports to Shareholders on Form N-CSR under the 1940 Act, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information.

 

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APPENDIX A

March 2016

Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles

State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), one of the industry’s largest institutional asset managers, is the investment management arm of State Street Bank and Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a leading provider of financial services to institutional investors. As an investment manager, SSGA has discretionary proxy voting authority over most of its client accounts, and SSGA votes these proxies in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments as described in the SSGA Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA maintains Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines for select markets, including: the US, the EU, the UK, Australia, emerging markets and Japan. International markets that do not have specific guidelines are reviewed and voted consistent with our Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles; however, SSGA also endeavors to show sensitivity to local market practices when voting in these various markets.

SSGA’s Approach to Proxy Voting and Issuer Engagement

At SSGA, we take our fiduciary duties as an asset manager very seriously. We have a dedicated team of corporate governance professionals who help us carry out our duties as a responsible investor. These duties include engaging with companies, developing and enhancing in-house corporate governance policies, analyzing corporate governance issues on a case-by-case basis at the company level, and exercising our voting rights—all to maximize shareholder value.

SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles (the “Principles”) may take different perspectives on common governance issues that vary from one market to another and, likewise, engagement activity may take different forms in order to best achieve long-term engagement goals. We believe that proxy voting and engagement with portfolio companies is often the most direct and productive way shareholders can exercise their ownership rights, and taken together, we view these tools to be an integral part of the overall investment process.

We believe engagement and voting activity have a direct relationship. As a result, the integration of our engagement activities, while leveraging the exercise of our voting rights, provides a meaningful shareholder tool that we believe protects and enhances the long-term economic value of the holdings in our client accounts. SSGA maximizes its voting power and engagement by maintaining a centralized proxy voting and active ownership process covering all holdings, regardless of strategy. Despite the different investment views and objectives across SSGA, depending on the product or strategy, the fiduciary responsibilities of share ownership and voting for which SSGA has voting discretion are carried out with a single voice and objective.

The Principles support governance structures that we believe add to, or maximize shareholder value at the companies held in our clients’ portfolios. SSGA conducts issuer specific engagements with companies to discuss our principles, including sustainability related risks. In addition, we encourage issuers to find ways of increasing 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. Conversely, where appropriate, we conduct collaborative engagement activities with multiple shareholders and communicate with company representatives about common concerns.

In conducting our engagements, SSGA also evaluates the various factors that play into the corporate governance framework of a country, including the macroeconomic conditions and broader political system, the quality of regulatory oversight, the enforcement of property and shareholder rights and the independence of the judiciary to name a few. SSGA understands that regulatory requirements and investor expectations relating to governance practices and engagement activities differ from country-to-country. As a result, SSGA engages with issuers, regulators, or both, depending on the market. SSGA also is a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy at the country level as well as issuer specific concerns at a company level.

To help mitigate company specific risk, the team may collaborate with members of the active investment teams to engage with companies on corporate governance issues and address any specific concerns, or to get more information regarding shareholder items that are to be voted on at upcoming shareholder meetings. Outside of proxy voting season, SSGA conducts issuer specific engagements with companies covering various corporate governance and sustainability related topics.

The SSGA Governance Team uses a blend of quantitative and qualitative research and data to support screens to help identify issuers where active engagement may be necessary to protect and promote shareholder value. Issuer engagement may also be event driven, focusing on issuer specific corporate governance, sustainability concerns or wider industry related trends. SSGA also gives consideration to the size of our total position of the issuer in question and/or the potential negative governance, performance profile, and circumstance at hand. As a result, SSGA believes issuer engagement can take many forms and be triggered under numerous circumstances. The following methods represent how SSGA defines engagement methods:

Active

SSGA uses screening tools designed to capture a mix of company specific data including governance and sustainability profiles to help us focus our voting and engagement activity.

 

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SSGA will actively seek direct dialogue with the board and management of companies we have identified through our screening processes. Such engagements may lead to further monitoring to ensure the company improves its governance or sustainability practices. In these cases, the engagement process represents the most meaningful opportunity for SSGA to protect long-term shareholder value from excessive risk due to poor governance and sustainability practices.

Reactive

Reactive engagement is initiated by the issuers. SSGA routinely discusses specific voting issues and items with the issuer community. Reactive engagement is an opportunity to address not only voting items, but also a wide range of governance and sustainability issues.

SSGA has established an engagement protocol that further describes our approach to issuer engagement.

Measurement

Assessing the effectiveness of our issuer engagement process is often difficult. To limit the subjectivity of measuring our success we actively seek issuer feedback and monitor the actions issuers take post-engagement to identify tangible changes. By doing so, we are able to establish indicators to gauge how issuers respond to our concerns and to what degree these responses satisfy our requests. It is also important to note that successful engagement activity can be measured over differing time periods depending on the facts and circumstances involved. Engagements can last as short as a single meeting or span multiple years.

Depending on the issue and whether the engagement activity is reactive, recurring, or active, engagement with issuers can take the form of written communication, conference calls, or face-to-face meetings. SSGA believes active engagement is best conducted directly with company management or board members. Collaborative engagement, where multiple shareholders communicate with company representatives, can serve as a potential forum for issues that are not identified by SSGA as requiring active engagement, such as shareholder conference calls.

Proxy Voting Procedure

Oversight

The SSGA Corporate Governance Team is responsible for developing and implementing the Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), case-by-case voting items, issuer engagement activities, and research and analysis of governance-related issues. The implementation of the Guidelines is overseen by the SSGA Global Proxy Review Committee (“SSGA PRC”), a committee of investment, compliance and legal professionals, who provide guidance on proxy issues as described in greater detail below. Oversight of the proxy voting process is ultimately the responsibility of the SSGA Investment Committee. The SSGA Investment Committee reviews and approves amendments to the Guidelines. The SSGA PRC reports to the SSGA Investment Committee, and may refer certain significant proxy items to that committee.

Proxy Voting Process

In order to facilitate SSGA’s proxy voting process, SSGA retains Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), a firm with expertise in proxy voting and corporate governance. SSGA utilizes ISS’s services in three ways: (1) as SSGA’s proxy voting agent (providing SSGA with vote execution and administration services); (2) for applying the Guidelines; and (3) as providers of research and analysis relating to general corporate governance issues and specific proxy items.

The SSGA Corporate Governance Team reviews the Guidelines with ISS on an annual basis or on a case-by-case basis as needed. On most routine proxy voting items (e.g., ratification of auditors), ISS will affect the proxy votes in accordance with the Guidelines.

In other cases, the Corporate Governance Team will evaluate the proxy solicitation to determine how to vote based on facts and circumstances, consistent with the Principles, and the accompanying Guidelines, that seek to maximize the value of our client accounts.

In some instances, the Corporate Governance Team may refer significant issues to the SSGA PRC for a determination of the proxy vote. In addition, in determining whether to refer a proxy vote to the SSGA PRC, the Corporate Governance Team will consider whether a material conflict of interest exists between the interests of our client and those of SSGA or its affiliates (as explained in greater detail in our “Conflict of Interest” Policy).

 

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SSGA votes in all markets where it is feasible; however, SSGA may refrain from voting meetings when power of attorney documentation is required, where voting will have a material impact on our ability to trade the security, where issuer-specific special documentation is required, or where various market or issuer certifications are required. SSGA is 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.

Conflict of Interest

See SSGA’s standalone Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles

Directors and Boards

The election of directors is one of the most important fiduciary duties SSGA performs as a shareholder. SSGA believes that well-governed companies can protect and pursue shareholder interests better and withstand the challenges of an uncertain economic environment. As such, SSGA seeks to vote director elections in a way which we, as a fiduciary, believe will maximize the long-term value of each portfolio’s holdings.

Principally, a board acts on behalf of shareholders by protecting their interests and preserving their rights. This concept establishes the standard by which board and director performance is measured. To achieve this fundamental principle, the role of the board, in SSGA’s view, is to carry out its responsibilities in the best long-term interest of the company and its shareholders. An independent and effective board oversees management, provides guidance on strategic matters, selects the CEO and other senior executives, creates a succession plan for the board and management, provides risk oversight and assesses the performance of the CEO and management. In contrast, management implements the business and capital allocation strategies and runs the company’s day-to-day operations. As part of SSGA’s engagement process, SSGA routinely discusses the importance of these responsibilities with the boards of issuers.

SSGA believes the quality of a board is a measure of director independence, director succession planning, board evaluations and refreshment and company governance practices. In voting to elect nominees, SSGA considers many factors. SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will effectively monitor management, maintain appropriate governance practices and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. SSGA also believes the right mix of skills, independence and qualifications among directors provides boards with the knowledge and direct experience to deal with risks and operating structures that are often unique and complex from one industry to another.

Accounting and Audit Related Issues

SSGA believes audit committees are critical and necessary as part of the board’s risk oversight role. The audit committee is responsible for setting out an internal audit function to provide robust audit and internal control systems designed to effectively manage potential and emerging risks to the company’s operations and strategy. SSGA believes audit committees should have independent directors as members, and SSGA will hold the members of the audit committee responsible for overseeing the management of the audit function.

The disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for the investment process. As a result, board oversight of the internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely on financial statements. Also, it is important for the audit committee to appoint external auditors who are independent from management as we expect auditors to provide assurance as of a company’s financial condition.

Capital Structure, Reorganization and Mergers

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow and 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 and in making such a critical decision, SSGA believes the company should have a well explained business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and not overly dilutive to its shareholders.

 

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Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.

Proposals that are in the best interests of shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In evaluating mergers and acquisitions, SSGA considers the adequacy of the consideration and the impact of the corporate governance provisions to shareholders. In all cases, SSGA uses its discretion in order to maximize shareholder value.

Occasionally, companies add anti-takeover provisions that reduce the chances of a potential acquirer making an offer, or reducing the likelihood of a successful offer. SSGA does not support proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights, entrench management or reduce the likelihood of shareholder’s right to vote on reasonable offers.

Compensation

SSGA considers the board’s responsibility to include setting the appropriate level of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive compensation; SSGA believes 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also consider executive compensation practices when re-electing members of the remuneration committee.

SSGA recognizes that compensation policies and practices are unique from market to market; often with significant differences between the level of disclosures, the amount and forms of compensation paid, and the ability of shareholders to approve executive compensation practices. As a result, our ability to assess the appropriateness of executive compensation is often dependent on market practices and laws.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. Environmental and social factors may not only have an impact on the reputation of companies but may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could be the result of anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends to shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on a company, its industry, operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of board members if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder requests to amend them.

 

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General/Routine

Although SSGA does not seek involvement in the day-to-day operations of an organization, SSGA recognizes the need for conscientious oversight and input into management decisions that may affect a company’s value. SSGA supports proposals that encourage economically advantageous corporate practices and governance, while leaving decisions that are deemed to be routine or constitute ordinary business to management and the board of directors.

Fixed Income Stewardship

The two elements of SSGA’s fixed income stewardship program are:

Proxy Voting:

While matters that come up for a vote at bondholder meetings vary by jurisdiction, examples of common proxy voting resolutions at bondholder meetings include:

 

    Approving amendments to debt covenants and/or terms of issuance;

 

    Authorizing procedural matters such as filing of required documents/other formalities;

 

    Approving debt restructuring plans;

 

    Abstaining from challenging the bankruptcy trustees;

 

    Authorizing repurchase of issued debt security;

 

    Approving the placement of unissued debt securities under the control of directors; and,

 

    Approve spin-off/absorption proposals.

Given the nature of the items that come up for vote at bondholder meetings, SSGA takes a case-by-case approach to voting bondholder resolutions. Where necessary, SSGA will engage with issuers on voting matters prior to arriving at voting decisions. All voting decisions will be made in the best interest of our clients.

Issuer Engagement:

SSGA recognizes that debt holders have limited leverage with companies on a day-to-day basis. However, we believe that given the size of our holdings in corporate debt, SSGA can meaningfully influence ESG practices of companies through issuer engagement. Our guidelines for engagement with fixed income issuers broadly follow the engagement guidelines for our equity holdings as described above.

Securities on Loan

For funds where SSGA acts as trustee, SSGA may recall securities in instances where SSGA believes that a particular vote will have a material impact on the fund(s). Several factors shape this process. First, SSGA must receive notice of the vote in sufficient time to recall the shares on or before the record date. In many cases, SSGA does not receive timely notice, and is unable to recall the shares on or before the record date. Second, SSGA, exercising its discretion may recall shares if it believes the benefit of voting shares will outweigh the foregone lending income. This determination requires SSGA, with the information available at the time, to form judgments about events or outcomes that are difficult to quantify. Given past experience in this area, however, we believe that the recall of securities will rarely provide an economic benefit that outweighs the cost of the foregone lending income.

Reporting

Any client who wishes to receive information on how its proxies were voted should contact its SSGA relationship manager.

 

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For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. State Street Global Advisors Italy, Sede Secondaria di Milano, Via dei Bossi, 4 20121 Milan, Italy. T: +39 02 32066 100. F: +39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

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© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6421 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

United States

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) US Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in the US. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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SSGA’s US Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, director tenure, audit related issues, capital structure, executive compensation, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in the US, SSGA expects all companies to act in a transparent manner and provide detailed disclosure on board profiles, related-party transactions, executive compensation and other governance issues that impact shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagements to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagements and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the US.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practices, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

Director related proposals at US companies include issues submitted to shareholders that deal with the composition of the board or with members of a corporation’s board of directors. In deciding which director nominee to support, SSGA considers numerous factors.

Director Elections

SSGA’s director election policy focuses on companies’ governance profile to identify if a company demonstrates appropriate governance practices or if it exhibits negative governance practices. Factors SSGA considers when evaluating governance practices include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    Shareholder rights;

 

    Board independence; and

 

    Board structure.

 

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If a company demonstrates appropriate governance practices, SSGA believes a director should be classified as independent based on the relevant listing standards or local market practice standards. In such cases, the composition of the key oversight committees of a board should meet the minimum standards of independence. Accordingly, SSGA will vote against a nominee at a company with appropriate governance practices if the director is classified as non-independent under relevant listing standards or local market practice AND serves on a key committee of the board (compensation, audit, nominating or committees required to be fully independent by local market standards).

Conversely, if a company demonstrates negative governance practices, SSGA believes the classification standards for director independence should be elevated. In such circumstances, we will evaluate all director nominees based on the following classification standards:

 

  Is the nominee an employee of or related to an employee of the issuer or its auditor;

 

  Does the nominee provide professional services to the issuer;

 

  Has the nominee attended an appropriate number of board meetings; or

 

  Has the nominee received non-board related compensation from the issuer.

Where companies demonstrate negative governance practices, these stricter standards will apply not only to directors who are a member of a key committee but to all directors on the board as market practice permits. Accordingly, SSGA will vote against a nominee (with the exception of the CEO) where the board has inappropriate governance practices and is considered not independent based on the above independence criteria.

Additionally, SSGA may withhold votes from directors based on the following:

 

    When overall average board tenure is excessive and/or individual director tenure is excessive. In assessing excessive tenure, SSGA gives consideration to factors such as the preponderance of long tenured directors, board refreshment practices, and classified board structures;

 

    When directors attend less than 75% of board meetings without appropriate explanation or providing reason for their failure to meet the attendance threshold;

 

    CEOs of a public company who sit on more than three public company boards;

 

    Director nominees who sit on more than six public company boards;

 

    Directors of companies that have not been responsive to a shareholder proposal which received a majority shareholder support at the last annual or special meeting; consideration maybe given if management submits the proposal(s) on the ballot as a binding management proposal, recommending shareholders vote for the particular proposal(s);

 

    Directors of companies have unilaterally adopted/ amended company bylaws that negatively impact SSGA’s shareholder rights (such as fee-shifting, forum selection and exclusion service bylaws) without putting such amendments to a shareholder vote;

 

    Compensation committee members where there is a weak relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period;

 

    Audit committee members if non-audit fees exceed 50% of total fees paid to the auditors; and

 

    Directors who appear to have been remiss in their duties.

Director Related Proposals

SSGA generally votes for the following director related proposals:

 

    Discharge of board members’ duties, in the absence of pending litigation, regulatory investigation, charges of fraud or other indications of significant concern;

 

    Proposals to restore shareholders’ ability to remove directors with or without cause;

 

    Proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies; and

 

    Shareholder proposals seeking disclosure regarding the company, board, or compensation committee’s use of compensation consultants, such as company name, business relationship(s) and fees paid.

 

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SSGA generally votes against the following director related proposals:

 

    Requirements that candidates for directorships own large amounts of stock before being eligible to be elected;

 

    Proposals that relate to the “transaction of other business as properly comes before the meeting”, which extend “blank check” powers to those acting as proxy; and

 

    Proposals requiring two candidates per board seat.

Majority Voting

SSGA will generally support a majority vote standard based on votes cast for the election of directors.

SSGA will generally vote to support amendments to bylaws that would require simple majority of voting shares (i.e. shares cast) to pass or repeal certain provisions.

Annual Elections

SSGA generally supports the establishment of annual elections of the board of directors. Consideration is given to the overall level of board independence and the independence of the key committees as well as whether there is a shareholders rights plan.

Cumulative Voting

SSGA does not support cumulative voting structures for the election of directors.

Separation Chair/CEO

SSGA analyzes proposals for the separation of Chair/CEO on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration numerous factors, including but not limited to, the appointment of and role played by a lead director, a company’s performance and the overall governance structure of the company.

Proxy Access

In general, SSGA believes that proxy access is a fundamental right and an accountability mechanism for all long-term shareholders. SSGA will consider proposals relating to Proxy Access on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will support shareholder proposals that set parameters to empower long-term shareholders while providing management the flexibility to design a process that is appropriate for the company’s circumstances.

SSGA will review the terms of all other proposals and will support those proposals that have been introduced in the spirit of enhancing shareholder rights.

Considerations include but are not limited to the following:

 

    The ownership thresholds and holding duration proposed in the resolution;

 

    The binding nature of the proposal;

 

    The number of directors that shareholders may be able to nominate each year;

 

    Company governance structure;

 

    Shareholder rights; and

 

    Board performance.

Age/Term Limits

Generally, SSGA will vote against age and term limits unless the company is found to have poor board refreshment and director succession practices and has a preponderance of non-executive directors with excessively long-tenures serving on the board.

 

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Approve Remuneration of Directors

Generally, SSGA will support directors’ compensation, provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other issuers in the market or industry. In making our determination, we review whether the compensation is overly dilutive to existing shareholders.

Indemnification

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Classified Boards

SSGA generally supports annual elections for the board of directors.

Confidential Voting

SSGA will support confidential voting.

Board Size

SSGA will support proposals seeking to fix the board size or designate a range for the board size and will vote against proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the board outside of a specified range without shareholder approval.

Audit Related Issues

Ratifying Auditors and Approving Auditor Compensation

SSGA supports the approval of auditors and auditor compensation provided that the issuer has properly disclosed audit and non-audit fees relative to market practice and the audit fees are not deemed excessive. SSGA deems audit fees to be excessive if the non-audit fees for the prior year constituted 50% or more of the total fees paid to the auditor. SSGA will support the disclosure of auditor and consulting relationships when the same or related entities are conducting both activities and will support the establishment of a selection committee responsible for the final approval of significant management consultant contract awards where existing firms are already acting in an auditing function.

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.

SSGA will support the discharge of auditors and requirements that auditors attend the annual meeting of shareholders.1

Capital Related Issues

Capital structure proposals include requests by management for approval of amendments to the certificate of incorporation that will alter the capital structure of the company.

The most common request is for an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock, usually in conjunction with a stock split or dividend. Typically, requests that are not unreasonably dilutive or enhance the rights of common shareholders are supported. In considering authorized share proposals, the typical threshold for approval is 100% over current authorized shares. However, the threshold may be increased if the company offers a specific need or purpose (merger, stock splits, growth purposes, etc.). All proposals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s specific financial situation.

Increase in Authorized Common Shares

In general, SSGA supports share increases for general corporate purposes up to 100% of current authorized stock.

 

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SSGA supports increases for specific corporate purposes up to 100% of the specific need plus 50% of current authorized common stock for US firms.

When applying the thresholds, SSGA will also consider the nature of the specific need, such as mergers and acquisitions and stock splits.

Increase in Authorized Preferred Shares

SSGA votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to increase the number of preferred shares.

Generally, SSGA will vote for the authorization of preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.

SSGA will support proposals to create “declawed” blank check preferred stock (stock that cannot be used as a takeover defense). However, SSGA will vote against proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock authorized for issuance when no shares have been issued or reserved for a specific purpose.

Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA will not support proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will vote against new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add “blank check” classes of stock (i.e. classes of stock with undefined voting rights) or classes that dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.

However, SSGA will support capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.

Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported.

In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering the following:

 

    Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock, especially in some non-US markets;

 

    Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti–Takeover Issues

Typically, these are proposals relating to requests by management to amend the certificate of incorporation or bylaws to add or delete a provision that is deemed to have an anti-takeover effect. The majority of these proposals deal with management’s attempt to add some provision that makes a hostile takeover more difficult or will protect incumbent management in the event of a change in control of the company.

Proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights or have the effect of entrenching incumbent management will not be supported.

Proposals that enhance the right of shareholders to make their own choices as to the desirability of a merger or other proposal are supported.

Shareholder Rights Plans

SSGA will support mandates requiring shareholder approval of a shareholder rights plans (“poison pill”) and repeals of various anti-takeover related provisions.

In general, SSGA will vote against the adoption or renewal of a US issuer’s shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”).

SSGA will vote for an amendment to a shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”) where the terms of the new plans are more favorable to shareholders’ ability to accept unsolicited offers (i.e. if one of the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, and (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced).

Special Meetings

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals related to special meetings at companies that do not provide shareholders the right to call for a special meeting in their bylaws if:

 

    The company also does not allow shareholders to act by written consent; or

 

    The company allows shareholders to act by written consent but the ownership threshold for acting by written consent is set above 25% of outstanding shares.

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals related to special meetings at companies that give shareholders (with a minimum 10% ownership threshold) the right to call for a special meeting in their bylaws if:

 

    The current ownership threshold to call for a special meeting is above 25% of outstanding shares.

SSGA will vote for management proposals related to special meetings.

Written Consent

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals on written consent at companies if:

 

    The company does not have provisions in their bylaws giving shareholders the right to call for a special meeting; or

 

    The company allows shareholders the right to call for a special meeting but the current ownership threshold to call for a special meeting is above 25% of outstanding shares; and

 

    The company has a poor governance profile.

SSGA will vote management proposals on written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

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Super–Majority

SSGA will generally vote against amendments to bylaws requiring super-majority shareholder votes to pass or repeal certain provisions. SSGA will vote for the reduction or elimination of super-majority vote requirements, unless management of the issuer was concurrently seeking to or had previously made such a reduction or elimination.

Remuneration Issues

Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides the analysis of all compensation plans; namely, are the terms of the plan designed to provide an incentive for executives and/or employees to align their interests with those of the shareholders and thus work toward enhancing shareholder value. Plans which benefit participants only when the shareholders also benefit are those most likely to be supported.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Frequency

SSGA believes executive compensation plays a critical role in aligning executives interest with shareholder’s, attracting, retaining and incentivizing key talent, and ensuring positive correlation between the performance achieved by management and the benefits derived by shareholders. SSGA supports management proposals on executive compensation where there is a strong relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period. SSGA seeks adequate disclosure of different compensation 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. Further, shareholders should have the opportunity to assess whether pay structures and levels are aligned with business performance on an annual basis.

Employee Equity Award Plans

SSGA considers numerous criteria when examining equity award proposals. Generally, SSGA does not vote against plans for lack of performance or vesting criteria. Rather, the main criteria that will result in a vote against an equity award plan are:

Excessive voting power dilution To assess the dilutive effect, we divide the number of shares required to fully fund the proposed plan, the number of authorized but unissued shares and the issued but unexercised shares by the fully diluted share count. SSGA reviews that number in light of certain factors, including the industry of the issuer.

Historical option grants Excessive historical option grants over the past three years. Plans that provide for historical grant patterns of greater than five to eight percent are generally not supported.

Repricing SSGA will vote against any plan where repricing is expressly permitted. If a company has a history of repricing underwater options, the plan will not be supported.

Other criteria include the following:

 

    Number of participants or eligible employees;

 

    The variety of awards possible; and

 

    The period of time covered by the plan.

There are numerous factors that we view as negative, and together, may result in a vote against a proposal:

 

    Grants to individuals or very small groups of participants;

 

    “Gun-jumping” grants which anticipate shareholder approval of a plan or amendment;

 

    The power of the board to exchange “underwater” options without shareholder approval; this pertains to the ability of a company to reprice options, not the actual act of repricing described above;

 

    Below market rate loans to officers to exercise their options;

 

    The ability to grant options at less than fair market value;

 

    Acceleration of vesting automatically upon a change in control; and

 

    Excessive compensation (i.e. compensation plans which are deemed by SSGA to be overly dilutive).

 

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Share Repurchases If a company makes a clear connection between a share repurchase program and its intent to offset dilution created from option plans and the company fully discloses the amount of shares being repurchased, the voting dilution calculation may be adjusted to account for the impact of the buy back.

Companies who do not (i) clearly state the intentions of any proposed share buy-back plan or (ii) disclose a definitive number of the shares to be bought back, (iii) specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares and, (iv) disclose the time frame during which the shares will be bought back, will not have any such repurchase plan factored into the dilution calculation.

162(m) Plan Amendments If a plan would not normally meet the SSGA criteria described above, but is primarily being amended to add specific performance criteria to be used with awards designed to qualify for performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, then SSGA will support the proposal to amend the plan.

Employee Stock Option Plans

SSGA generally votes for stock purchase plans with an exercise price of not less than 85% of fair market value. However, SSGA takes market practice into consideration.

Compensation Related Items

SSGA will generally support the following proposals:

 

    Expansions to reporting of financial or compensation-related information, within reason; and

 

    Proposals requiring the disclosure of executive retirement benefits if the issuer does not have an independent compensation committee.

SSGA will generally vote against the following proposals:

 

    Retirement bonuses for non-executive directors and auditors.

Miscellaneous/Routine Items

SSGA generally supports the following miscellaneous/routine governance items:

 

    Reimbursement of all appropriate proxy solicitation expenses associated with the election when voting in conjunction with support of a dissident slate;

 

    Opting-out of business combination provision;

 

    Proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management;

 

    Liquidation of the company if the company will file for bankruptcy if the proposal is not approved;

 

    Shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote;

 

    General updating of, or corrective amendments to, charter and bylaws not otherwise specifically addressed herein, unless such amendments would reasonably be expected to diminish shareholder rights (e.g. extension of directors’ term limits, amending shareholder vote requirement to amend the charter documents, insufficient information provided as to the reason behind the amendment);

 

    Change in corporation name;

 

    Mandates that amendments to bylaws or charters have shareholder approval;

 

    Management proposals to change the date, time, and/or location of the annual meeting unless the proposed change is unreasonable;

 

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    Repeals, prohibitions or adoption of anti-greenmail provisions;

 

    Management proposals to implement a reverse stock split when the number of authorized shares will be proportionately reduced and proposals to implement a reverse stock split to avoid delisting; and

 

    Exclusive forum provisions.

SSGA generally does not support the following miscellaneous/ routine governance items:

 

    Proposals asking companies to adopt full tenure holding periods for their executives;

 

    Reincorporation to a location that we believe has more negative attributes than its current location of incorporation;

 

    Shareholder proposals to change the date, time, and/or location of the annual meeting unless the current scheduling or location is unreasonable;

 

    Proposals to approve other business when it appears as a voting item;

 

    Proposals giving the board exclusive authority to amend the bylaws; and

 

    Proposals to reduce quorum requirements for shareholder meetings below a majority of the shares outstanding unless there are compelling reasons to support the proposal.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, we consider the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business.

Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer-by-issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

 

1 Common for non-US issuers; request from the issuer to discharge from liability the directors or auditors with respect to actions taken by them during the previous year.

 

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For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6419 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Europe

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) European Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines cover different corporate governance frameworks and practices in European markets excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies.

 

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SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines in European markets address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management and monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in European markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research in to corporate governance issues in European companies, SSGA also considers guidance issued by the European Commission. Companies should provide detailed explanations under diverse ‘comply or explain’ approaches, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and EMEA investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in European markets.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re–election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices.

A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in European companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related–party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders;

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees;

 

    Employee and government representatives; and

 

    Overall average board tenure and individual director tenure at issuers with classified and de-classified boards, respectively.

 

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While, overall board independence requirements and board structures differ from market to market, SSGA considers voting against directors it deems non–independent if overall board independence is below one third. SSGA also assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case–by–case basis, giving consideration to factors such as overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. SSGA may also not support a proposal to discharge the board, if a company fails to meet adequate governance standards or board level independence.

When considering the election or re-election of a non-executive director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive can undertake and attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA may vote against the election of a director whose biographical disclosures are insufficient to assess his or her role on the board and/or independence.

Although we generally are in favour of the annual election of directors, we recognise that director terms vary considerably in different European markets. SSGA may vote against article/bylaw changes that seek to extend director terms. In addition, in certain markets, SSGA may vote against directors if their director terms extend beyond four years.

SSGA believes companies should have relevant board level committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Similarly, executive pay is an important aspect of corporate governance, and it should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. SSGA may vote against nominees who are executive members of audit or remuneration committees.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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.

In certain European markets it is not uncommon for the election of directors to be presented in a single slate. In these cases, where executives serve on the audit or the remuneration committees, SSGA may vote against the entire slate.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

 

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Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

In some European markets, differential voting rights continue to exist. SSGA supports the “one share one vote” policy and favors a share structure where all shares have equal voting rights. SSGA believes pre-emption rights should be introduced for shareholders in order to provide adequate protection from being overly diluted from the issuance of new shares or convertible securities to third parties or a small number of select shareholders.

Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA generally opposes proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will generally oppose new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add classes of stock with undefined voting rights or classes that may dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders. SSGA supports proposals to abolish voting caps and capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Increase in Authorized Capital

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholder’s ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seek to issue new shares whilst dis-applying pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for a specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share re-purchase requests that allow share re-purchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long-term financial health.

Related Party Transactions

Certain companies in European markets have a controlled ownership structure and have 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, SSGA expects companies to provide details of the transaction, such as the nature, value and purpose of such a transaction. It also encourages independent directors to ratify such transactions. Further, SSGA encourages companies to 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.

 

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Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price

Anti–Takeover Measures

European markets have diverse regulations concerning the use of share issuances as takeover defenses with legal restrictions lacking in some markets. SSGA supports a one-share, one-vote policy, for example, given that dual-class capital structures entrench certain shareholders and management, insulating them from possible takeovers. SSGA opposes unlimited share issuance authorizations as they may be used as antitakeover devices, and they have the potential for substantial voting and earnings dilution. SSGA also monitors the duration of authorities to issue shares and whether there are restrictions and caps on multiple issuance authorities during the specified time periods. SSGA opposes antitakeover defenses such as authorities for the board, when subject to a hostile takeover, to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

Despite the differences among the types of plans and awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure to review its approach.

Equity Incentives Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

 

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Non–Executive Director Pay

In European markets, authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company-by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 0232066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6418 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

United Kingdom

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”), UK Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

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SSGA’s UK Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in the UK and Ireland, SSGA expects all companies, regardless of domicile, that obtain a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange or the Irish Stock Exchange to comply with the UK Corporate Governance Code. Companies should provide detailed explanations under the Code’s ‘comply or explain’ approach, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and EMEA investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the UK and European markets.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices.

A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in UK companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Excessive tenure and a preponderance of long-tenured directors:

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders; and

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

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When considering the election or re-election of a director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive and an executive may undertake as well as attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA monitors other factors that may influence the independence of a non-executive director, such as performance related pay, cross-directorships, significant shareholdings and tenure. SSGA supports the annual election of directors.

While SSGA is generally supportive of having the roles of chairman and CEO separated in the UK market, SSGA assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to factors such as the company’s specific circumstances, overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. Similarly, SSGA will monitor for circumstances where a combined chairman/CEO is appointed or where a former CEO becomes chairman.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities when considering their suitability for reappointment. (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

SSGA believes companies should have committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Similarly, executive pay is an important aspect of corporate governance, and it should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. SSGA will vote against nominees who are executive members of audit or remuneration committees.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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. The nomination committee is responsible for evaluating and keeping under review the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the board and ensuring that adequate succession plans are in place for directors and the CEO. SSGA may vote against the re-election of members of the nomination committee if, over time, the board has failed to address concerns over board structure or succession.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if an adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

 

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Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

Share Issuances

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholders’ ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seek to issue new shares whilst dis-applying pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for a specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share re-purchase requests that allow share re-purchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long term financial health.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize share-holder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti-Takeover Measures

SSGA opposes anti-takeover defenses such as authorities for the board when subject to a hostile takeover to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

Despite the differences among the types of plans and awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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 policies and reports, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

Equity Incentives Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

Non-Executive Director Pay

Authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company- by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

 

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In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6417 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Emerging Markets

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Emerging Market Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines cover different corporate governance frameworks and practices in emerging markets. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles which provides a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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At SSGA, we recognize that countries in emerging markets are disparate in their corporate governance frameworks and practices. Concurrent with developing a company specific voting and engagement program, SSGA also evaluates the various factors that play into the corporate governance framework of a country. These factors include: (i) the macroeconomic conditions and broader political system in a country; (ii) quality of regulatory oversight, enforcement of property and shareholder rights; and (iii) the independence of judiciary—to name a few. While emerging market countries tend to pose broad common governance issues across all markets, such as concentrated ownership, poor disclosure of financial and related-party transactions, and weak enforcement of rules and regulation, SSGA’s emerging market proxy voting policy is designed to identify and address specific governance concerns in each market.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy in Emerging Markets

SSGA’s approach to proxy voting and issuer engagement in emerging markets is designed to increase the value of our investments through the mitigation of governance risks. Since the overall quality of the corporate governance framework in an emerging market country drives the level of governance risks investors assign to a country, improving the macro governance framework in a country may help reduce governance risks, in turn, increasing the overall value of SSGA’s holdings over time. Therefore, in order to improve the overall governance framework and practices in a country, members of our proxy voting and engagement team endeavor to visit emerging market countries and meet with representatives from regulatory agencies and stock markets to highlight potential concerns with the macro governance framework of a country. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in emerging markets. To help mitigate company specific risk, the team works alongside members of the active fundamental and emerging market teams to engage with emerging market companies on governance issues and address any specific concerns or to get more information regarding shareholder items that are to be voted on at upcoming shareholder meetings. This integrated approach to engagement drives SSGA’s proxy voting and engagement philosophy in emerging markets.

SSGA’s proxy voting guidelines in emerging markets addresses six broad areas:

 

    Directors and Boards;

 

    Accounting and Audit Related Issues;

 

    Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues;

 

    Remuneration;

 

    Environmental and Social Issues; and

 

    General/Routine Issues.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. However, several factors such as low overall independence level requirements by market regulators, poor biographical disclosure of director profiles, prevalence of related-party transactions and the general resistance from controlling shareholders to increase board independence renders the election of directors as one of the most important fiduciary duties SSGA performs in emerging market companies.

SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. SSGA expects companies to meet minimum overall board independence standards as defined in a corporate governance code or market practice. Therefore, in several countries, SSGA will vote against select non-independent directors if overall board independence levels do not meet market standards.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in emerging market companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders and other employees; and

 

    Attendance levels.

 

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In some countries, market practice calls for the establishment of a board level audit committee. In such cases, SSGA believes companies should have an audit committee that is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well as their effectiveness and resource levels. Based on our desire to enhance the quality of financial and accounting oversight provided by independent directors, SSGA expects that listed companies have an audit committee that is constituted of a majority of independent directors.

Audit Related Issues

The disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for the investment process. As a result, board oversight of internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely on financial statements. SSGA believes that audit committees provide the necessary oversight on the selection and appointment of auditors, a company’s internal controls and accounting policies, and the overall audit process. In emerging markets, SSGA encourages boards to appoint an audit committee composed of a majority of independent auditors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appointment at the annual meeting. SSGA believes that it is imperative for audit committees to select outside auditors who are independent from management.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

SSGA believes that changes to a company’s capital structure such as changes in authorized share capital, share repurchase and debt issuances are critical decisions made by the board. SSGA believes the company should have a well explained business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and should not overly dilute its shareholders.

Related Party Transactions

Most companies in emerging markets have a controlled ownership structure that often include complex cross-shareholdings between subsidiaries and parent companies (“related companies”). As a result, there is a high prevalence of related-party transactions between the company and its various stakeholders such as directors and management. In addition, inter-group loan and loan guarantees provided to related companies are some of the other related-party transactions that increase the risk profile of companies. In markets where shareholders are required to approve such transactions, SSGA expects companies to provide details of the transaction, such as the nature, value and purpose of such a transaction. It also encourages independent directors to ratify such transactions. Further, SSGA encourages companies to 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.

Share Repurchase Programs

With regard to share repurchase programs, SSGA expects companies to clearly state the business purpose for the program and a definitive number of shares to be repurchased.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA evaluates mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    Offer premium;

 

    Strategic rationale;

 

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    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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

SSGA will actively seek direct dialogue with the board and management of companies we have identified through our screening processes. Such engagements may lead to further monitoring to ensure the company improves its governance or sustainability practices. In these cases, the engagement process represents the most meaningful opportunity for SSGA to protect long-term shareholder value from excessive risk due to poor governance and sustainability practices.

Remuneration

SSGA considers it to be the board’s responsibility to set appropriate levels of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive compensation; there should be a direct relationship between executive compensation and company performance over the long-term. In emerging markets we encourage companies to disclose information on senior executive remuneration.

With regard to director remuneration, SSGA supports director pay provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other issuers in the market or industry and are not overly dilutive to existing shareholders.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors can not only have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. Companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change. In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

In emerging markets, shareholders seldom vote on environmental and social issues. Therefore, SSGA addresses a company’s approach to identifying and managing environmental and social risks stemming for various aspects of its operations in its one-on-one engagement with companies.

General/Routine Issues

Some of the other issues that are routinely voted on in emerging markets include approving the allocation of income and accepting financial statements and statutory reports. For these voting items, SSGA’s policies consider several factors including historical dividend payouts, pending litigation, governmental investigations, charges of fraud or other indication of significant concerns.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’ express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6416 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Japan

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Japan Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines complement and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines in Japan address areas including: board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in Japan, SSGA takes into consideration the unique aspects of Japanese corporate governance structures. We recognize that under Japanese corporate law, companies may choose between two structures of corporate governance: the statutory auditor system or the committee structure. Most Japanese boards predominantly consist of executives and non-independent outsiders affiliated through commercial relationships or cross-shareholdings. Nonetheless, when evaluating companies, SSGA expects Japanese companies to address conflicts of interest, risk management and demonstrate an effective process for monitoring management. In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in Japanese companies, SSGA also considers guidance issued by the Corporate Law Subcommittee of the Legislative Council within the Ministry of Justice as well as private study groups.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, and environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in Japan.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practices, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice.

Japanese companies have the option of having a traditional board of directors with statutory auditors, a board with a committee structure, or a hybrid board with board level audit committee. SSGA will generally support companies that seek shareholder approval to adopt a committee or hybrid board structure.

Most Japanese issuers prefer the traditional statutory auditor structure. Statutory auditors act in a quasi-compliance role as they are not involved in strategic decision-making nor are they part of the formal management decision process. Statutory auditors attend board meetings but do not have voting rights at the board; however, they have the right to seek an injunction and conduct broad investigations of unlawful behavior in the company’s operations.

SSGA will support the election of statutory auditors, unless the outside statutory auditor nominee is regarded as non-independent based on SSGA criteria, the outside statutory auditor has attended less than 75 percent of meetings of the board of directors or board of statutory auditors during the year under review, or the statutory auditor has been remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities (fraud, criminal wrong doing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

 

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For companies with a statutory auditor structure there is no legal requirement that boards have outside directors, however, SSGA believes there should be a transparent process of independent and external monitoring of management on behalf of shareholders.

 

    SSGA believes that non-controlled Japanese companies should appoint at least two outside directors, otherwise, SSGA will oppose the top executive who is responsible for the director nomination process; and

 

    For controlled companies with a statutory auditor structure, SSGA will oppose the top executive, if the board does not have at least two independent directors.

For companies with a committee structure or a hybrid board structure, SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering general market practice, as well as the independence of the nominee. SSGA also takes into consideration the overall independence level of the committees. In determining director independence, SSGA considers the following factors:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Past employment with the company;

 

    Provides professional services to the company; and

 

    Family ties with the company.

Regardless of board structure, SSGA may oppose the election of a director for the following reasons:

 

    Failure to attend board meetings; or

 

    In instances of egregious actions related to a director’s service on the board.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ and statutory auditors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. SSGA believes limitations and indemnification are necessary to attract and retain qualified directors.

Audit Related Items

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should have the opportunity to vote on their appointment at the annual meeting.

Ratifying External Auditors

SSGA will generally support the appointment of external auditors unless the external auditor is perceived as being non-independent and there are concerns about the accounts presented and the audit procedures followed.

Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Capital Structure, Reorganization and Mergers

SSGA supports the “one share one vote” policy and favors a share structure where all shares have equal voting rights. SSGA supports proposals to abolish voting caps or multiple voting rights and will oppose measures to introduce these types of restrictions on shareholder rights.

SSGA believes pre-emption rights should be introduced for shareholders in order to provide adequate protection from being overly diluted from the issuance of new shares or convertible securities to third parties or a small number of select shareholders.

 

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Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA generally opposes proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will generally oppose new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add classes of stock with undefined voting rights or classes that may dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.

However, SSGA will support capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Increase in Authorized Capital

SSGA generally supports increases in authorized capital where the company provides an adequate explanation for the use of shares. In the absence of an adequate explanation, SSGA may oppose the request if the increase in authorized capital exceeds 100 percent of the currently authorized capital. Where share issuance requests exceed our standard threshold, SSGA will consider the nature of the specific need, such as mergers and acquisitions and stock splits.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long term financial health.

Share Repurchase Programs

Companies are allowed under Japan Corporate Law to amend their articles to authorize the repurchase of shares at the board’s discretion. SSGA will oppose an amendment to articles allowing the repurchase of shares at the board’s discretion. SSGA believes the company should seek shareholder approval for a share repurchase program at each year’s AGM, providing shareholders the right to evaluate the purpose of the repurchase.

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share repurchase requests that allow share repurchases during a takeover period.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA evaluates mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti-Takeover Measures

In general, SSGA believes that adoption of poison pills that have been structured to protect management and to prevent takeover bids from succeeding is not in shareholders’ interest. A shareholder rights plan may lead to management entrenchment and discourage legitimate tender offers and acquisitions. Even if the premium paid to companies with a shareholder rights plan is higher than that offered to unprotected firms, a company’s chances of receiving a takeover offer in the first place may be reduced by the presence of a shareholder rights plan.

Proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights or have the effect of entrenching incumbent management will not be supported.

Proposals that enhance the right of shareholders to make their own choices as to the desirability of a merger or other proposal are supported.

Shareholder Rights Plans

In evaluating poison pills, the following conditions must be met before SSGA will recommend a vote in favor.

SSGA will support the adoption or renewal of a Japanese issuer’s shareholder rights plans (“poison pill”) if the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, and (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced.

SSGA will vote for an amendment to a shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”) where the terms of the new plans are more favorable to shareholders’ ability to accept unsolicited offers (i.e. if one of the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, or (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced).

Compensation

In Japan, excessive compensation is rarely an issue. Rather, the problem is the lack of connection between pay and performance. Fixed salaries and cash retirement bonuses tend to comprise a significant portion of the compensation structure while performance-based pay is generally a small portion of the total pay. SSGA, where possible, seeks to encourage the use of performance based compensation in Japan as an incentive for executives and as a way to align interests with shareholders.

Approve Adjustment to Aggregate Compensation Ceiling for Directors

Remuneration for directors is generally reasonable. Typically, each company sets the director compensation parameters as an aggregate thereby limiting the total pay to all directors. When requesting a change, a company must disclose the last time the ceiling was adjusted and management provides the rationale for the ceiling increase. SSGA will generally support proposed increases to the ceiling if the company discloses the rationale for the increase. SSGA may oppose proposals to increase the ceiling if there has been corporate malfeasance or sustained poor performance.

Approve Annual Bonuses for Directors/ Statutory Auditors

In Japan, since there are no legal requirements that mandate companies to seek shareholder approval before awarding a bonus, SSGA believes that existing shareholder approval of the bonus should be considered best practice. As a result, SSGA supports management proposals on executive compensation where there is a strong relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period.

Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors/ Statutory Auditors

Retirement bonuses make up a sizeable portion of directors’ and auditors’ lifetime compensation and are based on board tenure. While many companies in Japan have abolished this practice, there remain many proposals seeking shareholder approval for the total amounts paid to directors and statutory auditors as a whole. In general, SSGA supports these payments unless the recipient is an outsider or in instances where the amount is not disclosed.

 

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Approve Stock Plan

Most option plans in Japan are conservative, particularly at large companies. Japan corporate law requires companies to disclose the monetary value of the stock options for directors and/or statutory auditors. Some companies do not disclose the maximum number of options that can be issued per year and shareholders are unable to evaluate the dilution impact. In this case, SSGA cannot calculate the dilution level and, therefore, SSGA may oppose such plans for poor disclosure. SSGA also opposes plans that allow for the repricing of the exercise price.

Deep Discount Options

As Japanese companies move away from the retirement bonus system, deep discount options plans have become more popular. Typically, the exercise price is set at JPY 1 per share. SSGA evaluates deep discount options using the same criteria used to evaluate stock options as well as considering the vesting period.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors can not only have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. Companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

Miscellaneous/Routine Items

Expansion of Business Activities

Japanese companies’ articles of incorporation strictly define the types of businesses in which a company is permitted to engage. In general, SSGA views proposals to expand and diversify the company’s business activities as routine and non-contentious. SSGA will monitor instances where there has been an inappropriate acquisition and diversification away from the company’s main area of competence, which resulted in a decrease of shareholder value.

More Information

Any client who wishes to receive information on how its proxies were voted should contact its SSGA relationship manager.

 

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Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Australia

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Australia Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in Australia. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflict of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Australia Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in Australia, SSGA expects all companies at a minimum to comply with the ASX Corporate Governance Principles. Companies should provide detailed explanations under the Principles’ ‘comply or explain’ approach, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests. On some governance matters, such as composition of audit committees, we hold Australian companies to our global standards requiring all directors on the committee to be independent of management.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the region.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound ESG policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. SSGA expects boards of ASX-300 listed companies to be comprised of at least a majority of independent directors. At all other listed companies, SSGA expects boards to be comprised of at least one-third independent directors.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in Australian companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders; and

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

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When considering the election or re-election of a director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive and an executive may undertake as well as attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA monitors other factors that may influence the independence of a non-executive director, such as performance related pay, cross-directorships, significant shareholdings and tenure. SSGA supports the annual election of directors and encourages Australian companies to adopt this practice.

While SSGA is generally supportive of having the roles of chairman and CEO separated in the Australia market, SSGA assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to factors such as the company’s specific circumstances, overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. Similarly, SSGA will monitor for circumstances where a combined chairman/CEO is appointed or where a former CEO becomes chairman.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities when considering their suitability for reappointment. (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities)

SSGA believes companies should have committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Australian Corporate Governance Principles requires ASX listed companies to have an audit committee of at least three members all of whom are non-executive directors and a majority of whom are independent directors. It also requires that the committee be chaired by an independent director who is not the chair of the board. SSGA holds Australian companies to its global standards for developed financial markets, by requiring that all members of the audit committee be independent directors.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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. The nomination committee is responsible for evaluating and keeping under review the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the board and ensuring that adequate succession plans are in place for directors and the CEO. SSGA may vote against the re-election of members of the nomination committee if, over time, the board has failed to address concerns over board structure or succession.

Executive pay is another important aspect of corporate governance. SSGA believes that executive pay should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. Australian Corporate Governance Principles requires ASX listed companies to have a remuneration committee of at least three members all of whom are non-executive directors and a majority of whom are independent directors. Since Australia has a non-binding vote on pay with a two-strike rule requiring a board spill in the event of a second strike, SSGA believes that the vote provides investors a mechanism to address concerns it may have on the quality of oversight provided by the board on remuneration issues. Accordingly SSGA voting guidelines accommodate local market practice.

Indemnification and limitations on liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

 

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Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or to re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

Share Issuances

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholders’ ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seeks to issue new shares without pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share repurchase requests that allow share repurchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long-term financial health.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering the following:

 

    Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock;

 

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    Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

Anti-Takeover Measures

SSGA opposes anti-takeover defenses, such as authorities for the board, when subject to a hostile takeover, to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

There is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where there seems to be a misalignment between pay and shareholders’ interests and where incentive policies and schemes have a re-test option or feature. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure to review its approach.

Equity Incentive Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

Non-Executive Director Pay

Authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company-by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive

 

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advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

 

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In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6423 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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Table of Contents

March 2016

Managing Conflicts of Interest Arising From SSGA’S Proxy Voting and Engagement Activity

State Street Corporation has a comprehensive standalone Conflicts of Interest Policy and other policies that address a range of conflicts of interests identified by our parent company. In addition, SSGA maintains a conflicts register that identifies key conflicts and describes systems in place to mitigate the conflicts. This policy is designed to act in conjunction with related policies and practices employed by other groups within the organization. Further, they complement those policies and practices by providing specific guidance on managing the conflicts of interests that may arise through SSGA’s proxy voting activities.

 

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Table of Contents

Managing Conflicts of Interest Related to Proxy Voting

SSGA has policies and procedures designed to prevent undue influence on SSGA’s voting activities that may arise from relationships between proxy issuers or companies and State Street Corporation (“STT”) SSGA, SSGA affiliates, SSGA Funds or SSGA Fund affiliates.

Protocols designed to help mitigate potential conflicts of interest include:

 

    Providing sole voting discretion to members of SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team. Members of the corporate governance team may from time to time discuss views on proxy voting matters, company performance, strategy etc. with other STT or SSGA employees including portfolio managers, senior executives and relationship managers. However, final voting decisions are made solely by the corporate governance team, in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of all clients, taking into account various perspectives on risks and opportunities with a view of maximizing the value of client assets;

 

    Exercising a singular vote decision for each ballot item regardless of SSGA’s investment strategy;

 

    Prohibiting members of SSGA’s corporate governance team from disclosing SSGA’s voting decision to any individual not affiliated with the proxy voting process prior to the meeting or date of written consent, as the case may be;

 

    Mandatory disclosure by members of the SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team, Global Proxy Review Committee (“PRC”) and Investment Committee (“IC”) of any personal conflict of interest (e.g., familial relationship with company management, serves as a director on the board of a listed company) to the Head of the Corporate Governance Team. Members are required to recuse themselves from any engagement or proxy voting activities related to the conflict;

 

    In certain instances, client accounts and/or SSGA pooled funds, where SSGA acts as trustee, may hold shares in STT or other SSGA affiliated entities, such as mutual funds affiliated with SSGA Funds Management, Inc. In general, SSGA will outsource any voting decision relating to a shareholder meeting of STT or other SSGA affiliated entities to independent outside third parties. Delegated third parties exercise vote decisions based upon SSGA’s in-house policies; and

 

    Reporting of voting policy overrides, if any, to the PRC on a quarterly basis.

In general, we do not believe matters that fall within the Guidelines and are voted consistently with the Guidelines present any potential conflicts, since the vote on the matter has effectively been determined without reference to the soliciting entity. However, where matters do not fall within the Guidelines or where we believe that voting in accordance with the Guidelines is unwarranted, we conduct an additional review to determine whether there is a conflict of interest. In circumstances where a conflict has been identified and either: (i) the matter does not fall clearly within the Guidelines; or (ii) SSGA determines that voting in accordance with such policies or guidance is not in the best interests of its clients, the Head of SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team will determine whether a Material Relationship exists. If so, the matter is referred to the SSGA PRC. The SSGA PRC then reviews the matter and determines whether a conflict of interest exists, and if so, how to best resolve such conflict. For example, the SSGA PRC may (i) determine that the proxy vote does not give rise to a conflict due to the issues presented, (ii) refer the matter to the SSGA Investment Committee for further evaluation or (iii) retain an independent fiduciary to determine the appropriate vote.

 

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Table of Contents

ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6331 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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Table of Contents
Prospectus
October 31, 2016
SPDR® Series Trust    
SPDR S&P® Commercial Paper ETF (CPZ)
SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF ([ ])
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF ([ ])
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF ([ ])
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF ([ ])
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF ([ ])
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF ([ ])
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF (GCWB)
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF ([ ])
SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF ([ ])
SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF ([ ])
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
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.

 


 

Table of Contents
Fund Summaries  
SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF 1
SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF 5
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF 9
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF 13
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF 17
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF 21
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF 25
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF 29
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF 34
SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF 38
SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF 42
Additional Strategies Information 46
Additional Risk Information 47
Management 64
Index/Trademark Licenses/Disclaimers 67
Additional Purchase and Sale Information 69
Distribution and Service Plan 70
Distributions 70
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure 71
Additional Tax Information 71
General Information 75
Premium/Discount Information 75
Financial Highlights 75
Where to Learn More About the Funds Back Cover

 


 

Fund Summaries
SPDR® S&P Commercial Paper ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the 1-3 month sector of the United States commercial paper market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Commercial Paper Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
1

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
The Index is designed to measure the performance of the United States 1-3 month commercial paper market. The Index is broad based and constituents include commercial paper from all eligible issuers with program sizes greater than $2 billion and ranging from 1-3 months in maturity. Asset-backed issuers are not eligible. To be included in the Index, commercial paper must: (1) be priced by Interactive Data Corporation; (2) have a remaining maturity of between 31 and 91 days; and (3) have a current rating from at least one of Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service or Fitch, Inc. The Index is weighted on a tiered basis based on the maximum program size of the issuing entity; in other words, the larger an issuer's program size, the greater weight its commercial paper receives in the Index. Specifically, commercial paper of issuers with a maximum program size ranging from $5 billion to $15 billion will have twice the weight in the Index as that of issuers with a maximum program size ranging from $2 billion up to $5 billion. Commercial paper of issuers with a maximum program size of $15 billion and greater will have three times the weight in the Index as that of issuers with a maximum program size of $2 billion up to $5 billion. The Index rebalances monthly and is reconstituted semi-annually. As of [ ], there were approximately [ ] securities in the Index and the modified adjusted duration of securities in the Index was approximately [ ] years.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
2

 

Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Todd Bean, Sean Lussier and Jeff St. Peters.
3

 

Todd Bean, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the firm's Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2002.
Sean Lussier is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the firm's North America Cash Management Group. He joined the Adviser in 2004.
Jeff St. Peters is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Head of U.S. Cash Management within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 1999.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
4

 

SPDR® S&P Agency Bond ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the U.S. Agency bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P U.S. Agency Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index. The Fund is not a money market fund and does not seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
5

 

The Index is designed to measure the performance of publicly issued debt of U.S. Government agencies, quasi-federal corporations, and corporate debt guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies, such as the FDIC. To be included in Index, a security must meet the following requirements: (i) at least one year to final maturity; (ii) have a minimum amount outstanding of at least $250 million (to remain in the Index, a security must maintain a minimum amount outstanding of at least $125 million); (iii) be rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least one of the rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's, Inc. and Fitch Inc.); (iv) be fixed rate and non-convertible; (v) not been called; (vi) be denominated in U.S. dollars; (vii) be priced by Standard & Poor's Securities Evaluations (“SPSE”) (if pricing from SPSE is no longer available for a security included in the Index, the last available price will be used); and (viii) be publicly issued. The Index is market-value weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of [ ], there were approximately [ ] securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
6

 

growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
U.S. Government Securities Risk: Certain U.S. government securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury, are not supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and involve increased credit risks.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mahesh Jayakumar and Joanna Madden.
7

 

Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investment Team. He joined the Adviser in 2008.
Joanna Madden is a Vice President of the Adviser. She joined the Adviser in 2003.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
8

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the corporate sector of the U.S. investment bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
9

 

The Index is designed to measure the performance of publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures and secured notes. The Index includes only corporate sectors. The corporate sectors are Industrial, Utility, and Financial Institutions. The Index components are a subset, based on sector, of the issues in the [Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Credit Index] (the “Credit Index”). The Credit Index includes U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered, publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures, including global issues that are SEC-registered, and secured notes. To be included in the Credit Index, a security must meet the following requirements: (i) have at least one year to final maturity, regardless of call features; (ii) have at least $250 million par amount outstanding; (iii) be rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's, Inc. and Fitch Inc.); (iv) be fixed rate; (v) be denominated in U.S. dollars and non-convertible; and (vi) be publicly issued. The following instruments are excluded from the Credit Index (and therefore also excluded from the Index): private placements, floating rate securities, Eurobonds and structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last calendar day of each month. As of [ ], there were approximately [ ] securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
10

 

Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Patrick Bresnehan, [   ] and Kyle Kelly.
Patrick Bresnehan, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and the North America Head of Fixed Income Beta within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2007.
11

 

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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the corporate industrial sector of the U.S. investment bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Industrial Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
13

 

The Index is designed to measure the performance of the industrial sector of publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures and secured notes. The Index components are a subset, based on sector, of the issues in the [Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Credit Index] (the “Credit Index”). The Index only includes securities included in the industrial sector of the Credit Index. The Credit Index includes U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered, publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures, including global issues that are SEC-registered, and secured notes. To be included in the Credit Index, a security must meet the following requirements: (i) have at least one year to final maturity, regardless of call features; (ii) have at least $250 million par amount outstanding; (iii) be rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's, Inc. and Fitch Inc.); (iv) be fixed rate; (v) be denominated in U.S. dollars and non-convertible; and (vi) be publicly issued. The following instruments are excluded from the Credit Index (and therefore also excluded from the Index): private placements, floating rate securities, Eurobonds and structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last calendar day of each month. As of [ ], there were approximately [ ] securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Industrial Sector Risk: Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil
14

 

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, a 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 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
15

 

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 Patrick Bresnehan, [   ] and Kyle Kelly.
Patrick Bresnehan, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and the North America Head of Fixed Income Beta within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
16

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the corporate financial sector of the U.S. investment bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Financial Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
17

 

The Index is designed to measure the performance of the financial sector of publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures and secured notes. The Index components are a subset, based on sector, of the issues in the [Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Credit Index] (the “Credit Index”). The Index only includes securities included in the financial sector of the Credit Index. The Credit Index includes U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered, publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures, including global issues that are SEC-registered, and secured notes. To be included in the Credit Index, a security must meet the following requirements: (i) have at least one year to final maturity, regardless of call features; (ii) have at least $250 million par amount outstanding; (iii) be rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's, Inc. and Fitch Inc.); (iv) be fixed rate; (v) be denominated in U.S. dollars and non-convertible; and (vi) be publicly issued. The following instruments are excluded from the Credit Index (and therefore also excluded from the Index): private placements, floating rate securities, Eurobonds and structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last calendar day of each month. As of [ ], there were approximately [ ] securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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
18

 

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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
19

 

Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Patrick Bresnehan, [    ] and Kyle Kelly.
Patrick Bresnehan, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and the North America Head of Fixed Income Beta within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
20

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the corporate utilities sector of the U.S. investment bond market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Utilities Bond Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
21

 

The Index is designed to measure the performance of the utilities sector of publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures and secured notes. The Index components are a subset, based on sector, of the issues in the [Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Credit Index] (the “Credit Index”). The Index only includes securities included in the utilities sector of the Credit Index. The Credit Index includes U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered, publicly issued U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures, including global issues that are SEC-registered, and secured notes. To be included in the Credit Index, a security must meet the following requirements: (i) have at least one year to final maturity, regardless of call features; (ii) have at least $250 million par amount outstanding; (iii) be rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's, Inc. and Fitch Inc.); (iv) be fixed rate; (v) be denominated in U.S. dollars and non-convertible; and (vi) be publicly issued. The following instruments are excluded from the Credit Index (and therefore also excluded from the Index): private placements, floating rate securities, Eurobonds and structured notes with embedded swaps or other special features. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last calendar day of each month. As of [ ], there were approximately [ ] securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may limit
22

 

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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or
23

 

redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Patrick Bresnehan, [   ] and Kyle Kelly.
Patrick Bresnehan, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and the North America Head of Fixed Income Beta within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments 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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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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SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the ERISA-eligible sector of the U.S. dollar denominated investment grade commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS) market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ERISA-Eligible Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
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The Index is designed to measure the performance of the ERISA-eligible sector of the U.S. dollar denominated investment grade commercial mortgage backed securities market. The Index is part of the [Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index]. To be included in the Index, the following criteria must be met: (i) the original aggregate transaction must have a minimum deal size of $500 million and a minimum tranche size of $25 million, and the aggregate outstanding transaction size must be at least $300 million to remain in the Index; (ii) collateral for each transaction must be new origination and originated specifically for securitization; (iii) certificates must have an expected life of one year; (iv) certificates must be either fixed rate weighted average coupon (WAC) or capped WAC securities; and (v) the security must be ERISA-eligible. ERISA-eligible securities refer to those asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities that are covered by the various prohibited transaction exemptions granted by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), known as the “Underwriter Exemptions.” Additionally, securities must be rated investment grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the rating agencies (Moody's Investor Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's, Inc. and Fitch Inc.). Excluded from the Index are floating rate certificates and securities issued under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Index is market capitalization weighted and the securities in the Index are updated on the last business day of each month. As of [ ], there were approximately [ ] securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
26

 

Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to the risk of significant credit downgrades, illiquidity, and defaults to a greater extent than many other types of fixed-income investments. During periods of falling interest rates, mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be called or prepaid, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security's duration and interest rate sensitivity, and reduce the value of the security. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, and the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Marc DiCosimo and Michael Przygoda.
Marc DiCosimo, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined SSGA in 2013.
Michael Przygoda, CFA, is a Principal of SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team. He joined the Adviser in 2006.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
28

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks global convertible securities markets with outstanding issue sizes greater than $500 million.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Bond >$500MM Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, State Street Global Advisors Limited (“SSGA LTD” or the “Sub-Adviser”), the investment sub-adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index. Generally, SSGA FM is responsible for managing the U.S. assets and SSGA LTD is responsible for managing the ex-U.S. assets in the Fund's portfolio.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Sub-Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).  The Fund may also enter into forward currency exchange contracts for hedging and/or investment purposes.
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The Index is designed to represent the market of global convertible securities, such as convertible bonds, with outstanding issue sizes greater than $500 million. Convertible bonds are bonds that can be exchanged, at the option of the holder, for a specific number of shares of the issuer's preferred stock (“Preferred Securities”) or common stock.
The Index components are a subset of issues in the [Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Composite Index]. To be included in the Index a security must meet the following requirements: (i) have an outstanding issue size greater than $500 million; (ii) be a non-called, non-defaulted security; (iii) have at least 31 days until maturity; and (iv) be a registered or a convertible tranche issued under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Index is rebalanced on a monthly basis, at the end of each month. Countries covered in the Index have historically included, among others, Abu Dhabi, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States. As of [ ], there were approximately [ ] securities in the Index.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities may be subordinate to other debt securities issued by the same issuer. Issuers of convertible securities are often not as strong financially as issuers with higher credit ratings. Convertible securities typically provide yields lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Their values may be more volatile than those of non-convertible securities, reflecting changes in the values of the securities into which they are convertible.
Counterparty Risk: The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties with which the Fund enters into derivatives contracts, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and other transactions. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may be unable to terminate or realize any gain on the investment or transaction, or to recover collateral posted to the counterparty, resulting in a loss to the Fund. If the 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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may have significant volatility. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a much greater loss than the principal amount invested, and the Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price. The counterparty to a derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments, return the Fund's margin, or otherwise honor its obligations. A derivatives transaction may not behave in the manner anticipated by the Adviser or may not have the effect on the Fund anticipated by the Adviser.
Emerging Markets Risk: Risks of investing in emerging markets include, among others, greater political and economic instability, greater volatility in currency exchange rates, less developed securities markets, possible trade barriers, currency transfer restrictions, a more limited number of potential buyers and issuers, an emerging
30

 

market country's dependence on revenue from particular commodities or international aid, less governmental supervision and regulation, unavailability of currency hedging techniques, differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, and less developed legal systems. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as expropriation, nationalization, embargo, and acts of war. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. These risks are generally greater for investments in frontier market countries, which typically have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk: Non-U.S. securities are subject to political, regulatory, and economic risks not present in domestic investments. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, legal and financial report standards comparable to those in the United States. Further, such entities and/or their securities may be subject to risks associated with currency controls; expropriation; changes in tax policy; greater market volatility; differing securities market structures; higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment of dividends. Securities traded on foreign markets may be less liquid (harder to sell) than securities traded domestically. Foreign governments may impose restrictions on the repatriation of capital to the U.S. In addition, when the Fund buys securities denominated in a foreign currency, there are special risks such as changes in currency exchange rates and the risk that a foreign government could regulate foreign exchange transactions. In addition, to the extent investments are made in a limited number of countries, events in those countries will have a more significant impact on the Fund.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a
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portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Preferred Securities Risk: Generally, Preferred Security holders have no or limited voting rights with respect to the issuing company. In addition, Preferred Securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Dividend payments on a Preferred Security typically must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. In the event an issuer of Preferred Securities experiences economic difficulties, the issuer's Preferred Securities may lose substantial value due to the reduced likelihood that the issuer's board of directors will declare a dividend and the fact that the Preferred Security may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. Further, because many Preferred Securities pay dividends at a fixed rate, their market price can be sensitive to changes in interest rates in a manner similar to bonds — that is, as interest rates rise, the value of the Preferred Securities held by the Fund are likely to decline. In addition, because many Preferred Securities allow holders to convert the Preferred Securities into common stock of the issuer, their market price can be sensitive to changes in the value of the issuer's common stock and, therefore, declining common stock values may also cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline. Preferred securities often have call features which allow the issuer to redeem the security at its discretion. The redemption of a Preferred Security having a higher than average yield may cause a decrease in the Fund's yield.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. SSGA LTD serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Trust's Board of Trustees. To the extent that a reference in this Prospectus refers to the Adviser, with respect to the Fund, such reference should also be read to refer to SSGA LTD, where the context requires.
Portfolio Managers
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are [   ].
[To be provided by subsequent amendment]
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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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
33

 

SPDR® Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index designed to track the “breakeven” rate of inflation in the United States.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Breakeven Inflation Aggregate Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
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The “breakeven” rate of inflation is the level of inflation required for TIPS securities (defined below) to approximate the performance of U.S. Treasury securities with equivalent duration (i.e. a measurement of the market's expectation for future inflation). The Index is designed to provide a benchmark for investors seeking to track the “breakeven” rate of inflation in the United States by capturing the returns of simultaneous long positions in inflation protected public obligations of the U.S. Treasury, commonly known as “TIPS,” and short positions in corresponding nominal comparable U.S. Treasury bonds. The Index represents a composite breakeven inflation position by taking long positions in all the prevailing most recently issued bonds spanning the entire term structure of the TIPS market and short positions in their respective nominal comparator U.S. Treasury bonds. However, the short positions are scaled appropriately to minimize exposure to real yields, while capturing the inflation linked return. The Index also includes a return on cash lent to facilitate the short transactions. The Index is rebalanced monthly. As of [ ], the Index comprised [ ] securities.
The Index is sponsored by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Inflation Outlook Risk: The Index is comprised of long positions in TIPS and short positions in U.S. Treasury securities in order to produce a measure of the market's expectation for future inflation. The breakeven rate of inflation represents a measure of the market's expectations for inflation over the relevant period. The Index is not designed to measure or predict the realized rate of inflation, nor does it seek to replicate the returns of any price index or measure of actual consumer price levels. Returns on inflation expectations are based on the TIPS and U.S. Treasury markets, interest rate and inflation expectations, and fiscal and monetary policy. There is no guarantee that these factors will combine to produce increases in the Index over time, or that the Index or the Fund will retain any appreciation in value over extended periods of time, or that the returns of the Index or the Fund will track or outpace the realized rate of inflation, or any price index or measure of actual consumer price levels. It is possible that the returns of the Index or the Fund will not correlate to (or may be the opposite of) the
35

 

change in the realized rate of inflation, or any price index, or measure of actual consumer price levels. As a result, an investment in the Fund may not serve as an effective hedge against inflation.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Short Sale Risk: Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own. To complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be higher or lower than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. If the underlying security goes down in price between the time the Fund sells the security and buys it back, the Fund will realize a gain on the transaction. Conversely, if the underlying security goes up in price during the period, the Fund will realize a loss on the transaction. Any such loss is increased by the amount of premium or interest the Fund must pay to the lender of the security. Likewise, any gain will be decreased by the amount of premium or interest the Fund must pay to the lender of the security.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
36

 

Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Patrick Bresnehan and [   ].
Patrick Bresnehan, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Adviser and the North America Head of Fixed Income Beta within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2010.
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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
37

 

SPDR® S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Commercial Paper Ex-Financials ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index that tracks the 1-3 month sector of the U.S. non-financial commercial paper market.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's portfolio turnover rate has been omitted because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P U.S. Commercial Paper Non-Financials Index  (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
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The Index is designed to measure the performance of the U.S. commercial paper market, excluding the financial sector. The Index consists of commercial paper from the non-financial sector with remaining maturities greater than or equal to one month and less than three months. Index constituents include commercial paper from all eligible issuers with program sizes greater than $2 billion. The Index is weighted on a tiered basis based on the maximum program size of the issuing entity; in other words, the larger an issuer's program size, the greater weight its commercial paper receives in the Index. Specifically, commercial paper of issuers with a maximum program size ranging from $5 billion to $15 billion will have twice the weight in the Index as that of issuers with a maximum program size ranging from $2 billion up to $5 billion. Commercial paper of issuers with a maximum program size of $15 billion and greater will have three times the weight in the Index as that of issuers with a maximum program size of $2 billion up to $5 billion. The Index rebalances monthly and is reconstituted semi-annually. As of [ ], the Index comprised [ ] securities.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Debt Securities Risk: The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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.  The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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.
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.
Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Liquidity Risk: Lack of a ready market 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 securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. Illiquidity of the Fund's holdings may 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 securities 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.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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
39

 

growth or recession, changes in interest rates, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Valuation Risk: Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of the Fund's investment portfolio, 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. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if the Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Todd Bean, Sean Lussier and Jeff St. Peters.
Todd Bean, CFA, is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the firm's Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 2002.
Sean Lussier is a Vice President of the Adviser and a Portfolio Manager in the firm's North America Cash Management Group. He joined the Adviser in 2004.
Jeff St. Peters is a Managing Director of the Adviser and Head of U.S. Cash Management within the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the Adviser in 1999.
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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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
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 such 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.
41

 

SPDR® S&P Food & Beverage ETF
Investment Objective
The SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of an index derived from the food and beverage segment of a U.S. total market composite index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Fund Shares”). This table and the Example below reflect the expenses of the Fund and do not reflect brokerage commissions you may pay on purchases and sales of Fund Shares.
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 [0.00]%
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 mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, and then sell 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's Principal Investment Strategy
In seeking to track the performance of the S&P Food & Beverage Select Industry Index (the “Index”), the Fund employs a sampling strategy, which means that the Fund is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Index. Instead, the Fund may purchase a subset of the securities in the Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Index. The quantity of holdings in the Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. Based on its analysis of these factors, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, may invest the Fund's assets in a subset of securities in the Index or may invest the Fund's assets in substantially all of the securities represented in the Index in approximately the same proportions as the Index.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in securities that the Adviser determines have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in debt securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser).
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The Index represents the food and beverage industry group of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”). The Index is one of twenty-one (21) of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices”), each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries determined based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). Membership in the Select Industry Indices is based on the GICS classification, as well as liquidity and market cap requirements. Companies in the Select Industry Indices are classified according to GICS which determines classifications primarily based on revenues; however, earnings and market perception are also considered. The Index consists of the S&P TMI constituents belonging to the particular GICS sub-industry or group of sub-industries that satisfy the following criteria: (i) have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $500 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (defined by dollar value traded over the previous 12 months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the index rebalancing reference date) above 90% or have a float-adjusted market capitalization above $400 million with a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (as defined above) above 150%; and (ii) are U.S. based companies. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. If there are fewer than 35 stocks, stocks from a supplementary list of highly correlated sub-industries that meet the market capitalization and liquidity thresholds are included in order of their float-adjusted market capitalization. The market capitalization threshold may be relaxed to ensure that there are at least 22 stocks in the Index as of the rebalancing effective date. Existing Index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below $300 million or their float-adjusted liquidity ratio falls below 50%. The market capitalization threshold and the liquidity threshold are each reviewed from time to time based on market conditions. Rebalancing occurs on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The S&P TMI tracks all eligible U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Select Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, Bats BZX, Bats BYX, Bats EDGA, or Bats EDGX exchanges. The Index is a modified equal weighted market cap index. As of August 31, 2016, the Index comprised 62 stocks.
The Index is sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”), which is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition of the Index, relative weightings of the securities in the Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Index.
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.
Concentration Risk: When the Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not done so.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk: Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies' performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal product companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and global economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.
Equity Investing Risk: The market prices of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer and also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Food and Beverage Sector Risk: The food and beverage industry is highly competitive and can be significantly affected by demographic and product trends, competitive pricing, food fads, marketing campaigns, environmental factors, government regulation, consumer preferences, nutritional and health concerns, federal, state and local food inspection and processing controls, consumer product liability claims, possible product tampering and the availability/expense of liability insurance. There are also risks associated with changing market prices as a result of, among other things, change in government support and trading policies, and agricultural conditions influencing the growth and harvest seasons.
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Index Tracking Risk: While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), the Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, the Fund may not be fully invested at times, generally as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. The Adviser may attempt to replicate the Index return by investing in fewer than all of the securities in the Index, or in some securities not included in the Index, potentially increasing the risk of divergence between the Fund's return and that of the Index.
Market Risk: The Fund's investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, and 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, 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.
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.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk: The Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities, regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. As a result, the Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of the Fund.
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 as ordinary income.
Retail Companies Risk: Retail companies can be significantly affected by the performance of the domestic and international economy, consumer confidence and spending, intense competition, changes in demographics, and changing consumer tastes and preferences.
Fund Performance
The Fund had not yet 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: https://www.spdrs.com.
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 Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He worked at the Adviser from 1998 to 2006 and rejoined in 2010.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1988.
Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of the Adviser. He joined the Adviser in 1996.
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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 100,000 Fund Shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are typically conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a designated portfolio of in-kind securities and/or cash constituting a substantial replication, or a representation, of the securities included in the Fund's benchmark Index.
Individual Fund Shares may only be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc., 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).
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are expected to be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend 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 such 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
General. Please see each Fund's “The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy” section under “Fund Summaries” above for a complete discussion of each Fund's principal investment strategies. A Fund may invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment techniques which are not the principal focus of the Fund 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).
The Adviser seeks to track the performance of a Fund's Index as closely as possible (i.e., obtain a high degree of correlation with the Index). A number of factors may affect a Fund's ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with its Index, and there can be no guarantee that a Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation.
The Adviser will utilize a sampling strategy in managing the Funds. Sampling means that the Adviser uses quantitative analysis to select securities, including securities in the Index, outside of the Index and derivatives that have a similar investment profile as the relevant Index in terms of key risk factors, performance attributes and other economic characteristics. These include industry weightings, market capitalization, and other financial characteristics of securities. The quantity of holdings in a Fund will be based on a number of factors, including asset size of the Fund. In addition, from time to time, securities are added to or removed from each Index. The Adviser may sell securities that are represented in an Index, or purchase securities that are not yet represented in an Index, in anticipation of their removal from or addition to an Index. Further, the Adviser may choose to overweight securities in an Index, purchase or sell securities not in an Index, or utilize various combinations of other available techniques, in seeking to track an Index.
Certain of the Funds, as described in the SAI, have adopted a non-fundamental investment policy to invest at least 80% of their respective net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in investments suggested by their respective names, measured at the time of investment. A Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days' notice prior to any change in this 80% investment policy. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) may change a Fund's investment strategy, Index and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or in the SAI. The Board may also change a Fund's investment objective without shareholder approval.
Non-Principal Strategies
Certain Other Investments. Each Fund may invest in structured notes (notes on which the amount of principal repayment and interest payments are based on the movement of one or more specified factors such as the movement of a particular security or index), swaps, options and futures contracts. Swaps, options and futures contracts and structured notes may be used by a Fund in seeking performance that corresponds to its Index and in managing cash flows.
Temporary Defensive Positions. In certain situations or market conditions, a Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies, provided that the alternative is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is in the best interest of the Fund. For example, a Fund may make larger than normal investments in derivatives to maintain exposure to its Index if it is unable to invest directly in a component security.
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. Certain Funds may also invest in reverse repurchase agreements, which are considered borrowings under the 1940 Act. Although 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), and there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, under normal circumstances any borrowings by a Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets.
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Lending of Securities. Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not to exceed one-quarter (25%) of the value of its total assets via a securities lending program through its securities lending agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), 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 102% of the market value of that security, marked to market each trading day. 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 additional information regarding certain of 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 unless otherwise noted.
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Principal Risks
The table below identifies the principal risks of investing in each Fund. To the extent not mentioned in a Fund's “The Fund's Principal Investment Strategy” section, a Fund may still have some exposure to the following risks through certain other investments.
Fund Name SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF
Call/Prepayment Risk x x x x x x
Concentration Risk       x x x
Consumer Staples Risk            
Convertible Securities Risk            
Counterparty Risk            
Credit Risk x x x x x x
Currency Risk            
Debt Securities Risk x x x x x x
Derivatives Risk            
Emerging Markets Risk            
Equity Investing Risk            
Extension Risk x x x x x x
Financial Sector Risk         x  
Food and Beverage Sector Risk            
Income Risk x x x x x x
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk       x    
Inflation Outlook Risk            
Interest Rate Risk x x x x x x
Leveraging Risk            
Liquidity Risk x x x x x x
Market Risk x x x x x x
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk            
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk            
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Fund Name SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x x
Portfolio Turnover Risk x x x x x x
Preferred Securities Risk            
Reinvestment Risk x x x x x x
Retail Sector Risk            
Settlement Risk            
Short Sale Risk            
U.S. Government Securities Risk   x        
Utilities Sector Risk           x
Valuation Risk x x x x x x
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Fund Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF
Call/Prepayment Risk x x x x  
Concentration Risk         x
Consumer Staples Risk         x
Convertible Securities Risk   x      
Counterparty Risk   x      
Credit Risk x x x x  
Currency Risk   x      
Debt Securities Risk x x x x  
Derivatives Risk   x      
Emerging Markets Risk   x      
Equity Investing Risk         x
Extension Risk x x x x  
Financial Sector Risk          
Food and Beverage Sector Risk         x
Income Risk x x x x  
Index Tracking Risk x x x x x
Industrial Sector Risk          
Inflation Outlook Risk     x    
Interest Rate Risk x   x x  
Leveraging Risk   x      
Liquidity Risk x x x x  
Market Risk x x x x x
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk x        
Non-Diversification Risk x x x x x
Non-U.S. Securities Risk   x      
Passive Strategy/Index Risk x x x x x
Portfolio Turnover Risk x x x x x
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Fund Name SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF
Preferred Securities Risk   x      
Reinvestment Risk x x x x  
Retail Sector Risk         x
Settlement Risk   x      
Short Sale Risk     x    
U.S. Government Securities Risk          
Utilities Sector Risk          
Valuation Risk x x x x  
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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.
Concentration Risk. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk. Consumer staples companies are subject to government regulation affecting their products which may negatively impact such companies' performance. For instance, government regulations may affect the permissibility of using various food additives and production methods of companies that make food products, which could affect company profitability. Tobacco companies may be adversely affected by the adoption of proposed legislation and/or by litigation. Also, the success of food, beverage, household and personal products companies may be strongly affected by consumer interest, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting supply and demand, including performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence and spending.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer, depending on the terms of the securities) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. Convertible securities may be subordinate to other debt securities issued by the same issuer. Issuers of convertible securities are often not as strong financially as issuers with higher credit ratings. Convertible securities typically provide yields lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Their values may be more volatile than those of non-convertible securities, reflecting changes in the values of the securities into which they are convertible.
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. Contractual provisions and applicable law may prevent or delay a Fund from exercising its rights to terminate an investment or transaction with a financial institution experiencing financial difficulties, or to realize on collateral, and another institution may be substituted for that financial institution without the consent of a Fund. If the credit rating of a derivatives counterparty declines, a Fund may nonetheless choose or be required to keep existing transactions in place with the counterparty, in which event the Fund would be subject to any increased credit risk associated with those transactions.
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.
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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.
Currency Risk. Investments in issuers in different countries are often denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Changes in the values of those currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may have a positive or negative effect on the values of a Fund's investments denominated in those currencies. The values of other currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may fluctuate in response to, among other factors, interest rate changes, intervention (or failure to intervene) by national governments, central banks, or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, the imposition of currency controls, and other political or regulatory developments. Currency values can decrease significantly both in the short term and over the long term in response to these and other developments. Continuing uncertainty as to the status of the Euro and the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (the “EMU”) has created significant volatility in currency and financial markets generally. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU, or any continued uncertainty as to its status, could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of a Fund's portfolio investments.
Debt Securities Risk. The values of debt securities may increase or decrease as a result of the following: market fluctuations, increases 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; the risk of low rates of return due to reinvestment of securities during periods of falling interest rates or repayment by issuers with higher coupon or interest rates; and/or the risk of low income due to falling interest rates. 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. The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. 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. 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. 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.
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.
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Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in emerging markets are generally subject to a greater risk of loss than investments in developed markets. This may be due to, among other things, the possibility of greater market volatility, lower trading volume and liquidity, greater risk of expropriation, nationalization, and social, political and economic instability, greater reliance on a few industries, international trade or revenue from particular commodities, less developed accounting, legal and regulatory systems, higher levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, greater risk of market shut down, and more significant governmental limitations on investment policy as compared to those typically found in a developed market. In addition, issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may have less financial stability than in other countries. The securities of emerging market companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than more widely held securities. Market disruptions or substantial market corrections may limit very significantly the liquidity of securities of certain companies in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. A Fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the Fund's obligations. There is also the potential for unfavorable action such as embargo and acts of war. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk of price volatility in investments in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar. Settlement and asset custody practices for transactions in emerging markets may differ from those in developed markets. Such differences may include possible delays in settlement and certain settlement practices, such as delivery of securities prior to receipt of payment, which increase the likelihood of a “failed settlement.” Failed settlements can result in losses. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Equity Investing Risk. The market prices of equity securities owned by a Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that may directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services. The values of equity securities also may decline due to general industry or market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
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.
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.
Food and Beverage Sector Risk. The food and beverage industry is highly competitive and can be significantly affected by demographic and product trends, competitive pricing, food fads, marketing campaigns, environmental factors, government regulation, consumer preferences, nutritional and health concerns, federal, state and local food inspection
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and processing controls, consumer product liability claims, possible product tampering and the availability/expense of liability insurance. There are also risks associated with changing market prices as a result of, among other things, change in government support and trading policies, and agricultural conditions influencing the growth and harvest seasons.
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.
Index Tracking Risk. While the Adviser seeks to track the performance of the Index (i.e., achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index), a Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, the return on the sample of securities purchased by a Fund (or the return on securities not included in the Index) to replicate the performance of the Index may not correlate precisely with the return of the Index. Each Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities. In addition, a Fund may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into or out of the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions. Changes in the composition of the Index and regulatory requirements also may impact a Fund's ability to match the return of the Index. The Adviser may apply one or more “screens” or investment techniques to refine or limit the number or types of issuers included in the Index in which a Fund may invest. Application of such screens or techniques may result in investment performance below that of the Index and may not produce results expected by the Adviser. Index tracking risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
Industrial Sector Risk. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products 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, a 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.
Inflation Outlook Risk. The Index is comprised of long positions in TIPS and short positions in U.S. Treasury securities in order to produce a measure of the market's expectation for future inflation. The breakeven rate of inflation represents a measure of the market's expectations for inflation over the relevant period. The Index is not designed to measure or predict the realized rate of inflation, nor does it seek to replicate the returns of any price index or measure of actual consumer price levels. Returns on inflation expectations are based on the TIPS and U.S. Treasury markets, interest rate and inflation expectations, and fiscal and monetary policy. There is no guarantee that these factors will combine to produce increases in the Index over time, or that the Index or the Fund will retain any appreciation in value over extended periods of time, or that the returns of the Index or the Fund will track or outpace the realized rate of inflation, or any price index or measure of actual consumer price levels. It is possible that the returns of the Index or the Fund will not correlate to (or may be the opposite of) the change in the realized rate of inflation, or any price index, or measure of actual consumer price levels. As a result, an investment in the Fund may not serve as an effective hedge against inflation.
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. 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
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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. The U.S. is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. However, economic recovery and the tapering of the Federal Reserve Board's quantitative easing program increase the likelihood that interest rates will rise in the future. Changes in governmental policy, including changes in central bank monetary policy, could cause interest rates to rise rapidly, or cause investors to expect a rapid rise in 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.
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 segregation or coverage requirements.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions 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 securities 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 securities 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. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity a Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
Market Risk. Market prices of investments held by a Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Each 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, 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.
Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Investments in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to the risk of significant credit downgrades, illiquidity, and defaults to a greater extent than many other types of fixed income investments. Mortgage-related securities represent a participation in, or are secured by, mortgage loans. Other asset-backed securities are typically structured like mortgage-related securities, but instead of mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets may include, for example, items such as motor vehicle installment sales or installment loan contracts, leases on various types of real and personal property, and receivables from credit card agreements. During periods of falling interest rates, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which typically provide the issuer with the right to prepay the security prior to maturity, may be prepaid, which may result in a Fund having to reinvest the proceeds in other investments at lower interest rates. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may extend because of slower-than expected principal payments. This may lock in a below market interest rate, increase the security's duration and interest rate sensitivity, and reduce the value of the security. As a result, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other debt securities of comparable maturities, although they may have a similar risk of decline in market
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values during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayment rates are difficult to predict and the potential impact of prepayments on the value of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security depends on the terms of the instrument and can result in significant volatility. The price of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security also depends on the credit quality and adequacy of the underlying assets or collateral. Defaults on the underlying assets, if any, may impair the value of a mortgage-related or other asset-backed security. For some asset-backed securities in which a Fund invests, such as those backed by credit card receivables, the underlying cash flows may not be supported by a security interest in a related asset. Moreover, the values of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset pools, 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 situations, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of securities holders in and to the underlying collateral. There may be legal and practical limitations on the enforceability of any security interest granted with respect to underlying assets, or the value of the underlying assets, if any, may be insufficient if the issuer defaults.
In a “forward roll” transaction, a Fund will sell a mortgage-related security to a bank or other permitted entity and simultaneously agree to purchase a similar security from the institution at a later date at an agreed upon price. The mortgage securities that are purchased will bear the same interest rate as those sold, but generally will be collateralized by different pools of mortgages with different prepayment histories than those sold. The values of such transactions will be affected by many of the same factors that affect the values of mortgage-related securities generally. In addition, forward roll transactions may have the effect of creating investment leverage in a Fund.
Non-Diversification Risk. As a “non-diversified” fund, each 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.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers entail risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Similar risks may apply to securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange that are issued by entities with significant exposure to non-U.S. countries. In certain countries, legal remedies available to investors may be more limited than those available with regard to U.S. investments. Because non-U.S. securities are normally denominated and traded in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the value of the Fund's assets to the extent they are non-U.S. dollar denominated may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currencies. Income and gains with respect to investments in certain countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. entity than about a U.S. entity, and many non-U.S. entities are not subject to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, regulatory framework and practices comparable to those in the United States. The securities of some non-U.S. entities are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. entities, and could become subject to sanctions or embargoes that adversely affect a Fund's investment. Non-U.S. transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions and custody costs may be higher than in the U.S. In addition, there may be a possibility of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls, confiscatory taxation, and diplomatic developments that could adversely affect the values of a Fund's investments in certain non-U.S. countries. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers also are subject to foreign political and economic risk not associated with U.S. investments, meaning that political events (civil unrest, national elections, changes in political conditions and foreign relations, imposition of exchange controls and repatriation restrictions), social and economic events (labor strikes, rising inflation) and natural disasters occurring in a country where a Fund invests could cause the Fund's investments in that country to experience gains or losses.
Passive Strategy/Index Risk. Each Fund is managed with a passive investment strategy, attempting to track the performance of an unmanaged index of securities. Each Fund will seek to replicate Index returns regardless of the current or projected performance of the Index or of the actual securities comprising the Index. This differs from an actively-managed fund, which typically seeks to outperform a benchmark index. Each Fund generally will buy and will not sell a security included in the Index as long as the security is part of the Index regardless of any sudden or material decline in value or foreseeable material decline in value of the security, even though the Adviser may make a different investment decision for other actively managed accounts or portfolios that hold the security. As a result, a
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Fund's performance may be less favorable than that of a portfolio managed using an active investment strategy. The structure and composition of the Index will affect the performance, volatility, and risk of the Index (in absolute terms and by comparison with other indices) and, consequently, the performance, volatility, and risk of a Fund.
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.
Preferred Securities Risk. Generally, preferred security holders have no or limited voting rights with respect to the issuing company. In addition, preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Unlike debt securities, dividend payments on a preferred security typically must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. An issuer's board of directors is generally not under any obligation to pay a dividend (even if such dividends have accrued), and may suspend payment of dividends on preferred securities at any time. Therefore, in the event an issuer of preferred securities experiences economic difficulties, the issuer's preferred securities may lose substantial value due to the reduced likelihood that the issuer's board of directors will declare a dividend and the fact that the preferred security may be subordinated to other securities of the same issuer. Further, because many preferred securities pay dividends at a fixed rate, their market price can be sensitive to changes in interest rates in a manner similar to bonds -- that is, as interest rates rise, the value of the preferred securities held by a Fund are likely to decline. Therefore, to the extent that a Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in fixed rate preferred securities, rising interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline significantly. In addition, because many preferred securities allow holders to convert the preferred securities into common stock of the issuer, their market price can be sensitive to changes in the value of the issuer's common stock and, therefore, declining common stock values may also cause the value of a Fund's investments to decline. Preferred securities often have call features which allow the issuer to redeem the security at its discretion. The redemption of a preferred security having a higher than average yield may cause a decrease in a Fund's yield.
Reinvestment Risk. Income from a Fund's portfolio 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.
Retail Companies Risk. Retail companies can be significantly affected by the performance of the domestic and international economy, consumer confidence and spending, intense competition, changes in demographics, and changing consumer tastes and preferences.
Settlement Risk. Markets in different countries have different clearance and settlement procedures and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of transactions. Delays in settlement may increase credit risk to a Fund, limit the ability of a Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a sale of securities, hinder the ability of a Fund to lend its portfolio securities, and potentially subject a Fund to penalties for its failure to deliver to on-purchasers of securities whose delivery to a Fund was delayed. Delays in the settlement of securities purchased by a Fund may limit the ability of a Fund to sell those securities at times and prices it considers desirable, and may subject a Fund to losses and costs due to its own inability to settle with subsequent purchasers of the securities from it. A Fund may be required to borrow monies it had otherwise expected to receive in connection with the settlement of securities sold by it, in order to meet its obligations to others. Limits on the ability of a Fund to purchase or sell securities due to settlement delays could increase any variance between a Fund's performance and that of its benchmark index.
Short Sales Risk. The Funds may engage in “short sale” transactions. A short sale involves the sale by a Fund of an instrument or security that it does not own with the hope of purchasing the same security at a later date at a lower price. Short sales are designed to profit from a decline in the price of a security or instrument. A Fund will lose value if
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the security or instrument that is the subject of a short sale increases in value. This is the opposite of traditional “long” investments where the value of a Fund increases as the value of a portfolio security or instrument increases. The Funds also may enter into a short derivative position through a futures contract, swap agreement, structured note, or short positions on currency forwards.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. U.S. government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds and mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury nor supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. There is no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so. In addition, certain governmental entities have been subject to regulatory scrutiny regarding their accounting policies and practices and other concerns that may result in legislation, changes in regulatory oversight and/or other consequences that could adversely affect the credit quality, availability, or investment character of securities issued by these entities. The value and liquidity of U.S. government securities may be affected adversely by changes in the ratings of those securities. Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury historically have been considered to present minimal credit risk. The downgrade in the long-term U.S. credit rating by at least one major rating agency has introduced greater uncertainty about the ability of the U.S. to repay its obligations. A further credit rating downgrade or a U.S. credit default could decrease the value and increase the volatility of a Fund's investments.
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 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 debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, 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. Some portfolio holdings, potentially a large portion of a Fund's investment portfolio, 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 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
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established by a Fund at that time. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund Shares on days when a Fund is holding fair-valued investments may receive fewer or more shares or lower or higher redemption proceeds than they would have received if a Fund had not fair-valued the holding(s) or had used a different valuation methodology.
Non-Principal Risks
Each risk discussed below is a non-principal risk of a Fund to the extent it is not identified as a principal risk for such Fund in the preceding “ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION - PRINCIPAL RISKS” section.
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.
Concentration Risk. A Fund's assets will generally be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund's underlying Index concentrates in a particular industry or group of industries. When a Fund focuses its investments in a particular industry or sector, financial, economic, business, and other developments affecting issuers in that industry, market, or economic sector will have a greater effect on the Fund than if it had not focused its assets in that industry, market, or economic sector, which may increase the volatility of the Fund.
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.
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.
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 spread.” The bid/ask spread varies over time for Fund Shares based on trading volume and market liquidity, and is
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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.
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. Contractual provisions and applicable law may prevent or delay a Fund from exercising its rights to terminate an investment or transaction with a financial institution experiencing financial difficulties, or to realize on collateral, and another institution may be substituted for that financial institution without the consent of a Fund. If the credit rating of a derivatives counterparty declines, a Fund may nonetheless choose or be required to keep existing transactions in place with the counterparty, in which event the Fund would be subject to any increased credit risk associated with those transactions.
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. 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 sub-adviser, or a custodian, 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 and/or the Sub-Adviser have 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. 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. 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.
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
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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.
Fluctuation of Net Asset Value, Share Premiums and Discounts. The net asset value 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. 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 of an Index 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 (and Sub-Adviser, as applicable) believe 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.
Index Construction Risk. A security included in an Index may not exhibit the characteristic or provide the specific exposure for which it was selected and consequently a Fund's holdings may not exhibit returns consistent with that characteristic or exposure.
Index Licensing Risk. It is possible that the license under which the Adviser or a Fund is permitted to replicate or otherwise use the Index will be terminated or may be disputed, impaired or cease to remain in effect. In such a case, the Adviser may be required to replace the Index with another index which it considers to be appropriate in light of the investment strategy of a Fund. The use of any such substitute index may have an adverse impact on a Fund's performance. In the event that the Adviser is unable to identify a suitable replacement for the relevant Index, it may determine to terminate a Fund.
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 segregation or coverage requirements.
Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may not be able to dispose of securities or close out derivatives transactions 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 securities 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 securities accurately. The market for certain investments may become illiquid
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under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities. 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. In some cases, due to unanticipated levels of illiquidity a Fund may choose to meet its redemption obligations wholly or in part by distributions of assets in-kind.
Money Market 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 seeks 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 increase 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 share is more or less than $1.00. None of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), SSGA FM or their affiliates (“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 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 or to impose limitations on redemptions during periods of high illiquidity in the markets for the investments held by it.
Securities Lending Risk. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value of up to 25% of its total assets. For these purposes, total assets shall include the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan. Such loans may be terminated at any time, and a Fund will receive cash or other obligations as collateral. Any such loans must be continuously secured by collateral in cash or cash equivalents maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by a Fund. In a loan transaction, as compensation for lending its securities, a Fund will receive a portion of the dividends or interest accrued on the securities held as collateral or, in the case of cash collateral, a portion of the income from the investment of such cash. In addition, 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. 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 acquired with cash collateral. A Fund will attempt to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to high quality instruments of short maturity.
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. 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.
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Management
Investment Adviser
SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser to each Fund and, subject to the supervision 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 the Funds' assets. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser and certain other affiliates of State Street Corporation make up SSGA. SSGA is one of the world's largest institutional money managers and the investment management arm of State Street Corporation. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets and SSGA managed approximately $2.30 trillion in assets. The Adviser's principal business address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
For the services provided to each Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement, each Fund expects to pay the Adviser the annual fee based on a percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets as set forth below:
SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF [ ]%
SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF

[ ]%
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF

[ ]%
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF

[ ]%
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF

[ ]%
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF

[ ]%
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF

[ ]%
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF

[ ]%
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF

[ ]%
SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF

[ ]%
SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF

[ ]%
From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee, although it does not currently intend to do so. The Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, distribution fee pursuant to each Fund's Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee's counsel fees), litigation expenses, acquired fund fees and 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 SPDR Series Trust (the “Trust”) have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, with the approval of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, to retain and amend existing sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated investment sub-advisers for the Funds 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 sub-adviser retained pursuant to the order.
Investment Sub-Advisers. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the Funds and the Adviser, the Adviser is authorized to engage one or more sub-advisers for the performance of any of the services contemplated to be rendered by the Adviser. The Adviser has retained SSGA LTD, as sub-adviser, to be responsible for the day to day management of the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF's investments, subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Board. The Adviser will provide administrative, compliance and general management services to the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF. SSGA LTD has been operating since 1990 with experience in managing indexed fixed income portfolios. As of June 30, 2016, SSGA LTD managed approximately $297.2 billion in assets. SSGA LTD's principal business address is 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom E14 5HJ.
In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and SSGA LTD, the Adviser pays SSGA LTD 40% of the advisory fee paid by the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF to the Adviser (after deducting payments to the fund service providers and fund expenses). The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF is not responsible for the fees paid to SSGA LTD.
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A summary of the factors considered by the Board of Trustees in connection with the initial approval of the investment advisory agreement for the Funds will be available in the Funds' annual report or semi-annual report, as applicable, after each Fund commences operations.
Portfolio Managers.
The Adviser and Sub-Adviser manage 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 each 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 SSGA. Each portfolio management team is overseen by the SSGA Investment Committee.
The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund are:
Portfolio Managers Fund
Todd Bean, Sean Lussier and Jeff St. Peters

SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETFSPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF
Mahesh Jayakumar and Joanna Madden

SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF
Patrick Bresnehan, [ ] and Kyle Kelly

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETFSPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETFSPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETFSPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF
Marc DiCosimo and Michael Przygoda

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF
[ ]

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF
Patrick Bresnehan and [ ]

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF
Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider

SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF
Todd Bean, CFA, is a Vice President of SSGA and SSGA FM and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the firm's U.S. Cash Management Group. He began his career at State Street Corporation in 1999, joining the firm as an analyst in the firm's custody and settlements area. Following a period on the money markets operations staff, Mr. Bean joined the Cash Management Group in 2004. He received Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Government from St. Lawrence University and an MS in Finance from Northeastern University. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute.
Patrick Bresnehan, CFA, is a Managing Director of SSGA and SSGA FM and the North America Head of Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group at SSGA. In his role, he oversees a team of portfolio managers providing clients with a broad range of fixed income index strategies including SPDR ETFs, institutional separate accounts and commingled funds. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. Bresnehan was a Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at PanAgora Asset Management and managed multi-asset class quantitative strategies within the firm's Macro-Strategies Group. Preceding this, he was a Senior Vice President at Fleet Investment Advisors where he was responsible for a team that managed investment-grade strategies for institutional clients. Mr. Bresnehan began his investment management career as a Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Scudder, Stevens and Clark Inc. Mr. Bresnehan received a BA in Economics from Norwich University and an MS in Finance from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. He also holds the FINRA Series 3 license.
Marc DiCosimo, CFA is a Vice President of SSGA and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments Team. He joined the firm in 2013 and is responsible for managing a broad range of fixed income strategies. Previously, Mr. DiCosimo worked at Wellington Management as a Fixed Income Portfolio Analyst on the Mortgage Backed Securities team. Mr. DiCosimo has 15 years of fixed income experience working at Loomis Sayles and Saxon Mortgage Capital. Mr. DiCosimo graduated from The University of Richmond with a degree in accounting. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and is a member of the CFA Institute and Boston Securities Analysts Society.
Mike Feehily, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Global Equity Beta Solutions in North America. He is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team and sits on the firm's North America Product Committee and Trade Management Oversight Committee. Mr. Feehily rejoined SSGA in 2010 after spending four years at State Street Global Markets LLC, where he helped to build the Global Exposure Solutions business. This group created and managed portfolios that were designed to meet the short-term market exposure needs of institutional clients. Prior to this, Mr. Feehily had been Head of the U.S. Passive Equity Team within SSGA. He joined State Street in 1992. Mr. Feehily received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Babson College in Finance, Investments, and Economics. He received an MBA in Finance from Bentley College and also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. Mr. Feehily is also a former member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board.
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Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM is a Vice President of the Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Investments team at SSGA and has been a member of the team since 2010. In this current role as a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions group, he is responsible for managing several funds and ETF's spanning diverse areas such as US Aggregate strategies, Global Treasuries/Inflation strategies, Government/Credit portfolios, Green bonds and custom or client directed mandates. Through his membership in the Corporate Responsibility Working Group at State Street and other ESG related activities, Mr. Jayakumar is active in the growth of Environmental Finance within the company. He has also held prior roles in State Street Global Markets where he spent time in the Investor Behavior Research Team (IBRT) at State Street Associates working on the research and development of quantitative market indicators. Mr. Jayakumar holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, MS in Computer Science from Boston University and BS in Information Systems from Purdue University. He is a member of the CFA Institute and Boston Security Analysts Society. He has also earned the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation and is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).
Kyle Kelly, CFA, FRM is a Vice President of SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions group where he primarily manages credit and aggregate bond strategies. Prior to joining the portfolio management team, he worked as an Investment Risk Management Analyst focused on SSGA's fixed income and multi-asset-class products. Mr. Kelly graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Communication and Economics. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and the Financial Risk Manager designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute, the Boston Securities Analyst Society, and the Global Association of Risk Professionals.
Sean Lussier is a Vice President of SSGA and SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the firm's North America Cash Management Group. He is responsible for managing several registered taxable and tax-exempt money market funds, as well as US and Canada domiciled separately managed cash and securities lending mandates. He has also been a member of the Global Fixed Income Beta Solutions Group and was responsible for the transition and management of several Canadian Passive Fixed Income strategies. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. Lussier worked as an Account Manager at State Street Bank &Trust where his primary responsibilities were the custody and accounting operations of the SSGA Money Market and Securities Lending Collateral accounts. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Joanna Madden is a Vice President of SSGA and SSGA FM and Portfolio Manager within the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team since 2013. Previously, Ms. Madden was a Portfolio Manager within the US Cash Management Group responsible for short term liquidity investments across all the cash and securities lending portfolios managed in Boston. She joined the Boston group in April 2010 after working as a Portfolio Manager with the London Cash Management Group. Prior to her portfolio management role, she was a Product Analyst for the London Cash Management Group where she provided analytical and business support. Before joining SSGA in London, Ms. Madden worked as an Operations Specialist supporting the Boston Cash Management Group. Ms. Madden received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago, Illinois.
Jeff St. Peters is a Managing Director of SSGA and SSGA FM and Head of U.S. Cash Management within the Global Cash Division. Mr. St. Peters manages a team of portfolio managers that focus on traditional money market and securities lending cash collateral funds. He is also a senior portfolio managers responsible for several securities lending, enhanced cash, offshore, and SSGA's registered money market portfolios for both retail and institutional clients. He has been managing short duration cash and securities lending portfolios at SSGA for over 12 years. Mr. St. Peters is a member of SSGA's Senior Leadership Team. Prior to joining SSGA, Mr. St. Peters was employed nearly nine years with Fidelity Investments, the latter years within the Fidelity Management and Research Company, where he worked as a trader within the Money Market area of the Fixed Income division. In addition, he held several positions within Fidelity's Investment Technology area, where he assisted in designing and implementing an internal proprietary trading system. Mr. St. Peters has over 22 years of investment experience. He holds a BS in Finance from Bentley College.
Michael Przygoda, CFA, is a Principal of SSGA FM and a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team, managing a variety of securitized and custom aggregate bond strategies. Prior to joining the Fixed Income Beta Solutions team, Mr. Przygoda worked as an MBS Trader and a Portfolio Analyst in the Government Solutions team and previously managed the Active Fixed Income Operations team. Mr. Przygoda received his BA in Finance from Stonehill College and his MS in Finance from Suffolk University. Mr. Przygoda has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of both the Boston Security Analysts' Society and the CFA Institute.
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Karl Schneider, CAIA, is a Vice President of SSGA and the Adviser and Head of U.S. Equity Strategies for the Global Equity Beta Solutions (GEBS) team, where in addition to overseeing the management of the U.S. equity index strategies, he also serves as a portfolio manager for a number of the group's passive equity portfolios. Previously within GEBS, he served as a portfolio manager and product specialist for synthetic beta strategies, including commodities, buy/write, and hedge fund replication. Prior to joining the GEBS team, Mr. Schneider worked as a portfolio manager in SSGA's Currency Management Group, managing both active currency selection and traditional passive hedging overlay portfolios. He joined State Street in 1996. Mr. Schneider holds a BS in Finance and Investments from Babson College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation and is a member of the CAIA Association.
John Tucker, CFA, is a Senior Managing Director of SSGA and the Adviser and Co-Head of Passive Equity Strategies in North America. Mr. Tucker is responsible for overseeing the management of all equity index strategies and Exchange Traded Funds managed in North America. He is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Previously, Mr. Tucker was head of the Structured Products Group in SSGA's London office, where he was responsible for the management of all index strategies in SSGA's second largest investment center. Mr. Tucker received a BA from Trinity College and an MS in Finance from Boston College. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and the CFA Institute. In addition, Mr. Tucker is a member of the Russell Index Client Advisory Board and the S&P U.S. Index Advisory Panel. He joined State Street in 1988.
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 Bank and Trust Company, 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 is 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 Markets, LLC (the “Distributor”), part of State Street Corporation, is the distributor of Fund Shares. 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.
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.
Index/Trademark Licenses/Disclaimers
The Index Providers are not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the Funds' Administrator, Sub-Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, Distributor, or any of their respective affiliates. The Adviser (“Licensee”) has entered into license agreements with the Index Providers pursuant to which the Adviser pays a fee to use their respective Indexes. The Adviser is sub-licensing rights to the Indexes to the Funds at no charge.
BARCLAYS INDEXES. The Adviser acknowledges and expressly agrees that the Barclays ETFs (“Products” or “ETFs”) are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Barclays (“Licensor”), and that Licensor makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the results to be obtained by any person or entity from the use of any Index, any opening, intra-day or closing value therefore, or any data included therein or relating thereto, in connection with the trading of any ETF based thereon or for any other purpose. Licensor's only relationship to the Licensee with respect to the Products is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of Licensor and the Licensor Indices that are
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determined, composed and calculated by Licensor without regard to Licensee or the Products. Licensor has no obligation to take the needs of Licensee or the owners of the Products into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Licensor Indices. Licensor is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance of the Products. Licensor has no obligation or liability in connection with the listing, trading, marketing or administration of the Products.
LICENSOR DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEXES, OR ANY OPENING, INTRA-DAY OR CLOSING VALUE THEREFOR, OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR RELATED THERETO. LICENSOR MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY OWNERS OF THE PRODUCTS OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEXES, ANY OPENING, INTRA-DAY OR CLOSING VALUE THEREFOR, ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR RELATING THERETO, OR ANY ETF BASED THEREON, IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIGHTS LICENSED HEREUNDER OR FOR ANY OTHER USE. LICENSOR MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEXES, ANY OPENING, INTRA-DAY OR CLOSING VALUE THEREFOR, ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR RELATING THERETO, OR ANY ETF BASED THEREON.
WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL LICENSOR HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES, CLAIMS, LOSSES (INCLUDING ANY INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSSES), EXPENSES OR DELAYS, WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT, FORESEEN OR UNFORESEEN, SUFFERED BY ANY PERSON ARISING OUT OF ANY CIRCUMSTANCE OR OCCURRENCE RELATING TO THE PERSON'S USE OF ANY INDEX, ANY OPENING, INTRA-DAY OR CLOSING VALUE THEREFOR, ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR RELATING THERETO, OR ANY ETF BASED THEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF ANY ERRORS OR DELAYS IN CALCULATING OR DISSEMINATING SUCH INDEXES.
BARCLAYS INFLATION-LINKED BOND INDEX DISCLAIMER. ©Barclays Bank 2004. All rights reserved. The SPDR Barclays TIPS ETF (“ETF”) is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Barclays, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”). Barclays or one of its affiliated entities may act as an Authorized Participant for the ETF and/or as an initial purchaser of Shares of the ETF. Barclays does not make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the ETF or the advisability of investing in securities generally. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by Barclays without regard to the Licensee or the ETF. Barclays has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the ETF into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. Barclays has no obligation or liability in connection with administration, marketing or trading of the ETF.
BARCLAYS SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY TO LICENSEE OR TO THIRD PARTIES FOR THE QUALITY, ACCURACY AND/OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR FOR INTERRUPTIONS IN THE DELIVERY OF THE INDEX. BARCLAYS MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE ETF OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIGHTS LICENSED HEREUNDER OR FOR ANY OTHER USE. BARCLAYS MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. BARCLAYS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN.
None of the information supplied by Barclays and used in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the prior written permission of Barclays. Barclays Bank PLC is registered in England No. 1026167. Registered office: 1 Churchill Place London E14 5HP.
S&P Indexes. The “S&P Commercial Paper Index”, “S&P U.S. Agency Bond Index”, “S&P U.S. Commercial Paper Non-Financials Index” and “S&P Food & Beverage Select Industry Index” (together, the “S&P Indexes”), are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use by the Adviser. “S&P” and “Standard & Poor's” are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and these marks, together with the names of the S&P Indexes, have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sub-licensed for use by the Adviser.
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THE FUNDS ARE NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR MARKETED BY S&P DOW JONES INDICES LLC, ITS AFFILIATES, AND/OR THIRD PARTY LICENSORS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DOW JONES TRADEMARK HOLDINGS LLC) (COLLECTIVELY, “S&P”). S& P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, CONDITION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE FUNDS OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN SECURITIES GENERALLY OR IN THE FUNDS PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE S&P INDEXES TO TRACK MARKET PERFORMANCE AND/OR TO ACHIEVE THEIR STATED OBJECTIVE AND/OR TO FORM THE BASIS OF A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT STRATEGY, AS APPLICABLE. S&P LICENSES TO THE ADVISER CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES, AS WELL AS THE S&P INDEXES, WHICH ARE DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY S&P WITHOUT REGARD TO THE ADVISER OR THE FUNDS. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF THE ADVISER OR THE OWNERS OF OR INVESTORS IN THE FUNDS INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES. S&P DOW JONES INDICES LLC IS NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR. INCLUSION OF A SECURITY WITHIN AN INDEX IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION BY S&P DOW JONES INDICES TO BUY, SELL, OR HOLD SUCH SECURITY, NOR IS IT CONSIDERED TO BE INVESTMENT ADVICE. S&P IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF THE FUNDS OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH FUND SHARES ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. S&P HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, OR TRADING OF THE FUNDS.
S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ADVISER, OWNERS OF OR INVESTORS IN THE FUNDS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR USED TO CALCULATE THE S&P INDEXES. S&P MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE AND ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS) RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE S&P INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND THE ADVISOR, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.
SPDR Trademark. The “SPDR” trademark is used under license from Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, an affiliate of The McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (“S&P”). No Fund offered by the Trust or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of any Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly or the ability of the Index on which the Funds are based to track general stock market performance. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance or redemption of Fund Shares. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.
WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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), 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
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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. Information showing the number of days the market price of Fund Shares was greater than the relevant Fund's net asset value and the number of days it was less than the relevant Fund's net asset value (i.e., premium or discount) for various time periods is available by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com.
The Exchange will disseminate, every fifteen seconds during the regular trading day, an indicative optimized portfolio value (“IOPV”) relating to the Funds. The IOPV calculations are estimates of the value of the Funds' net asset value per Fund Share using market data converted into U.S. dollars at the current currency rates. The IOPV price is based on quotes and closing prices from the securities' local market and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market's close. 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, which is calculated only once a day. 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.
Distribution and Service Plan
Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of Fund Shares. No payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made through at least October 31, 2017. Additionally, the implementation of any such payments would have to be approved by the Board prior to implementation. Because these fees would be paid out of a Fund's assets on an on-going basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more over time than paying other types of sales charges.
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.”
The SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF may earn income dividend from stocks, and 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 realize short-term capital gains or losses whenever it sells or exchanges assets held for one year or less. Net short-term
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capital gains will generally be treated as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders. Each Fund will generally realize 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, 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 times to improve Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “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 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.
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 either ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Subject to certain limitations, dividends that are reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income are taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. 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 rates of up to 20%. 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.
In general, dividends may be reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund, which, in general, includes dividend income from taxable U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations (i.e., certain foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, and certain other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States), provided that the Fund satisfies certain holding period requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations and has not hedged its position in the stock in certain ways. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held by a Fund for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning at the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for fewer than 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date. These holding period requirements will also apply to your ownership of Fund Shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. Additionally, dividends paid on Fund Shares on loan will not be treated as qualified dividend income.
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.
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.
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If you lend your Fund Shares pursuant to securities lending arrangements you may lose the ability to treat Fund dividends (paid while the Fund Shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. You should consult your financial intermediary or tax advisor to discuss your particular circumstances.
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, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
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.
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 the Fund and/or defer the 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.
Foreign Income Taxes. Investment income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which may entitle a Fund to a reduced rate of such taxes or exemption from taxes on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax for a Fund in advance since the amount of the assets to be
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invested within various countries is not known. If more than 50% of the total assets of a Fund at the close of its taxable year consist of certain foreign stocks or securities, the Fund may elect to “pass through” to you certain foreign income taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund. If a Fund in which you hold Fund Shares makes such an election, you will be considered to have received as an additional dividend your share of such foreign taxes, but you may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating your taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating your federal income tax. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If a Fund does not so elect, the Fund will be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Fund.
Real Estate Investments. Non-U.S. persons are generally subject to U.S. tax on a disposition of a “United States real property interest” (a “USRPI”). Gain on such a disposition is generally referred to as “FIRPTA gain.” The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of so-called FIRPTA gain by a Fund if certain requirements are met. If the look-through rule applies, certain distributions attributable to income received by a Fund, e.g., from U.S. REITs, may be treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at rates of up to 35%, and requiring non-U.S. investors to file nonresident U.S. income tax returns. Also, gain may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a foreign stockholder that is treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
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.
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 Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), that Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. 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 a Fund, the purchaser (or a group of purchasers) will not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.
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.
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Investments In Certain Foreign Corporations. A Fund may invest in foreign entities classified as passive foreign investment companies or “PFICs” under the Code. PFIC investments are subject to complex rules that may under certain circumstances adversely affect a Fund. Accordingly, investors should consult their own tax advisors and carefully consider the tax consequences of PFIC investments by a Fund before making an investment in a Fund. Fund dividends attributable to dividends received from PFICs generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income. Additional information pertaining to the potential tax consequences to the Funds, and to the shareholders, from the Funds' potential investment in PFICs can be found in the SAI.
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, after June 30, 2014 (or, in certain cases, after later dates), to distributions payable to such entities and, after December 31, 2018, to redemption proceeds and certain capital gain 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 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 28%. 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.
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 Internal Revenue Service 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. 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.
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General Information
The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 12, 1998. 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, non-diversified series of the Trust, which is an open-end registered management investment company.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, Fund Shares are issued by the respective series of the Trust and the acquisition of Fund Shares by investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
The Trust has received exemptive relief from Section 12(d)(1) to allow registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions as set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.
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.
Premium/Discount Information
Each Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus and therefore does not have information regarding how often Fund Shares traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the net asset value of the Fund during the past calendar year. When available, such information will be provided at https://www.spdrs.com.
Financial Highlights
Each Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus and therefore does not have financial information.
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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 is on file with the SEC, which provides more information about the Funds. 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 Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.spdrs.com 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 and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room (100 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20549) or on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. You may get copies of this and other information after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Funds in writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, 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.
[       ] The Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-08839.


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SPDR® SERIES TRUST (THE “TRUST”)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dated October 31, 2016

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. With respect to each of the Trust’s series listed below, this SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated October 31, 2016, as may be revised from time to time (“Prospectus”).

 

     TICKER  

SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF

     CPZ   

SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF

     [    

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Corporate Bond ETF)

     [    

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF)

     [    

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF)

     [    

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF)

     [    

SPDR Barclays CMBS ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays CMBS ETF)

     [    

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF)

     GCWB   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF (formerly, SPDR Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF)

     [    

SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF

     [    

SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF

     [    

Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for each ETF: NYSE Arca, Inc.

Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. Copies of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing to State Street Global Markets, LLC, the Trust’s principal underwriter (referred to herein as “Distributor” or “Principal Underwriter”), State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, by visiting the Trust’s website at www.spdrs.com or by calling 1-866-787-2257.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

General Description of the Trust

     3   

Investment Policies

     3   

Special Considerations and Risks

     12   

Investment Restrictions

     16   

Exchange Listing and Trading

     17   

Management of the Trust

     18   

Brokerage Transactions

     32   

Book Entry Only System

     33   

Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

     34   

Determination of Net Asset Value

     40   

Dividends and Distributions

     41   

Taxes

     41   

Capital Stock and Shareholder Reports

     48   

Counsel and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     49   

Local Market Holiday Schedules

     50   

Financial Statements

     57   

Appendix A—Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

     A-1   

 

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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 (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”). The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 12, 1998. The offering of each Fund’s shares (“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The investment objective of each Fund is to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of a specified market index (each an “Index” and together the “Indexes”). SSGA Funds Management, Inc. serves as the investment adviser for each Fund (the “Adviser”) and the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF is sub-advised by a sub-adviser as further described herein (the “Sub-Adviser”). To the extent that a reference in this SAI refers to the “Adviser”, such reference should also be read to refer to the Sub-Adviser where the context requires.

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 either in exchange for (i) a basket of securities included in its Index (“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 either for (i) portfolio securities and a specified cash payment or (ii) cash (subject to applicable legal requirements). A Creation Unit of each Fund consists of 100,000 Shares.

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.

The SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF and the SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Commercial Paper ETFs.” The SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Agency Bond ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to as the “Corporate Bond ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Corporate Industrial Bond ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Corporate Financial Bond ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Corporate Utilities Bond ETF” (and, together with the Corporate Bond ETF, Corporate Industrial Bond ETF and Corporate Financial Bond ETF, the “Corporate Bond ETFs”). The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “CMBS ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Global Convertible Securities ETF.” The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF may sometimes be referred to herein as the “Breakeven Inflation ETF.”

 

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. The securities of a particular issuer may constitute a greater portion of an Index of each Fund and, therefore, the securities may constitute a greater portion of a Fund’s portfolio. 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.

 

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Although each Fund is non-diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act, each Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify 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 severely limit the investment flexibility of a Fund and may make it less likely that a Fund will meet its investment objectives.

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).

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).

In addition, the Corporate Bond ETFs invest almost exclusively in corporate bonds. 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.

COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

Commercial mortgage-backed securities are securities backed by commercial real estate properties. Commercial mortgage-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of assets in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are made on a regular basis. The payments are, in effect, “passed through” to the holder of the securities (net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities). The average life of commercial mortgage-backed securities varies with the maturities of the underlying instruments and, as a result of prepayments, can often be less than the original maturity of the assets underlying the securities. For this and other reasons, commercial mortgage-backed security’s stated maturity may be shortened, and the security’s total return may be difficult to predict precisely.

COMMERCIAL PAPER

Each Fund may invest in 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.

COMMON STOCKS

Risks inherent in investing in equity securities include the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities and therefore a decrease in the value of Shares of the Fund). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions 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 or banking crises.

 

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CONCENTRATION

Each Fund’s investments will generally be concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries to the extent that the Fund’s underlying Index is concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries. The securities of issuers in particular industries may dominate the benchmark Index of a Fund and consequently a Fund’s investment portfolio. This may adversely affect a Fund’s performance or subject its Shares to greater price volatility than that experienced by less concentrated investment companies. The Trust’s general policy is to exclude securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities when measuring industry concentration.

In pursuing its objective, each Fund may hold the securities of a single issuer in an amount exceeding 10% of the market value of the outstanding securities of the issuer, subject to restrictions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. In particular, as a Fund’s size grows and its assets increase, it will be more likely to hold more than 10% of the securities of a single issuer if the issuer has a relatively small public float as compared to other components in its benchmark Index.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks 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 stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, 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 stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline 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 stocks rise 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 stocks. 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.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

Each Fund may conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward basis (i.e., by entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies). Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a fee for such conversions, they do realize a profit based on the difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the counterparty desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Forward contracts are customized transactions that generally require a specific amount of a currency to be delivered at a specific exchange rate on a specific date or range of dates in the future, although the Fund may also enter into non-deliverable currency forward contracts (“NDFs”) that contractually require the netting of the parties’ liabilities. Forwards, including NDFs, can have substantial price volatility. 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. At the discretion of the Adviser, the Funds may enter into forward currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes to help reduce the risks and volatility caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, or to gain exposure to certain currencies in an effort to track the composition of the applicable Index. When used for hedging purposes, they tend to limit any potential gain that may be realized if the value of the Fund’s foreign holdings increases because of currency fluctuations.

FUTURES CONTRACTS, OPTIONS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS

Each Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in derivatives, including exchange-traded futures on Treasuries or Eurodollars, U.S. exchange-traded or OTC put and call options contracts and exchange-traded or OTC swap agreements (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, excess return swaps, and credit default swaps). A Fund will segregate cash and/or appropriate liquid assets if required to do so by SEC or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulation or interpretation.

 

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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. Futures contracts are standardized as to maturity date and underlying instrument and are traded on futures exchanges.

A Fund is required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or U.S. government securities 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 margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin 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. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position (“buying” a contract which has previously been “sold,” or “selling” a contract previously “purchased”) in an identical contract to terminate the position. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract position is opened or closed.

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.

Regulations under the Commodities Exchange Act. Each Fund intends to use futures and options in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). A Fund may use exchange-traded futures and options, together with positions in cash and money market instruments, to simulate full investment in its underlying Index. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts may not be currently available for an Index. Under such circumstances, the Adviser may seek to utilize other instruments that it believes to be correlated to the applicable Index components or a subset of the components. The Trust, on behalf of a Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 so that the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.

Restrictions on the Use of Futures and Options. In connection with its management of the Funds, the Adviser has claimed an exclusion from registration as a commodity pool operator under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 and, therefore, is not subject to the registration and regulatory requirements of the CEA. Each Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures and options thereon to the extent allowed by the CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with a Fund’s policies. Each Fund would take steps to prevent its futures positions from “leveraging” its securities holdings. When it has a long futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank, assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position. When it has a short futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position).

Swap Agreements. Each Fund may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate, index and total return swap agreements. Swap agreements 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 agreements 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.

In the case of a credit default swap (“CDS”), the contract gives one party (the buyer) the right to recoup the economic value of a decline in the value of debt securities of the reference issuer if the credit event (a downgrade or default) occurs. This value is obtained by delivering a debt security of the reference issuer to the party in return for a previously agreed payment from the other party (frequently, the par value of the debt security). As the seller of a CDS contract, a Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to debt obligations. In return, the Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, a Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

 

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CDSs may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. A Fund will segregate assets necessary to meet any accrued payment obligations when it is the buyer of CDSs. In cases where a Fund is a seller of a CDS, if the CDS is physically settled, the Fund will be required to segregate the full notional amount of the CDS. Such segregation will not limit a Fund’s exposure to loss.

CDS agreements involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, illiquidity risk associated with a particular issuer, and credit risk, each of which will be similar in either case, CDSs are subject to the risk of illiquidity within the CDS market on the whole, as well as counterparty risk. A Fund will enter into CDS agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. A Fund will only enter into CDSs for purposes of better tracking the performance of its Index.

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.

HIGH YIELD SECURITIES

Investment in high yield securities 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 the 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 the 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. However, an Index seeks to include primarily high yield securities that the Index provider believes have greater liquidity than the broader high yield securities market as a whole.

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.

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 Sates. 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

 

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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.

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, a Fund’s investment restrictions and the Trust’s exemptive relief, a Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are 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 one quarter (25%) of the value of its total 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. 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 will 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 short-term instruments either directly on behalf of the lending Fund or through one or more joint accounts or money market funds, which may include those managed by the Adviser.

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 of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) who administer the lending program for the Funds in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. In such capacity, the lending agent causes the delivery of loaned securities from a Fund to borrowers, arranges for the return of loaned securities to the Fund at the termination of a loan, requests deposit of collateral, monitors the daily value of the loaned securities and collateral, requests that borrowers add to the collateral when required by the loan agreements, and provides recordkeeping and accounting services necessary for the operation of the program. 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 a Fund 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.

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. 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.

 

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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 10% 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.

MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES

The term “U.S. agency mortgage pass-through security” refers to a category of pass-through securities backed by pools of mortgages and issued by one of several U.S. government-sponsored enterprises: the Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or FHLMC. In the basic mortgage pass-through structure, mortgages with similar issuer, term and coupon characteristics are collected and aggregated into a “pool” consisting of multiple mortgage loans. The pool is assigned a CUSIP number and undivided interests in the pool are traded and sold as pass-through securities. The holder of the security is entitled to a pro rata share of principal and interest payments (including unscheduled prepayments) from the pool of mortgage loans.

An investment in a specific pool of pass-through securities requires an analysis of the specific prepayment risk of mortgages within the covered pool (since mortgagors typically have the option to prepay their loans). The level of prepayments on a pool of mortgage securities is difficult to predict and can impact the subsequent cash flows and value of the mortgage pool. In addition, when trading specific mortgage pools, precise execution, delivery and settlement arrangements must be negotiated for each transaction. These factors combine to make trading in mortgage pools somewhat cumbersome.

OTHER SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS

In addition to repurchase agreements, 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 Standard & Poor’s (“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 risks; 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, and compliance with many of these amendments were required in October 2016. 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.

PREFERRED SECURITIES

Preferred securities pay fixed or adjustable rate dividends to investors, and have “preference” over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of a company’s assets. This means that a company must pay dividends on preferred stock before paying any dividends on its common stock. In order to be payable, distributions on preferred securities must be declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Income payments on typical preferred securities currently outstanding are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accrue even if not declared by the board of directors or otherwise made payable. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on the preferred securities in which a Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

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 a Fund would be unable to acquire securities paying comparable rates with the redemption proceeds.

 

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RATINGS

An investment grade rating means the security or issuer is rated investment grade by Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, Inc., Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, 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 or Sub-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 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 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.

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 securities, 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.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES

Restricted Securities are securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, but which can be offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Institutional markets for restricted securities have developed as a result of the promulgation of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, which provides a “safe harbor” from Securities Act registration requirements for qualifying sales to institutional investors. When Rule 144A restricted securities present an attractive investment opportunity and meet other selection criteria, a Fund may make such investments whether or not such securities are “illiquid” depending on the market that exists for the particular security. The Board has delegated the responsibility for determining the liquidity of Rule 144A restricted securities that a Fund may invest in to the Adviser. In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser may consider the following factors: the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace in which it trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer).

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

 

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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’s exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings. Although there is no percentage limit on Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, the Funds do not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 10% of their respective total assets.

SOVEREIGN DEBT OBLIGATIONS

Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. Government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. Government.

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 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 (Farmer Mac). 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 Agreement 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 will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount of $3 billion. The U.S. Treasury

 

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stated that the purpose of the change was to wind down Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and to benefit taxpayers. At the start of 2013, the unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired—Fannie Mae’s bailout is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion. In August 2013, President Obama announced his proposal to shut down Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae as part of a plan to overhaul the U.S.’s mortgage finance system. Until further action is taken, the actions of the U.S. Treasury are intended to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Treasury initiatives will be successful.

U.S. REGISTERED SECURITIES OF FOREIGN ISSUERS

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 investment 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 denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities market, 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. The Fund may invest in unsponsored Depositary Receipts. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts.

VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES

Variable rate securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by entities such as (1) US Government, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, (2) corporations, (3) financial institutions, (4) insurance companies or (5) 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. The Funds 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 US 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.

 

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

 

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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 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.

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, will be subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.

The principal trading market for some of the securities in an Index 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(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.

 

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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 Funds do not plan to use futures and options contracts, when available, in this manner. 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 imperfect or even negative correlation to its benchmark Index if the index underlying the futures contracts differs from the benchmark Index or if the futures contracts do not track the benchmark Index as expected. There is also 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 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, 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.

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 each Fund is not a member of a clearing house, and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund holds cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, a Fund will make payments (including

 

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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. A Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or which SSGA 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 are 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 securities. 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.

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 Fund Shares.

 

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies with respect to each Fund. These restrictions cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of a 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, each Fund may not:

1. Concentrate its investments in securities of issuers in the same industry, except as may be necessary to approximate the composition of the Fund’s underlying Index1;

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 Fund;

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 Fund;

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 Fund 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 Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the Fund’s 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 Fund.

In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, each Fund observes the following restrictions, which may be changed by the Board without a shareholder vote. Each Fund 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 Fund in accordance with its views;

2. Hold illiquid assets in excess of 15% of its net assets. An illiquid asset is any asset which may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the investment; or

3. With respect to each Fund, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise its relevant Index. Securities that have economic characteristics substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the securities that comprise the Index are included within this 80% investment policy. Prior to any change in a Fund’s 80% investment policy, such Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

4. With respect to each Commercial Paper ETF, invest, under normal circumstances less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in commercial paper. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

5. With respect to the Corporate Bond ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in corporate bonds. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

6. With respect to the Agency Bond ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in agency bonds. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

 

 

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.

 

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7. With respect to the Corporate Industrial Bond ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in corporate bonds issued by companies in the industrial sector. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

8. With respect to the Corporate Financial Bond ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in corporate bonds issued by companies in the financial sector. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

9. With respect to the Corporate Utilities Bond ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in corporate bonds issued by companies in the utilities sector. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

10. With respect to the CMBS ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in commercial mortgage backed securities. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

11. With respect to the Global Convertible Securities ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes, in convertible securities. Prior to any change in the Fund’s 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days written notice.

The Funds define the foregoing terms in accordance with the definition of such terms per the applicable Index. 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 and illiquid securities 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 a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays). With respect to the limitation on illiquid securities, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the limitations as soon as reasonably practicable.

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 a Fund’s total assets at the time of the loan, and (3) enter into reverse repurchase agreements. However, under normal circumstances any borrowings by the Fund will not exceed 10% of the Fund’s 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, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation. 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 Commodity Exchange Act 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 Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund 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. The 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, but is not required to, remove the Shares of a Fund from listing if: (1) following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Shares for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (2) the value of its underlying Index or portfolio of securities on which the Fund is based is no longer calculated or available; (3) the “indicative optimized portfolio value” (“IOPV”) of the Fund is no longer calculated or available; or (4) such other event shall occur or condition exists that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. In addition, the Exchange will remove the Shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Trust or a Fund.

 

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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.

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.”

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, Sub-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 (e.g., a Sub-Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of a Fund’s portfolio investments) 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 and, if applicable, Sub-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 and Sub-Adviser provide 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 Sub-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 Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, respectively, the Board meets with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s adherence to the 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 and Sub-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.

 

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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 Funds 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 and Sub-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 Fund, 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 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 the Fund’s Adviser, Sub-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 six members of the Board of Trustees, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”). Frank Nesvet, 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 (greater than 75%) 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 (and classes of shares) 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
5 YEARS
   NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE†
   OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
TRUSTEE
DURING THE
PAST 5 YEARS
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES               

FRANK NESVET

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1943

  

Independent

Trustee,

Chairman, Trustee Committee Chair

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

September

2000

   Retired.    206    None.

DAVID M. KELLY

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1938

  

Independent

Trustee, Audit Committee Chair

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since
September

2000

   Retired.    206    Chicago Stock
Exchange (Former
Director, retired);
Penson
Worldwide Inc.
(Former Director,
retired).

 

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NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH

FUNDS

   TERM OF
OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
   PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST
5 YEARS
   NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE†
   OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
TRUSTEE
DURING THE
PAST 5 YEARS

BONNY EUGENIA BOATMAN

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1950

  

Independent

Trustee

   Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

April 2010

   Retired.    206    None.

DWIGHT D. CHURCHILL

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1953

  

Independent

Trustee

   Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

April 2010

   Self-employed
consultant since

2010; CEO and
President, CFA
Institute (June
2014-January
2015).

   206    Affiliated
Managers Group,
Inc. (Director).

CARL G. VERBONCOEUR

c/o SPDR Series Trust

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111-2900

1952

  

Independent

Trustee

   Term:

Unlimited

Served:
since

April 2010

   Self-employed
consultant since
2009.
   206    The Motley Fool
Funds Trust
(Trustee).
INTERESTED TRUSTEE               

JAMES E. ROSS*

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1965

  

Interested

Trustee

   Term:

Unlimited

Served as

Trustee:
since

April 2010

   Chairman and
Director, SSGA

Funds Management,

Inc. (2005-present);
Director, State
Street Global
Markets, LLC
(2013-present);
Executive Vice
President and
Principal, State

Street Global
Advisors (2006-
present); President,
SSGA
Funds Management,
Inc. (2005-2012).

   294    None.

 

For the purpose of determining the number of portfolios overseen by the Trustees, “Fund Complex” comprises registered investment companies for which SSGA Fund Management, Inc. serves as investment adviser.
* Mr. Ross is an Interested Trustee because of his employment with the Adviser and ownership interest in an affiliate of the Adviser. Mr. Ross previously served as an Interested Trustee from November 2005 to December 2009.

 

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OFFICERS

 

NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH FUNDS

   TERM OF
OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
  

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

ELLEN M. NEEDHAM

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1967

   President    Term: Unlimited

Served: since

October 2012

   President and Director, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2001—present)*; Senior Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (1992—present).*

ANN M. CARPENTER

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1966

   Vice President; Deputy Treasurer    Term: Unlimited

Served: since

August 2012

   Chief Operating Officer, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2005—Present)*; Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (2005—present).*

MICHAEL P. RILEY

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1969

  

Vice

President

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2005

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (2005—present).*

JOSHUA A. WEINBERG

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1978

  

Chief Legal

Officer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since
February 2015

   Vice President and Managing Counsel, State Street Global Advisors (2011-present); Clerk, SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (2013-present); Associate, Financial Services Group, Dechert LLP (2006-2011).

CHRISTOPHER A. MADDEN

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Hundred Summer
Street, SUM0703

Boston, MA 02111

1967

   Secretary    Term: Unlimited

Served: since

August 2013

   Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2013-present); Counsel, Atlantic Fund Services (2009-2013).*

PATRICIA A. MORISETTE

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Hundred Summer Street, SUM
0703

Boston, MA 02111

1973

  

Assistant

Secretary

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2015

   Vice President and Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2014-present); Assistant Vice President and Counsel, John Hancock Financial Services (2011-2013); Independent legal consultant (2009-2011); Associate, Bingham McCutchen LLP (2003-2009).*,. **

BRUCE S. ROSENBERG

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

   Treasurer    Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (July 2015 – present); Director, Credit Suisse (April 2008—July 2015).

CHAD C. HALLETT

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1969

  

Deputy

Treasurer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (November 2014—present); Vice President, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2001-November 2014).*

 

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NAME, ADDRESS

AND YEAR OF BIRTH

  

POSITION(S)

WITH FUNDS

   TERM OF
OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
  

PRINCIPAL

OCCUPATION(S)

DURING THE

PAST 5 YEARS

DANIEL FOLEY

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

  

Assistant

Treasurer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (April 2007—present).*

SUJATA UPRETI

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1961

  

Assistant

Treasurer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

February 2016

   Vice President, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (May 2015 – present); Assistant Director, Cambridge Associates, LLC (July 2014-January 2015); Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon (July 2012-August 2013); Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (September 2003-July 2012).

BRIAN HARRIS

SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

1973

  

Chief

Compliance

Officer;

Anti-Money Laundering

Officer; Code of Ethics Compliance Officer

   Term: Unlimited

Served: since

November 2013

   Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (June 2013—present)*; Senior Vice President and Global Head of Investment Compliance, BofA Global Capital Management (2010-2013); Director of Compliance, AARP Financial Inc. (2008-2010).

 

* Served in various capacities and/or with various affiliated entities during noted time period.
** Served in various capacities and/or with unaffiliated mutual funds or closed-end funds for which State Street Bank and Trust Company or its affiliates act as a provider of services 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. Nesvet should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a financial services consulting company, serving on the boards of other investment companies, and serving as chief financial officer of a major financial services company; his knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of the Trust since 2000.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Kelly should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, his previous directorship experience, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of the Trust since 2000.

The Board has concluded that Ms. Boatman should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as Managing Director of the primary investment division of one of the nation’s leading financial institutions and her knowledge of the financial services industry. Ms. Boatman was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Churchill should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the CFA Institute, serving as the Head of the Fixed Income Division of one of the nation’s leading mutual fund companies and provider of financial services and his knowledge of the financial services industry. Mr. Churchill was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

 

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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. Mr. Verboncoeur was elected to serve as Trustee of the Trust in April 2010.

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 the Trust since 2005 (Mr. Ross did not serve as Trustee from December 2009 until April 2010).

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

No officer, director or employee of the Adviser, its parent or subsidiaries receives any compensation from the Trust for serving as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. The Trust, SSGA Master Trust, SSGA Active Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds (together with the Trust, the “Trusts”) pay, in the aggregate, each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $210,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $50,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $20,000. Prior to July 1, 2016, each Independent Trustee received an annual fee of $200,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board received an additional annual fee of $50,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of $20,000. The Trust also reimburses each Independent Trustee 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.

The table below shows the compensation that the Independent Trustees received during the Trust’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

NAME OF

INDEPENDENT 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)
 

Frank Nesvet

   $ 250,128         N/A         N/A       $ 335,000   

Bonny Boatman

   $ 212,766         N/A         N/A       $ 285,000   

Dwight Churchill

   $ 206,278         N/A         N/A       $ 276,250   

David M. Kelly

   $ 227,729         N/A         N/A       $ 305,000   

Carl Verboncoeur

   $ 205,318         N/A         N/A       $ 275,000   

 

(1) The Fund Complex includes the Trust.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Kelly serves as Chairman. 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 five (5) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

Trustee Committee. The Board has established a Trustee Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Nesvet 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 six (6) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

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OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES

As of October 1, 2016, neither the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities in the Adviser, Sub-Advisers, Principal Underwriter or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or Principal Underwriter.

The following table shows, as of December 31, 2015, 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

Independent Trustees:

        

Frank Nesvet

   None    None    None

David M. Kelly

   None    None    None

Bonny Eugenia Boatman

   None    None    None

Dwight D. Churchill

   None    None    None

Carl G. Verboncoeur

   SPDR S&P Dividend ETF    $10,001 - $50,000    $10,001 - $50,000

Interested Trustee:

        

James Ross

   SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF    $1 to $10,000    Over $100,000
   SPDR S&P 1000 ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR Russell 1000 ETF    $50,001 - $100,000   
   SPDR S&P Biotech ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR S&P Dividend ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF    Over $100,000   
   SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF    Over $100,000   
   SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF    $10,001 - $50,000   
   SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Corporate Bond ETF    Over $100,000   
   SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF    Over $100,000   

CODES OF ETHICS

The Trust, the Adviser (which includes applicable reporting personnel of the Distributor) and the Sub-Adviser each have adopted a code of ethics as required by applicable law, which is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-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.

 

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PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board believes that the voting of proxies on securities held by each Fund is an important element of the overall investment process. As such, the Board has delegated the responsibility to vote such proxies to the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policy is substantially and materially the same as the Adviser’s proxy voting policy, which is attached at the end of 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.spdrs.com; 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 Fund Shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). The basket represents one Creation Unit of a Fund. The Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-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 Depositary 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.

THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

SSGA FM acts as investment adviser to the Trust and, subject to the supervision of the Board, is responsible for the investment management of each Fund. As of June 30, 2016, the Adviser managed approximately $398.23 billion in assets. The Adviser’s principal address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The Adviser, a Massachusetts corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), 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 60 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 supervision 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 willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement regarding the Funds is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.

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. From time to time, the Adviser may waive all or a portion of its fee. The Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, distribution fees pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan, if any, brokerage, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee’s counsel fees), acquired fund fees and expenses, litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses.

 

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INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER—GLOBAL CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES ETF

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the Global Convertible Securities ETF and the Adviser, the Adviser is authorized to engage one or more sub-advisers for the performance of any of the services contemplated to be rendered by the Adviser. The Adviser has retained SSGA LTD, as sub-adviser, to be responsible for the day to day management of the Fund’s ex-U.S. investments and the overall allocation between U.S. and ex-U.S. investments within the Fund, subject to supervision of the Adviser and the Board. The Adviser provides administrative, compliance and general management services to the Fund in addition to day to day management of the Fund’s U.S. investments. Since 1990, SSGA LTD has been providing investment management services including managing indexed fixed income portfolios. As of June 30, 2016, SSGA LTD managed approximately $297.2 billion in assets. SSGA LTD’s principal business address is 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom E14 5HJ.

In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and SSGA LTD, the Adviser will pay SSGA LTD an annual investment sub-advisory fee equal to 40% of the advisory fees paid by the Fund to the Adviser after deducting the payments to fund service providers and fund expenses.

The Fund had not commenced operations as of June 30, 2016 and therefore did not pay fees to the Sub-Adviser for the past three fiscal years.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Adviser and Sub-Adviser manage the Funds using a team of investment professionals. The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of each Fund are:

 

Fund

  

Portfolio Managers

SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF    Todd Bean, Sean Lussier and Jeff St. Peters
SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF    Mahesh Jayakumar and Joanna Madden
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF    Patrick Bresnehan, [    ] and Kyle Kelly
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF    Patrick Bresnehan, [    ] and Kyle Kelly
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF    Patrick Bresnehan, [    ] and Kyle Kelly
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF    Patrick Bresnehan, [    ] and Kyle Kelly
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF    Marc DiCosimo and Michael Przygoda
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF    [    ]
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF    Patrick Bresnehan and [    ]
SPDR S&P Commercial Paper Ex-Financials ETF    Todd Bean, Sean Lussier and Jeff St. Peters
SPDR S&P Food & Beverage    Mike Feehily, John Tucker and Karl Schneider

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 each Fund 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 June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Registered
Investment
Company
Accounts
  Assets
Managed
(billions)*
  Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Accounts
  Assets
Managed
(billions)*
  Other
Accounts
  Assets
Managed
(billions)*
  Total
Assets
Managed
(billions)*

Todd Bean

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Sean Lussier

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Jeff St. Peters

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Mahesh Jayakumar

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Joanna Madden

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Patrick Bresnehan

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Kyle Kelly

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Marc DiCosimo

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Michael Przygoda

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Mike Feehily

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

John Tucker

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

Karl Schneider

   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   [      ]   $[      ]   $[      ]

 

* There are no performance fees associated with these portfolios.

 

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Table of Contents

The following table lists the dollar range of Fund Shares beneficially owned by portfolio managers listed above as of June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Fund    Dollar Range of Trust
Shares Beneficially Owned

Todd Bean

   None    None

Sean Lussier

   None    None

Jeff St. Peters

   None    None

Mahesh Jayakumar

   None    None

Joanna Madden

   None    None

Patrick Bresnehan

   None    None

Kyle Kelly

   None    None

Marc DiCosimo

   None    None

Michael Przygoda

   None    None

Mike Feehily

   SPDR S&P Dividend ETF    $50,0001 - $100,000
   SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF    $50,0001 - $100,000
   SPDR Russell 1000 Low
Volatility ETF
   $50,0001 - $100,000
   SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF    $50,0001 - $100,000

John Tucker

   None    None

Karl Schneider

   None    None

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. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures 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, Sub-Adviser and its advisory affiliates have processes and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation among the portfolio managers’ accounts with the same strategy.

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 the portfolio managers’ responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio managers’ accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally devote 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. Another potential conflict may arise when the portfolio manager has an investment in one or more accounts that participate in transactions with other accounts. His or her investment(s) may create an incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser have 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, Sub-Adviser and its advisory affiliates have processes and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.

SSGA’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.

 

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Compensation for SSGA’s staff is based on a number of factors, including external benchmarking data and market trends, State Street performance, SSGA performance, and individual performance. Each year SSGA’s Global Human Resources department participates in compensation surveys in order to provide SSGA with critical, market-based compensation information that helps support individual pay decisions. Additionally, subject to State Street and SSGA business results, State Street allocates an incentive pool to SSGA to reward its employees. Because the size of the incentive pool is based on the firm’s overall profitability and performance against risk-related goals, each staff member is motivated to contribute both as an individual and as a team member.

The discretionary allocation of the incentive pool to the business units within SSGA is influenced by market-based compensation data, as well as the overall performance of each group. 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 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 typically vests over a four-year period. This helps to retain staff and further aligns SSGA employees’ interests with SSGA clients’ and shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s rewards program enables the firm to effectively attract and retain talented professionals. The rewards program supports the attraction and retention of the key personnel needed to support SSGA’s long-term success. Funding for SSGA’s total rewards program is subject to affordability and is designed to be flexible based on firm performance. However, even in years when funding is constrained, SSGA differentiates pay in order to reward the highest performing teams and individuals.

SSGA 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 SSGA.

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Capital Global Convertible Securities ETF. The following table lists the number and types of other accounts managed by the key professional primarily involved in the day-to-day portfolio management of the ex-U.S. assets in the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Capital Global Convertible Securities ETF and assets under management in that account.

Other Accounts Managed as of June 30, 2016:

 

Portfolio Manager

   Registered
Investment
Company
Accounts
    Assets
Managed
(billions)*
    Pooled
Investment
Vehicle
Accounts
    Assets
Managed
(billions)*
    Other
Accounts
    Assets
Managed
(billions)*
    Total
Assets
Managed
(billions)*
 

[    ]

     [       $ [         [       $ [         [       $ [       $ [    

 

* There are no performance fees associated with these portfolios.

The following table lists the dollar range of Fund Shares beneficially owned by the portfolio manager of the ex-U.S. assets in the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Capital Global Convertible Securities ETF as of June 30, 2015:

 

     Dollar Range of Fund
Shares Beneficially Owned
 

[    ]

     None   

The compensation of SSGA LTD’s investment professionals is based on a number of factors. The first factor considered is external market. Through a compensation survey process, the Adviser seeks to understand what its competitors are paying people to perform similar roles. This data is then used to determine a competitive baseline in the areas of base pay, bonus, and long term incentive (i.e. equity). The second factor taken into consideration is the size of the pool available for this compensation. SSGA LTD is a part of State Street Corporation, and therefore works within its corporate environment on determining the overall level of its incentive compensation pool. Once determined, this pool is then allocated to the various locations and departments of the Adviser and its affiliates. The discretionary determination of the allocation amounts to these locations and departments is influenced by the competitive market data, as well as the overall performance of the group. The pool is then allocated on a discretionary basis to individual employees based on their individual performance. There is no fixed formula for determining these amounts, nor is anyone’s compensation directly tied to the investment performance or asset value of a product or strategy. The same process is followed in determining incentive equity allocations.

 

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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 fund. 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. SSGA LTD has adopted policies and procedures 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, SSGA LTD and its advisory affiliates have processes and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation among the portfolio manager’s accounts with the same strategy.

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 the portfolio managers’ responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio managers’ accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally devote 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 Fund. 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 the Fund maintained its position in that security.

A potential conflict may arise when 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. Another potential conflict may arise when the portfolio manager has an investment in one or more accounts that participate in transactions with other accounts. His or her investment(s) may create an incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another. SSGA LTD 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, SSGA LTD and its advisory affiliates have processes and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.

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 Administration Agreement”). Pursuant to the SSGA 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 Administration Agreement, manage all of the business and affairs of the Trust.

Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. Prior to June 1, 2015, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) served as the Trust’s administrator, pursuant to an Administration Agreement dated September 22, 2000 (the “SSB Administration Agreement”). As compensation for its services under the SSB Administration Agreement, State Street received a fee for its services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds (“SIS”), of 0.0225% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0075% thereafter.

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 sub-administrative services to the Trust and its series. State Street is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company, and is affiliated with the Adviser. State Street’s mailing address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

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 Fund 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”).

 

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Compensation. As compensation for their services provided under the SSGA Administration and Sub-Administration agreements, SSGA FM and State Street, respectively, shall receive fees for the services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds, of 0.0225% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0075% thereafter.

As compensation for its services under the Custodian Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement, State Street shall receive a fee for its services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, State Street shall receive 0.0025% on the first $50 billion, 0.0020% on the next $50 billion and 0.0010% thereafter. In addition, under the Custody Agreement State Street shall be entitled to fees for fund accounting services and shall receive 0.0150% for the first $12.5 billion and 0.0025% thereafter. State Street shall also be entitled to specialized custody, ETF accounting services and transfer agency fees and shall receive 0.0050% on the first $12.5 billion and 0.0030% thereafter. For each series of the Trust, a $110,000 annual minimum fee applies. The greater of the minimum fee or the asset based fee will be charged. 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.

 

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THE DISTRIBUTOR

State Street Global Markets, LLC is the principal underwriter and Distributor of Shares. Its principal address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. 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 (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. 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. 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. As of the date of this SAI, the Adviser and/or Distributor had arrangements to make payments, other than for the educational programs and marketing activities described above, only to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”). Pursuant to these arrangements, Schwab and RBC have agreed to promote 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. These amounts, which may be significant, are paid by the Adviser and/or Distributor from their own resources and not from Fund assets. In addition, the Adviser or Distributor, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor, as well as an index provider that is not affiliated with the Adviser or Distributor, may also reimburse expenses or make payments from their own assets to other persons in consideration of services or other activities that they believe may benefit the SPDR business or facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Plan (a “Plan”) pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% may be made. No payments pursuant to the Plan will be made during the next twelve (12) months of operation. Under its terms, the Plan remains in effect from year to year, provided such continuance is approved annually by vote of the Board, including a majority of the “Independent Trustees” (Trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreement related to the Plan). The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services provided by the Distributor without approval by the shareholders of the relevant Fund to which the Plan applies, and all material amendments of the Plan also require Board approval (as described above). The Plan may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund (as such vote is defined in the 1940 Act). Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor will provide the Board with periodic reports of any amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made.

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 allocation among the Trust’s series of fees and expenses payable under the Distribution Agreement will be made pro rata in accordance with the daily net assets of the respective series.

The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Unit aggregations of Fund Shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Participating Parties (as defined in the “Book Entry Only System” section below) and 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.

 

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INDEX PROVIDER AND OTHER PERSONS

An unaffiliated index provider may make payments from its own assets to other persons in consideration for services provided or other activities that may facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

 

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities for each Fund is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Trust believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude a Fund and the Adviser from obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Adviser relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not ascertainable. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of a Fund’s Shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.

In selecting a broker/dealer for each specific transaction, the Adviser chooses the broker/dealer deemed most capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable execution and does not take the sale of Fund Shares into account. The Adviser considers the full range of brokerage services applicable to a particular transaction that may be considered when making this judgment, which may include, but is not limited to: liquidity, price, commission, timing, aggregated trades, capable floor brokers or traders, competent block trading coverage, ability to position, capital strength and stability, reliable and accurate communications and settlement processing, use of automation, knowledge of other buyers or sellers, arbitrage skills, administrative ability, underwriting and provision of information on a particular security or market in which the transaction is to occur. The specific criteria will vary depending upon the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select from among multiple broker/dealers. The Adviser will also use electronic crossing networks when appropriate.

The Adviser does not currently use the Funds’ assets for, or participate in, third party soft dollar arrangements, although the Adviser may receive proprietary research from various full service brokers, the cost of which is bundled with the cost of the broker’s execution services. The Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research. The Adviser may aggregate trades with clients of SSGA, whose commission dollars may be used to generate soft dollar credits for SSGA. Although the Adviser’s clients’ commissions are not used for third party soft dollars, the Adviser’s and SSGA’s clients may benefit from the soft dollar products/services received by SSGA.

The Adviser assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of the Trust for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Trust and one or more other investment companies or clients supervised by the Adviser are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to all by the Adviser. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security so far as the Trust is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions will be beneficial to the Trust. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.

The Funds will not deal with affiliates in principal transactions unless permitted by exemptive order or applicable rule or regulation.

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealer.” Each Fund 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. The Funds were not operational and have not engaged in transactions prior to the date of this SAI.

 

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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 portfolio turnover rate for each Fund is expected to be under 100%, except with respect to the SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF, which may experience significantly higher turnover. The Funds may also experience higher portfolio turnover when migrating to a different benchmark index. 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 the FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (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.

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.

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

The Funds were not operational prior to the date of this SAI and 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 a Fund, may be affiliated with an index provider, may be deemed to have control of the applicable Fund and/or may be able to affect the outcome of matters presented for a vote of the shareholders of the Fund. Authorized Participants may execute an irrevocable proxy granting the Distributor or another affiliate of State Street (the “Agent”) power to vote or abstain from voting such Authorized Participant’s beneficially or legally owned Shares of a 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, own 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,” either principally in-kind for securities included in the relevant Index or in cash for the value of such securities. The value of a 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 set forth in the table below:

 

FUND

   CREATION*    REDEMPTION*

SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF

   Cash    In-Kind

SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF

   In-Kind    In-Kind

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF

   In-Kind    In-Kind

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF

   In-Kind    In-Kind

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF

   In-Kind    In-Kind

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF

   In-Kind    In-Kind

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF

   In-Kind    In-Kind

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF

   Cash    Cash

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF

   In-Kind    In-Kind

SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF

   Cash    Cash

SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF

   In-Kind    In-Kind

 

* May be revised at any time without notice. Funds that effect redemptions principally for cash, rather than primarily in-kind, may be less tax efficient than investments in conventional ETFs.

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 the Funds is, generally, any day on which the NYSE is open for business, although the Funds will also not be open for orders on Veterans Day and Columbus Day, with the exception of the SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF.

FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of a Fund generally consists of either (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit, constituting a substantial replication, or a portfolio sampling representation, of the securities included in the relevant Fund’s benchmark Index and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) 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

 

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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), 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, immediately 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 Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for a Fund. Such 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 changes as rebalancing adjustments, interest payments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser 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. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of a Fund’s Index.

 

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The Trust intends to require the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount) to replace any Deposit Security that is a TBA transaction. The amount of cash contributed will be equivalent to the price of the TBA transaction listed as a Deposit Security. 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 or the Federal Reserve System for U.S. Treasury 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: (i) permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash; and (ii) include or remove Deposit Securities from the basket in anticipation of index rebalancing changes. 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, in the composition of the subject Index being tracked by the relevant Fund or 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”), and, with respect to the Funds (except the SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF), must have the ability to clear through the Federal Reserve 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.

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 on such Business Day. 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 (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” for a Fund is generally the third Business Day. 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

 

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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 third 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.

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 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 absolute 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; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the 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) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; (g) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (h) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent 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.

 

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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 immediately 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 each Fund’s portfolio securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities.

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 Fund Securities — as announced by the Custodian on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form 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 Fund 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 Fund 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: (i) the Trust will substitute a cash in lieu amount to replace any Fund Security that is a TBA transaction and the amount of cash paid out in such cases will be equivalent to the value of the TBA transaction listed as a Fund Security and (ii) 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to the Authorized Participant by the Settlement Date.

With respect to in-kind redemptions of a Fund, the calculation of the value of the Fund 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 a Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund are not delivered by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Eastern time (per applicable instructions) on the Settlement Date, the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities are customarily traded (or such other arrangements as allowed by the Trust or its agents), to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within three Business Days of the trade date. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than three business days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. The section below entitled “Local Market Holiday Schedules” identifies the instances where more than seven days would be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Pursuant to an order of the SEC, in respect of each Fund, the Trust will make delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds within the number of days stated in the Local Market Holidays section to be the maximum number of days necessary to deliver redemption proceeds. If the Authorized Participant has not made appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such 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.

 

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If it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities but does not differ in net asset value.

An Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to represent to the Trust that it (or its client) (i) owns outright or has full legal authority and legal beneficial right to tender for redemption the requisite number of Shares to be redeemed and can receive the entire proceeds of the redemption, and (ii) the Shares to be redeemed have not been loaned or pledged to another party nor are they the subject of a repurchase agreement, securities lending agreement or such other arrangement which would preclude the delivery of such Shares to the Trust. 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 Fund 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 Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund 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 FOR CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL FUNDS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as described in the Participant Agreement and the applicable order form, certain Funds may require orders to be placed up to one or more Business Days 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. 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.

 

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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 Fund 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.

 

FUND

   TRANSACTION
FEE*, **
     MAXIMUM
TRANSACTION
FEE*, **
 

SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR S&P Agency Bond ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Bond ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Industrial Bond ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Financial Bond ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Corporate Utilities Bond ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays CMBS ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Global Convertible Securities ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Breakeven Inflation ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR S&P Commercial Paper ex-Financials ETF

   $  [      ]       $  [      ]   

SPDR S&P Food & Beverage 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 applicable Prospectus entitled “PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION” and “ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION.”

Net asset value 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 net asset value. The net asset value of a Fund is calculated by State Street and determined 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. Fixed-income assets are generally valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments in a particular market or exchange. 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), (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) or (iii) based on amortized cost. A 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, a 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,

 

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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. The Adviser may use various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service, as approved by the Board from time to time. A price obtained from a pricing service based on such pricing service’s valuation matrix may be considered a market valuation.

In the event that current market valuations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, the Trust’s procedures require the Oversight Committee to determine a security’s fair value if a market price is not readily available. In determining such value the Oversight Committee 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, market indices, and prices from each Fund’s Index Provider). In these cases, the Fund’s net asset value may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices. The fair value of a portfolio 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. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a Fund’s net asset value and the prices used by the Fund’s benchmark Index. This may result in a difference between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the applicable Fund’s benchmark Index. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.

 

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 ETF, except for the SPDR S&P Food & Beverage ETF, which is declared and paid quarterly, but may vary significantly from period to period. 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 for a Fund to improve index tracking or 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 discussions 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.

 

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The following information should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectuses entitled “ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION.”

TAXATION OF THE FUNDS. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. A Fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein and in the Prospectuses. 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 must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the 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 the 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 the 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 regular corporate rates 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, the 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 ten 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.

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.

Given the concentration of certain of the Indexes in a relatively small number of securities, it may not be possible for certain Funds to fully implement sampling methodologies while satisfying the Diversification Requirement. A Fund’s efforts to satisfy the Diversification Requirement may affect the Fund’s execution of its investment strategy and may cause the Fund’s return to deviate from that of the applicable Index, and the Fund’s efforts to track the applicable Index may cause it inadvertently to fail to satisfy the Diversification Requirement.

 

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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.

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, a Fund may carry a net capital loss from any taxable year forward to offset its capital gains in future years. A Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss to offset its capital gains, if any, in years following the year of the loss. A Fund is permitted to carryforward indefinitely a net capital loss form any taxable year that began after December 22, 2010. A Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss from any taxable year that began on or before December 22, 2010 to offset its capital gains, if any, for up to eight years following the year of the loss. A Fund’s carryforwards of losses from taxable years that began after December 22, 2010 must be fully utilized before the Fund may utilize carryforwards of losses from taxable years that began on or before December 22, 2010. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the 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, the portion of dividends which may qualify for the dividends-received deduction, the portion of dividends which may qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income, and the amount of exempt-interest dividends, if any.

Subject to certain limitations, dividends reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income will be taxable to noncorporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. Dividends may be reported by a Fund as qualified dividend income if they are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the Fund. Qualified dividend income includes, in general, subject to certain holding period requirements and other requirements, dividend income from certain U.S. and foreign corporations. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States, those incorporated in certain countries with comprehensive tax treaties with the United States and other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is tradable on an established securities market in the United States. A dividend generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that (i) the shareholder has not held the stock on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend or, in the case of certain preferred stock, for more than 90 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date, (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. The holding period requirements described in this paragraph apply to shareholders’ investments in the Funds and to the Funds’ investments in underlying dividend-paying stocks. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT or another RIC may be treated as qualified dividend income generally only to the extent the dividend distributions are attributable to qualified dividend income received by such REIT or RIC. It is expected that dividends received by a Fund from a REIT and distributed by that Fund to a shareholder generally will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. If 95% or more of a Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, that Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.

 

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Certain dividends received by a Fund from U.S. corporations (generally, dividends received in respect of any share of stock (1) with a tax holding period of at least 46 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend as to that dividend and (2) that is held in an unleveraged position) when distributed and appropriately so reported by the Fund may be eligible for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations under the Internal Revenue Code. In order to qualify for the deduction, corporate shareholders must meet the minimum holding period requirement stated above with respect to their Shares, taking into account any holding period reductions from certain hedging or other transactions or positions that diminish their risk of loss with respect to their Shares, and, if they borrow to acquire or otherwise incur debt attributable to Shares, they may be denied a portion of the dividends-received deduction with respect to those Shares. The entire dividend, including the otherwise deductible amount, will be included in determining the excess, if any, of a corporation’s adjusted current earnings over its alternative minimum taxable income, which may increase a corporation’s alternative minimum tax liability. Any corporate shareholder should consult its tax adviser regarding the possibility that its tax basis in its Shares may be reduced, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, by reason of “extraordinary dividends” received with respect to the Shares and, to the extent such basis would be reduced below zero, current recognition of income may be required.

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 rates of up to 20%.

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.

Distributions that are reinvested in additional Shares of a Fund 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, interest, dividends 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.

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 non-corporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%.

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).

 

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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. If a Fund meets certain requirements, which include a requirement that more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its respective taxable year consist of certain foreign securities (generally including foreign government securities), then the Fund should be eligible to file an election with the IRS that may enable its shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a tax deduction, with respect to certain foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. If at least 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the close of each quarter of a taxable year consists of interests in other RICs (including money market funds and ETFs that are taxable as RICs), the Fund may make the same election and pass through to its shareholders their pro rata shares of qualified foreign taxes paid by those other RICs and passed through to the Fund for that taxable year. Pursuant to this election, a Fund would treat the applicable foreign taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder would be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit the shareholder may be entitled to use against such shareholder’s federal income tax. If a Fund makes this election, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If a Fund does not make this election, the Fund will be entitled to claim a deduction for certain foreign taxes incurred by the Fund. Under certain circumstances, if a Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the Fund’s shareholders could incur a loss, or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

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, could affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Funds (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 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.

If a Fund acquires any equity interest (under Treasury regulations that may be promulgated in the future, generally including not only stock but also an option to acquire stock such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations (i) that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or (ii) where at least 50% of the corporation’s assets (computed based on average fair market value) either produce or are held for the production of passive income (“passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs”), the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and nondeductible interest charges on “excess distributions” received from such companies or on gain from the sale of stock in such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. A “qualified electing fund” election or a “mark to market” election may be available that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but such elections could require the applicable Fund to recognize taxable income or gain (subject to the distribution requirements applicable to RICs, as described above) without the concurrent receipt of cash. In order to satisfy the distribution requirements and avoid a tax at the Fund level, a Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund. Gains from the sale of stock of PFICs may also be treated as ordinary income. In order for a Fund to make a qualified electing fund election with respect to a PFIC, the PFIC would have to agree to provide certain tax information to the Fund on an annual basis, which it might not agree to do. The Funds may limit and/or manage their holdings in PFICs to limit their tax liability or maximize their returns from these investments.

 

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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 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 the Fund, a 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 an election by a Fund 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.

Special rules apply if a Fund holds inflation-indexed bonds, such as Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (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, the 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 advisors. There are no restrictions preventing a Fund from holding investments in REITs that hold residual interests in REMICs, and a Fund may do so. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding these issues.

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 advisors 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 IRS Form W-8 may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate.

 

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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 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 the 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 after June 30, 2014 (or, in certain cases, after later dates) and redemptions and certain capital gain dividends payable to such entities after December 31, 2018. 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.

Non-U.S. persons are subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a “United States real property interest” (a “USRPI”). Gain on such a disposition is sometimes referred to as “FIRPTA gain”. The Internal Revenue Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of “FIRPTA gain” if certain requirements are met. If the look-through rule applies, certain distributions attributable to income received by a Fund from REITs may be treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at rates of up to 35%, and requiring non-U.S. investors to file nonresident U.S. income tax returns. Also, gain may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. shareholder that is treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Under certain circumstances, a Fund may itself qualify as a USRPI, which would result in similar consequences to certain non-U.S. investors.

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 28%. 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 the 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 the 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.

 

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Persons purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction.

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 advisors 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.

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 Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“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.

INVESTMENT BY AN UNDERTAKING FOR COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT IN TRANSFERABLE SECURITIES

The Adviser has reviewed the investment characteristics and limitations of each Fund and believes that, as of December 30, 2015 each Fund (other than the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF and SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF) qualifies as an undertaking for collective investment (“UCI”) for purposes of the Luxembourg law of 17 December 2010. However, an Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities should consult its own counsel regarding the qualification of a Fund as a UCI before investing in the Fund.

 

CAPITAL STOCK AND SHAREHOLDER REPORTS

Each Fund issues Shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 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 (“Funds”) 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.

 

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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 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 Markets, LLC at State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

 

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20004, serves as counsel to the Trust. [            ], [            ], serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust. [            ] performs annual audits of the Funds’ financial statements and provides other audit, tax and related services.

 

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LOCAL MARKET HOLIDAY SCHEDULES

The Trust generally intends to effect deliveries of portfolio securities on a basis of “T” plus three business days (i.e., days on which the NYSE is open) in the relevant foreign market of a Fund. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind redemptions within three business days 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 securities, 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 closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within three business days.

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. Such periods are listed in the table below, as are instances where more than seven days will be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Since certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years, the number of days required to deliver redemption proceeds in any given year may exceed the maximum number of days listed in the table below. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays, or changes in local securities delivery practices, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future and longer (worse) redemption periods are possible.

Listed below are the dates in calendar year 2016 in which the regular holidays in non-U.S. markets may impact Fund settlement. This list is based on information available to the Funds. The list may not be accurate or complete and is subject to change:

 

Angola

  

Argentina

  

Australia

   Austria    Azerbaijan
January 1    January 1    January 1, 26    January 1, 6    January 1-2, 4, 20
January 25    February 8-9    March 7, 8, 14, 25, 28    March 25, 28    March 8, 20-25
February 4    March 24-25    April 12, 25    May 5, 16, 26   
February 9    May 25    May 2, 16    August 15   
March 8    June 20    June 6, 13-14    October 26   
March 25    August 15    August 1    November 1   
April 4    October 10    September 26    December 8, 26, 30   
   November 28    October 3      
   December 8, 30    November 1-2      
      December 23, 26-28, 30      

Bahamas

  

Bahrain*

  

Bangladesh*

   Belgium    Bermuda
January 1    May 1    February 21    January 1    January 1
March 25, 28    July 6, 7    March 17, 26    March 25, 28    March 25
May 16    September 11-14    April 14    May 5-6, 16    May 24
June 3    October 2, 10-12    May 1, 23    July 21    June 20
July 11    December 11-12, 18    July 3, 6, 7    August 15    July 28-29
August 1       August 15, 24-25    November 1, 11    September 5
October 14       September 11-14    December 26    November 11
December 20, 27       October 11-12       December 26-27
November 7            
December 12-13, 25            
  

*  Market closed every

Friday

  

*  Market closed every Friday

     

Botswana

  

Brazil

  

Canada

   Cayman Islands    Chile
January 1-2    January 1, 20, 25    January 1, 4    January 1, 25    January 1
March 25-26, 28    February 8-9    February 15    February 10    March 24-25
May 2, 5    March 25    March 25    March 25, 28    May 23
July 1, 18-19    April 21    May 23    May 16    June 27
September 30    May 26    June 24    June 13    August 15
October 1    September 7    July 1    July 4    September 16, 18-19
December 26-27    October 12    August 1    November 14    October 10, 31

 

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   November 2, 15    September 5    December 23, 26-27, 30    November 1
   December 30    October 10       December 8, 23, 30
      November 11      
      December 26-27      

China

  

Columbia

   Costa Rica    Cote d’Ivoire    Croatia
January 1, 18    January 1, 11    January 1    January 1    January 1, 6
February 8-12, 15    March 21, 24-25    March 24-25    March 28    March 25, 28
April 4    May 9, 30    April 11       May 26
May 2-6, 30    June 6    July 25       June 22
June 9    July 4, 20    August 2, 15       August 5, 15
July 4    August 15    September 15       November 1
September 5, 15    October 17    October 17       December 26
October 3-7, 10    November 7, 14    December 26-30      
November 11, 24    December 8, 30         
December 26            

Cyprus

  

Czech Republic

   Denmark    The Dominican Republic    Ecuador
January 1, 6    January 1    January 1    January 1, 4, 21, 25    January 1
March 14, 25, 28    March 28    March 24-25, 28    March 25    February 8-9
April 1, 29    July 5-6    April 22    May 2, 16, 26    March 25
May 2-3    September 28    May 5-6, 16    August 16    May 27
June 20    October 28    December 26       August 12
August 15    November 17          November 2-3
October 28    December 26, 30          December 6, 30
December 26            

Egypt*

  

El Salvador

   Estonia    Finland    France
January 7, 25    January 1    January 1    January 1, 6    January 1
April 25    March 24-26    February 24    March 25, 28    March 25, 28
May 1-2       March 25, 28    May 5    May 5
July 6-7       May 5    June 24    May 16, 20, 31
September 11-13       June 23-24    December 6, 26    July 14-15
October 2, 6       December 26       August 15
December 11, 12             October 31

*  Market closed every

Friday

            November 1, 11
            December 26

Gabon

  

Germany

   Ghana    Greece    Guernsey
January 1    January 1, 6    January 1    January 1, 6    January 1
March 28    February 8    March 7, 25, 28    February 8    March 25, 28
April 17    March 25, 28    May 2, 25    March 14, 25, 28    May 2, 9, 30
   May 5, 16, 26    July 1, 6    April 29    August 29
   August 15    September 12, 21    May 2, 16    December 23, 26-
27, 30
   October 3    December 2, 26-27    June 20   
   November 1       August 15   
   December 26, 30       October 28   
         December 26   

Hong Kong

  

Hungary

   Iceland    India    Indonesia
January 1    January 1    January 1, 4    January 1, 26    January 1
February 8-10    March 14-15, 25, 28    March 24, 25, 28    March 7, 23, 25    February 8
March 25, 28    May 16    April 21    April 1, 8, 14-15, 19    March 9, 25
April 4    October 31    May 5, 16    May 21    April 8
May 2    November 1, 26    June 17    June 30    May 5-6
June 9    December 30    August 1    July 1, 6-7    July 4-8
July 1       December 26    August 15, 17, 19, 22    August 17
September 16          September 5, 12-
13, 30
   September 12-13
October 19          October 11-12, 31    October 3
December 26-27          November 1, 14    December 12, 26, 30
         December 12-13   

 

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Iran*

  

Iraq

   Ireland    Israel*    Italy
March 20-23    January 1, 6    January 1    March 24    January 1, 6
April 2    March 5, 21    March 17, 25, 28    April 25-29    March 25, 28
May 22    April 9    May 2    May 11-13    April 25
June 4-5, 26       June 6    June 12    June 2, 9
July 6       August 1    August 14    August 15
September 12, 20       October 31    October 2-4, 11-12,    November 1
October 10-11       December 23, 26-28, 30    16-20, 23-24    December 8, 26
November 28          December 25   
December 12          *  Market closed

    every Friday

  

*  Market closed every

Thursday and Friday

           

Jamaica

  

Japan

   Jordan    Kazakhstan    Kenya
January 1    January 1, 11    May 1, 5, 25    January 1, 4, 7    January 1
February 10    February 11    July 4-7, 10    March 8, 21-23    March 25, 28
March 25, 28    March 21    September 11-15    May 2, 9    May 2
May 23    April 29    October 2    July 6    June 1
August 1    May 3-5    November 14    August 30    July 6, 7
October 17    July 18    December 12, 25, 29    September 12    October 10, 20
December 26, 27    August 11       December 1, 16, 19    December 12, 26-27
   September 19, 22         
   October 10         
   November 23         
   December 23         

Kuwait*

  

Latvia

   Lebanon    Lithuania    Luxembourg
January 3    January 1    January 1, 6    January 1    January 1
February 25, 28    March 25, 28    February 9    February 15-16    March 25, 28
May 5    May 2, 4-5    March 25, 28    March 11, 25, 28-29    May 5, 16
July 5-7    July 23-24    April 29    May 2, 5    June 23
September 8, 11-14    November 18    May 2, 25    June 24    August 15
October 2, 6, 12    December 26    July 6-7    July 6    November 1
December 12, 15, 29       August 15    August 15    December 26

*  Market closed every

Friday

      September 12-13    October 31   
      October 11    November 1   
      November 12    December 27   
      December 12      

Malaysia

  

Malta

   Mauritius    Mexico    Mongolia
January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1
February 1, 8-9    February 10    February 1, 8    February 1    February 8-11
May 2, 23, 30-31    March 25, 28, 31    March 7    March 21, 24-25    March 8
June 4    June 7, 29    April 8    September 16   
July 6-8    August 15    July 6    November 2, 21   
August 31    September 8, 21    August 15    December 12   
September 12, 16    December 8, 13, 26    September 5-6      
October 3, 31       October 31      
December 12, 26       November 2      

Morocco

  

Namibia

   The Netherlands    The Netherlands Antilles    New Zealand
January 1, 11    January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1, 4, 25
July 6-7    March 21, 25, 28    March 25, 28    February 8    February 1
September 12-14    April 27    April 27    March 25, 28    March 24-25, 28
October 3    May 2, 4-5, 12, 16    May 5, 12, 16    May 5    May 5
November 18    December 16, 26    December 26    October 21    October 21
December 12-13          December 26    December 26

 

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Nigeria

  

Norway

   Oman*    Pakistan    Panama
January 1    January 1    May 7    January 1    January 1
March 25, 28    March 23-25, 28    July 6, 7, 9    February 5    February 8-10
May 2, 30    May 5, 16-17    September 11-14    March 23    March 24-25
July 6-7    December 26    October 2    June 6-7, 24    May 2
September 12-13       November 19    July 1, 6-9    August 15
October 3       December 12    September 12-15    November 3-4, 10
December 12, 26-27       *  Market closed

    every Friday

   October 11-12    December 8, 26
         November 9   
         December 12-13   

Papua

  

Paraguay

   Peru    The Philippines    Poland
January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1, 6
March 25, 28    March 1, 23-25    March 24-25    February 8, 25    March 25, 28
April 25    May 1    June 29    March 24-25    May 3, 26
June 13    June 4    July 28-29    May 9    August 15
September 16    November 11    August 30    July 6-7    November 1, 11
December 26-27    December 24-25,31    November 1    August 26, 29    December 26
      December 8    September 12   
         November 1-2, 30   
         December 30   

Portugal

  

Qatar

   Romania    Russia    Saudi Arabia*
January 1    March 6    January 1    January 1, 4-8    July 4-7, 9
February 9    July 6, 7    May 2    February 22-23    September 10-15, 24
March 25, 28    September 11-15    June 20    March 7-8    *  Market closed

    every Friday

April 25    December 18    August 15    May 2, 9-10   
May 26       December 1    June 13   
June 10, 13       December 26    November 4   
August 15            
October 5            
November 1            
December 1, 8, 26            

Serbia

  

Singapore

   The Slovak Republic    Slovenia    South Africa
January 1, 7    January 1    January 1, 6    January 1    January 1
February 15-16    February 8-9    March 25, 28    February 8    March 21, 25, 28
April 29    March 25    July 5       April 27
May 2-3    May 2, 21, 23    August 29       May 2
November 11    July 6-7    September 1, 15       June 16
   August 9    November 1, 17       August 9
   September 12-13    December 27-30       December 16, 23, 26-
27, 30
   October 29, 31         
   December 26         

South Korea

  

Spain

   Sri Lanka    Sweden    Switzerland
January 1, 4    January 1, 6       January 1, 5-6    January 1, 6
February 8-10    March 24-25, 28    January 1, 15    March 24-25, 28    March 25, 28
March 1    April 8, 12    February 4, 22    May 4-5    May 5, 16, 26
April 5, 13-14    May 2-3, 26    March 7, 22, 25    June 6, 24    June 29
May 5    July 25    April 13, 14, 21    November 4    August 1, 15
June 6    August 15-16    May 2, 23    December 26    September 8
August 15    September 9    July 6, 19       November 1
September 14-16    October 12    August 17       December 8, 26
October 3    November 1, 9    September 12, 16      
November 10    December 6, 8, 26    October 31      
December 30       November 14      
      December 12-13, 26      

 

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Taiwan

  

Thailand

   Trinidad and Tobago    Tunisia    Turkey
January 1-2    January 1    January 1    January 1    January 1
February 4-5, 8-12    February 22    February 8-9    February 4    April 23
April 4-5    April 6, 13-15    March 25, 28, 30    March 21    May 1, 19
May 2    May 2, 5, 23    May 26, 30    July 6-7, 25    July 5-8
June 9    July 1, 18-19    June 20    August 19    August 30
September 15    August 12    July 6    September 12    September 12-16
October 3-5, 10    October 24    August 1, 31    October 26    October 28-29
   December 5, 12    December 26-27    November 7, 15   
         December 12   

Ukraine

  

The United Arab Emirates*

   The United Kingdom    The United States
Bond Market
   Uruguay
January 1, 4, 7    January 2    January 1    January 1, 18    January 1, 6
March 8    May 4-5    March 25, 28    February 15    February 8, 9
May 2-3, 9    July 5-7    May 2, 30    March 24*, 25    March 24-25
June 20, 28    August 6    August 29    May 29*, 30    April 18
August 24    September 10-14    December 23, 26-
27, 30
   July 4    May 16
   October 2       September 5    July 18
   December 3-4, 11-12       October 10    August 25
         November 11, 24, 25*    October 10
  

*  Market closed every Friday

      December 24*, 25, 31*    November 2
         *  The U.S. bond

    market has

    recommended

    early close

  

Venezuela

  

Vietnam

   Zambia    Zimbabwe   

 

January 1, 11    January 1    January 1    January 1   
February 8-9    February 8-10    March 8, 25, 28    March 25, 28   
March 24-25    April 18    May 5, 25    April 18   
April 19    May 2-3    July 4, 5    May 2, 25   
May 9, 30    September 2    August 1    August 8, 9   
June 24, 27       October 24    December 22, 26   
July 5       December 26      
August 15            
October 12, 31            
December 12            

 

* Early Close

Redemptions. The longest redemption cycle for a Fund is a function of the longest redemption cycle among the countries whose securities comprise the Funds. In calendar year 2016, the dates of regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case redemption cycles* for a Fund as follows:

 

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2016               

Country

  

Trade

Date

  

Settlement

Date

  

Number of

Days to

Settle

China

   02/03/16    02/17/16    14
   02/04/16    02/18/16    14
   02/05/16    02/19/16    14
   04/27/16    05/09/16    12
   04/28/16    05/10/16    12
   04/29/16    05/11/16    12
   09/28/16    10/11/16    13
   09/29/16    10/12/16    13
   09/30/16    10/13/16    13

Colombia

   03/18/16    03/28/16    10

Indonesia

   06/29/16    07/11/16    12
   06/30/16    07/12/16    12
   07/01/16    07/13/16    12

Ireland

   12/21/16    12/29/16    8
   12/22/16    01/02/17    11

Israel

   04/20/16    05/01/16    11
   04/21/16    05/02/16    11
   10/10/16    10/25/16    15
   10/13/16    10/26/16    13

Malaysia

   07/01/16    07/11/16    10
   07/04/16    07/12/16    8
   07/05/16    07/13/16    8

Mexico

   03/18/16    03/28/16    10

Pakistan

   09/08/16    09/16/16    8
   09/09/16    09/19/16    10

Philippines

   12/23/15    01/04/16    12
   12/28/15    01/05/16    8
   12/29/15    01/06/16    8

Qatar

   09/06/16    09/18/16    12
   09/07/16    09/19/16    12
   09/08/16    09/20/16    12

Serbia

   04/26/16    05/04/16    8
   04/27/16    05/05/16    8
   04/28/16    05/06/16    8

 

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South Africa    12/24/15    01/04/16    11
   12/28/15    01/05/16    8
   12/29/15    01/06/16    8
   12/30/15    01/07/16    8
   12/31/15    01/08/16    8
   03/14/16    03/22/16    8
   03/15/16    03/23/16    8
   03/16/16    03/24/16    8
   03/17/16    03/29/16    12
   03/18/16    03/30/16    12
   03/22/16    03/31/16    9
   03/23/16    04/01/16    9
   03/24/16    04/04/16    11
   04/20/16    04/28/16    8
   04/21/16    04/29/16    8
   04/22/16    05/03/16    11
   04/25/16    05/04/16    9
   04/26/16    05/05/16    9
   04/28/16    05/06/16    8
   04/29/16    05/09/16    10
   06/09/16    06/17/16    8
   06/10/16    06/20/16    10
   06/13/16    06/21/16    8
   06/14/16    06/22/16    8
   06/15/16    06/23/16    8
   08/02/16    08/10/16    8
   08/03/16    08/11/16    8
   08/04/16    08/12/16    8
   08/05/16    08/15/16    10
   08/08/16    08/16/16    8
   12/09/16    12/19/16    10
   12/12/16    12/20/16    8
   12/13/16    12/21/16    8
   12/14/16    12/22/16    8
   12/15/16    12/28/16    13
   12/16/16    12/28/16    12
   12/19/16    12/29/16    10
   12/20/16    01/02/17    13
   12/21/16    01/03/17    13
   12/22/16    01/04/17    13
   12/28/16    01/05/17    8
   12/29/16    01/06/17    8
Sweden    12/30/15    01/07/16    8
Thailand    04/08/16    04/18/16    10
   04/11/16    04/19/16    8
   04/12/16    04/20/16    8
Turkey    07/01/16    07/11/16    10
   07/04/16    07/12/16    8
   09/08/16    09/19/16    11
   09/09/16    09/20/16    11
Ukraine    12/31/15    01/08/16    8
United Arab Emirates    09/07/16    09/15/16    8
   09/08/16    09/18/16    10

 

* These worst-case redemption cycles are based on information regarding regular holidays. Based on changes in holidays, longer (worse) redemption cycles are possible.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Funds had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI and therefore do not have financial information to report for the Trust’s June 30, 2016 fiscal year end.

 

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APPENDIX A

March 2016

Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles

State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), one of the industry’s largest institutional asset managers, is the investment management arm of State Street Bank and Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a leading provider of financial services to institutional investors. As an investment manager, SSGA has discretionary proxy voting authority over most of its client accounts, and SSGA votes these proxies in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments as described in the SSGA Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA maintains Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines for select markets, including: the US, the EU, the UK, Australia, emerging markets and Japan. International markets that do not have specific guidelines are reviewed and voted consistent with our Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles; however, SSGA also endeavors to show sensitivity to local market practices when voting in these various markets.

SSGA’s Approach to Proxy Voting and Issuer Engagement

At SSGA, we take our fiduciary duties as an asset manager very seriously. We have a dedicated team of corporate governance professionals who help us carry out our duties as a responsible investor. These duties include engaging with companies, developing and enhancing in-house corporate governance policies, analyzing corporate governance issues on a case-by-case basis at the company level, and exercising our voting rights—all to maximize shareholder value.

SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles (the “Principles”) may take different perspectives on common governance issues that vary from one market to another and, likewise, engagement activity may take different forms in order to best achieve long-term engagement goals. We believe that proxy voting and engagement with portfolio companies is often the most direct and productive way shareholders can exercise their ownership rights, and taken together, we view these tools to be an integral part of the overall investment process.

We believe engagement and voting activity have a direct relationship. As a result, the integration of our engagement activities, while leveraging the exercise of our voting rights, provides a meaningful shareholder tool that we believe protects and enhances the long-term economic value of the holdings in our client accounts. SSGA maximizes its voting power and engagement by maintaining a centralized proxy voting and active ownership process covering all holdings, regardless of strategy. Despite the different investment views and objectives across SSGA, depending on the product or strategy, the fiduciary responsibilities of share ownership and voting for which SSGA has voting discretion are carried out with a single voice and objective.

The Principles support governance structures that we believe add to, or maximize shareholder value at the companies held in our clients’ portfolios. SSGA conducts issuer specific engagements with companies to discuss our principles, including sustainability related risks. In addition, we encourage issuers to find ways of increasing 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. Conversely, where appropriate, we conduct collaborative engagement activities with multiple shareholders and communicate with company representatives about common concerns.

In conducting our engagements, SSGA also evaluates the various factors that play into the corporate governance framework of a country, including the macroeconomic conditions and broader political system, the quality of regulatory oversight, the enforcement of property and shareholder rights and the independence of the judiciary to name a few. SSGA understands that regulatory requirements and investor expectations relating to governance practices and engagement activities differ from country-to-country. As a result, SSGA engages with issuers, regulators, or both, depending on the market. SSGA also is a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy at the country level as well as issuer specific concerns at a company level.

To help mitigate company specific risk, the team may collaborate with members of the active investment teams to engage with companies on corporate governance issues and address any specific concerns, or to get more information regarding shareholder items that are to be voted on at upcoming shareholder meetings. Outside of proxy voting season, SSGA conducts issuer specific engagements with companies covering various corporate governance and sustainability related topics.

The SSGA Governance Team uses a blend of quantitative and qualitative research and data to support screens to help identify issuers where active engagement may be necessary to protect and promote shareholder value. Issuer engagement may also be event driven, focusing on issuer specific corporate governance, sustainability concerns or wider industry related trends. SSGA also gives consideration to the size of our total position of the issuer in question and/or the potential negative governance, performance profile, and circumstance at hand. As a result, SSGA believes issuer engagement can take many forms and be triggered under numerous circumstances. The following methods represent how SSGA defines engagement methods:

Active

SSGA uses screening tools designed to capture a mix of company specific data including governance and sustainability profiles to help us focus our voting and engagement activity.

 

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SSGA will actively seek direct dialogue with the board and management of companies we have identified through our screening processes. Such engagements may lead to further monitoring to ensure the company improves its governance or sustainability practices. In these cases, the engagement process represents the most meaningful opportunity for SSGA to protect long-term shareholder value from excessive risk due to poor governance and sustainability practices.

Reactive

Reactive engagement is initiated by the issuers. SSGA routinely discusses specific voting issues and items with the issuer community. Reactive engagement is an opportunity to address not only voting items, but also a wide range of governance and sustainability issues.

SSGA has established an engagement protocol that further describes our approach to issuer engagement.

Measurement

Assessing the effectiveness of our issuer engagement process is often difficult. To limit the subjectivity of measuring our success we actively seek issuer feedback and monitor the actions issuers take post-engagement to identify tangible changes. By doing so, we are able to establish indicators to gauge how issuers respond to our concerns and to what degree these responses satisfy our requests. It is also important to note that successful engagement activity can be measured over differing time periods depending on the facts and circumstances involved. Engagements can last as short as a single meeting or span multiple years.

Depending on the issue and whether the engagement activity is reactive, recurring, or active, engagement with issuers can take the form of written communication, conference calls, or face-to-face meetings. SSGA believes active engagement is best conducted directly with company management or board members. Collaborative engagement, where multiple shareholders communicate with company representatives, can serve as a potential forum for issues that are not identified by SSGA as requiring active engagement, such as shareholder conference calls.

Proxy Voting Procedure

Oversight

The SSGA Corporate Governance Team is responsible for developing and implementing the Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), case-by-case voting items, issuer engagement activities, and research and analysis of governance-related issues. The implementation of the Guidelines is overseen by the SSGA Global Proxy Review Committee (“SSGA PRC”), a committee of investment, compliance and legal professionals, who provide guidance on proxy issues as described in greater detail below. Oversight of the proxy voting process is ultimately the responsibility of the SSGA Investment Committee. The SSGA Investment Committee reviews and approves amendments to the Guidelines. The SSGA PRC reports to the SSGA Investment Committee, and may refer certain significant proxy items to that committee.

Proxy Voting Process

In order to facilitate SSGA’s proxy voting process, SSGA retains Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), a firm with expertise in proxy voting and corporate governance. SSGA utilizes ISS’s services in three ways: (1) as SSGA’s proxy voting agent (providing SSGA with vote execution and administration services); (2) for applying the Guidelines; and (3) as providers of research and analysis relating to general corporate governance issues and specific proxy items.

The SSGA Corporate Governance Team reviews the Guidelines with ISS on an annual basis or on a case-by-case basis as needed. On most routine proxy voting items (e.g., ratification of auditors), ISS will affect the proxy votes in accordance with the Guidelines.

In other cases, the Corporate Governance Team will evaluate the proxy solicitation to determine how to vote based on facts and circumstances, consistent with the Principles, and the accompanying Guidelines, that seek to maximize the value of our client accounts.

In some instances, the Corporate Governance Team may refer significant issues to the SSGA PRC for a determination of the proxy vote. In addition, in determining whether to refer a proxy vote to the SSGA PRC, the Corporate Governance Team will consider whether a material conflict of interest exists between the interests of our client and those of SSGA or its affiliates (as explained in greater detail in our “Conflict of Interest” Policy).

 

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SSGA votes in all markets where it is feasible; however, SSGA may refrain from voting meetings when power of attorney documentation is required, where voting will have a material impact on our ability to trade the security, where issuer-specific special documentation is required, or where various market or issuer certifications are required. SSGA is 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.

Conflict of Interest

See SSGA’s standalone Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles

Directors and Boards

The election of directors is one of the most important fiduciary duties SSGA performs as a shareholder. SSGA believes that well-governed companies can protect and pursue shareholder interests better and withstand the challenges of an uncertain economic environment. As such, SSGA seeks to vote director elections in a way which we, as a fiduciary, believe will maximize the long-term value of each portfolio’s holdings.

Principally, a board acts on behalf of shareholders by protecting their interests and preserving their rights. This concept establishes the standard by which board and director performance is measured. To achieve this fundamental principle, the role of the board, in SSGA’s view, is to carry out its responsibilities in the best long-term interest of the company and its shareholders. An independent and effective board oversees management, provides guidance on strategic matters, selects the CEO and other senior executives, creates a succession plan for the board and management, provides risk oversight and assesses the performance of the CEO and management. In contrast, management implements the business and capital allocation strategies and runs the company’s day-to-day operations. As part of SSGA’s engagement process, SSGA routinely discusses the importance of these responsibilities with the boards of issuers.

SSGA believes the quality of a board is a measure of director independence, director succession planning, board evaluations and refreshment and company governance practices. In voting to elect nominees, SSGA considers many factors. SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will effectively monitor management, maintain appropriate governance practices and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. SSGA also believes the right mix of skills, independence and qualifications among directors provides boards with the knowledge and direct experience to deal with risks and operating structures that are often unique and complex from one industry to another.

Accounting and Audit Related Issues

SSGA believes audit committees are critical and necessary as part of the board’s risk oversight role. The audit committee is responsible for setting out an internal audit function to provide robust audit and internal control systems designed to effectively manage potential and emerging risks to the company’s operations and strategy. SSGA believes audit committees should have independent directors as members, and SSGA will hold the members of the audit committee responsible for overseeing the management of the audit function.

The disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for the investment process. As a result, board oversight of the internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely on financial statements. Also, it is important for the audit committee to appoint external auditors who are independent from management as we expect auditors to provide assurance as of a company’s financial condition.

Capital Structure, Reorganization and Mergers

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow and 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 and in making such a critical decision, SSGA believes the company should have a well explained business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and not overly dilutive to its shareholders.

 

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Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.

Proposals that are in the best interests of shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In evaluating mergers and acquisitions, SSGA considers the adequacy of the consideration and the impact of the corporate governance provisions to shareholders. In all cases, SSGA uses its discretion in order to maximize shareholder value.

Occasionally, companies add anti-takeover provisions that reduce the chances of a potential acquirer making an offer, or reducing the likelihood of a successful offer. SSGA does not support proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights, entrench management or reduce the likelihood of shareholder’s right to vote on reasonable offers.

Compensation

SSGA considers the board’s responsibility to include setting the appropriate level of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive compensation; SSGA believes 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also consider executive compensation practices when re-electing members of the remuneration committee.

SSGA recognizes that compensation policies and practices are unique from market to market; often with significant differences between the level of disclosures, the amount and forms of compensation paid, and the ability of shareholders to approve executive compensation practices. As a result, our ability to assess the appropriateness of executive compensation is often dependent on market practices and laws.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. Environmental and social factors may not only have an impact on the reputation of companies but may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could be the result of anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends to shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on a company, its industry, operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of board members if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder requests to amend them.

 

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General/Routine

Although SSGA does not seek involvement in the day-to-day operations of an organization, SSGA recognizes the need for conscientious oversight and input into management decisions that may affect a company’s value. SSGA supports proposals that encourage economically advantageous corporate practices and governance, while leaving decisions that are deemed to be routine or constitute ordinary business to management and the board of directors.

Fixed Income Stewardship

The two elements of SSGA’s fixed income stewardship program are:

Proxy Voting:

While matters that come up for a vote at bondholder meetings vary by jurisdiction, examples of common proxy voting resolutions at bondholder meetings include:

 

    Approving amendments to debt covenants and/or terms of issuance;

 

    Authorizing procedural matters such as filing of required documents/other formalities;

 

    Approving debt restructuring plans;

 

    Abstaining from challenging the bankruptcy trustees;

 

    Authorizing repurchase of issued debt security;

 

    Approving the placement of unissued debt securities under the control of directors; and,

 

    Approve spin-off/absorption proposals.

Given the nature of the items that come up for vote at bondholder meetings, SSGA takes a case-by-case approach to voting bondholder resolutions. Where necessary, SSGA will engage with issuers on voting matters prior to arriving at voting decisions. All voting decisions will be made in the best interest of our clients.

Issuer Engagement:

SSGA recognizes that debt holders have limited leverage with companies on a day-to-day basis. However, we believe that given the size of our holdings in corporate debt, SSGA can meaningfully influence ESG practices of companies through issuer engagement. Our guidelines for engagement with fixed income issuers broadly follow the engagement guidelines for our equity holdings as described above.

Securities on Loan

For funds where SSGA acts as trustee, SSGA may recall securities in instances where SSGA believes that a particular vote will have a material impact on the fund(s). Several factors shape this process. First, SSGA must receive notice of the vote in sufficient time to recall the shares on or before the record date. In many cases, SSGA does not receive timely notice, and is unable to recall the shares on or before the record date. Second, SSGA, exercising its discretion may recall shares if it believes the benefit of voting shares will outweigh the foregone lending income. This determination requires SSGA, with the information available at the time, to form judgments about events or outcomes that are difficult to quantify. Given past experience in this area, however, we believe that the recall of securities will rarely provide an economic benefit that outweighs the cost of the foregone lending income.

Reporting

Any client who wishes to receive information on how its proxies were voted should contact its SSGA relationship manager.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. State Street Global Advisors Italy, Sede Secondaria di Milano, Via dei Bossi, 4 20121 Milan, Italy. T: +39 02 32066 100. F: +39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

United States

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) US Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in the US. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s US Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, director tenure, audit related issues, capital structure, executive compensation, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in the US, SSGA expects all companies to act in a transparent manner and provide detailed disclosure on board profiles, related-party transactions, executive compensation and other governance issues that impact shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagements to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagements and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the US.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practices, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

Director related proposals at US companies include issues submitted to shareholders that deal with the composition of the board or with members of a corporation’s board of directors. In deciding which director nominee to support, SSGA considers numerous factors.

Director Elections

SSGA’s director election policy focuses on companies’ governance profile to identify if a company demonstrates appropriate governance practices or if it exhibits negative governance practices. Factors SSGA considers when evaluating governance practices include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    Shareholder rights;

 

    Board independence; and

 

    Board structure.

 

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If a company demonstrates appropriate governance practices, SSGA believes a director should be classified as independent based on the relevant listing standards or local market practice standards. In such cases, the composition of the key oversight committees of a board should meet the minimum standards of independence. Accordingly, SSGA will vote against a nominee at a company with appropriate governance practices if the director is classified as non-independent under relevant listing standards or local market practice AND serves on a key committee of the board (compensation, audit, nominating or committees required to be fully independent by local market standards).

Conversely, if a company demonstrates negative governance practices, SSGA believes the classification standards for director independence should be elevated. In such circumstances, we will evaluate all director nominees based on the following classification standards:

 

  Is the nominee an employee of or related to an employee of the issuer or its auditor;

 

  Does the nominee provide professional services to the issuer;

 

  Has the nominee attended an appropriate number of board meetings; or

 

  Has the nominee received non-board related compensation from the issuer.

Where companies demonstrate negative governance practices, these stricter standards will apply not only to directors who are a member of a key committee but to all directors on the board as market practice permits. Accordingly, SSGA will vote against a nominee (with the exception of the CEO) where the board has inappropriate governance practices and is considered not independent based on the above independence criteria.

Additionally, SSGA may withhold votes from directors based on the following:

 

    When overall average board tenure is excessive and/or individual director tenure is excessive. In assessing excessive tenure, SSGA gives consideration to factors such as the preponderance of long tenured directors, board refreshment practices, and classified board structures;

 

    When directors attend less than 75% of board meetings without appropriate explanation or providing reason for their failure to meet the attendance threshold;

 

    CEOs of a public company who sit on more than three public company boards;

 

    Director nominees who sit on more than six public company boards;

 

    Directors of companies that have not been responsive to a shareholder proposal which received a majority shareholder support at the last annual or special meeting; consideration maybe given if management submits the proposal(s) on the ballot as a binding management proposal, recommending shareholders vote for the particular proposal(s);

 

    Directors of companies have unilaterally adopted/ amended company bylaws that negatively impact SSGA’s shareholder rights (such as fee-shifting, forum selection and exclusion service bylaws) without putting such amendments to a shareholder vote;

 

    Compensation committee members where there is a weak relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period;

 

    Audit committee members if non-audit fees exceed 50% of total fees paid to the auditors; and

 

    Directors who appear to have been remiss in their duties.

Director Related Proposals

SSGA generally votes for the following director related proposals:

 

    Discharge of board members’ duties, in the absence of pending litigation, regulatory investigation, charges of fraud or other indications of significant concern;

 

    Proposals to restore shareholders’ ability to remove directors with or without cause;

 

    Proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies; and

 

    Shareholder proposals seeking disclosure regarding the company, board, or compensation committee’s use of compensation consultants, such as company name, business relationship(s) and fees paid.

 

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SSGA generally votes against the following director related proposals:

 

    Requirements that candidates for directorships own large amounts of stock before being eligible to be elected;

 

    Proposals that relate to the “transaction of other business as properly comes before the meeting”, which extend “blank check” powers to those acting as proxy; and

 

    Proposals requiring two candidates per board seat.

Majority Voting

SSGA will generally support a majority vote standard based on votes cast for the election of directors.

SSGA will generally vote to support amendments to bylaws that would require simple majority of voting shares (i.e. shares cast) to pass or repeal certain provisions.

Annual Elections

SSGA generally supports the establishment of annual elections of the board of directors. Consideration is given to the overall level of board independence and the independence of the key committees as well as whether there is a shareholders rights plan.

Cumulative Voting

SSGA does not support cumulative voting structures for the election of directors.

Separation Chair/CEO

SSGA analyzes proposals for the separation of Chair/CEO on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration numerous factors, including but not limited to, the appointment of and role played by a lead director, a company’s performance and the overall governance structure of the company.

Proxy Access

In general, SSGA believes that proxy access is a fundamental right and an accountability mechanism for all long-term shareholders. SSGA will consider proposals relating to Proxy Access on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will support shareholder proposals that set parameters to empower long-term shareholders while providing management the flexibility to design a process that is appropriate for the company’s circumstances.

SSGA will review the terms of all other proposals and will support those proposals that have been introduced in the spirit of enhancing shareholder rights.

Considerations include but are not limited to the following:

 

    The ownership thresholds and holding duration proposed in the resolution;

 

    The binding nature of the proposal;

 

    The number of directors that shareholders may be able to nominate each year;

 

    Company governance structure;

 

    Shareholder rights; and

 

    Board performance.

Age/Term Limits

Generally, SSGA will vote against age and term limits unless the company is found to have poor board refreshment and director succession practices and has a preponderance of non-executive directors with excessively long-tenures serving on the board.

 

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Approve Remuneration of Directors

Generally, SSGA will support directors’ compensation, provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other issuers in the market or industry. In making our determination, we review whether the compensation is overly dilutive to existing shareholders.

Indemnification

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Classified Boards

SSGA generally supports annual elections for the board of directors.

Confidential Voting

SSGA will support confidential voting.

Board Size

SSGA will support proposals seeking to fix the board size or designate a range for the board size and will vote against proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the board outside of a specified range without shareholder approval.

Audit Related Issues

Ratifying Auditors and Approving Auditor Compensation

SSGA supports the approval of auditors and auditor compensation provided that the issuer has properly disclosed audit and non-audit fees relative to market practice and the audit fees are not deemed excessive. SSGA deems audit fees to be excessive if the non-audit fees for the prior year constituted 50% or more of the total fees paid to the auditor. SSGA will support the disclosure of auditor and consulting relationships when the same or related entities are conducting both activities and will support the establishment of a selection committee responsible for the final approval of significant management consultant contract awards where existing firms are already acting in an auditing function.

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.

SSGA will support the discharge of auditors and requirements that auditors attend the annual meeting of shareholders.1

Capital Related Issues

Capital structure proposals include requests by management for approval of amendments to the certificate of incorporation that will alter the capital structure of the company.

The most common request is for an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock, usually in conjunction with a stock split or dividend. Typically, requests that are not unreasonably dilutive or enhance the rights of common shareholders are supported. In considering authorized share proposals, the typical threshold for approval is 100% over current authorized shares. However, the threshold may be increased if the company offers a specific need or purpose (merger, stock splits, growth purposes, etc.). All proposals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s specific financial situation.

Increase in Authorized Common Shares

In general, SSGA supports share increases for general corporate purposes up to 100% of current authorized stock.

 

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SSGA supports increases for specific corporate purposes up to 100% of the specific need plus 50% of current authorized common stock for US firms.

When applying the thresholds, SSGA will also consider the nature of the specific need, such as mergers and acquisitions and stock splits.

Increase in Authorized Preferred Shares

SSGA votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to increase the number of preferred shares.

Generally, SSGA will vote for the authorization of preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.

SSGA will support proposals to create “declawed” blank check preferred stock (stock that cannot be used as a takeover defense). However, SSGA will vote against proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock authorized for issuance when no shares have been issued or reserved for a specific purpose.

Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA will not support proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will vote against new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add “blank check” classes of stock (i.e. classes of stock with undefined voting rights) or classes that dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.

However, SSGA will support capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation.

Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported.

In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering the following:

 

    Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock, especially in some non-US markets;

 

    Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti–Takeover Issues

Typically, these are proposals relating to requests by management to amend the certificate of incorporation or bylaws to add or delete a provision that is deemed to have an anti-takeover effect. The majority of these proposals deal with management’s attempt to add some provision that makes a hostile takeover more difficult or will protect incumbent management in the event of a change in control of the company.

Proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights or have the effect of entrenching incumbent management will not be supported.

Proposals that enhance the right of shareholders to make their own choices as to the desirability of a merger or other proposal are supported.

Shareholder Rights Plans

SSGA will support mandates requiring shareholder approval of a shareholder rights plans (“poison pill”) and repeals of various anti-takeover related provisions.

In general, SSGA will vote against the adoption or renewal of a US issuer’s shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”).

SSGA will vote for an amendment to a shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”) where the terms of the new plans are more favorable to shareholders’ ability to accept unsolicited offers (i.e. if one of the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, and (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced).

Special Meetings

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals related to special meetings at companies that do not provide shareholders the right to call for a special meeting in their bylaws if:

 

    The company also does not allow shareholders to act by written consent; or

 

    The company allows shareholders to act by written consent but the ownership threshold for acting by written consent is set above 25% of outstanding shares.

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals related to special meetings at companies that give shareholders (with a minimum 10% ownership threshold) the right to call for a special meeting in their bylaws if:

 

    The current ownership threshold to call for a special meeting is above 25% of outstanding shares.

SSGA will vote for management proposals related to special meetings.

Written Consent

SSGA will vote for shareholder proposals on written consent at companies if:

 

    The company does not have provisions in their bylaws giving shareholders the right to call for a special meeting; or

 

    The company allows shareholders the right to call for a special meeting but the current ownership threshold to call for a special meeting is above 25% of outstanding shares; and

 

    The company has a poor governance profile.

SSGA will vote management proposals on written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

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Super–Majority

SSGA will generally vote against amendments to bylaws requiring super-majority shareholder votes to pass or repeal certain provisions. SSGA will vote for the reduction or elimination of super-majority vote requirements, unless management of the issuer was concurrently seeking to or had previously made such a reduction or elimination.

Remuneration Issues

Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides the analysis of all compensation plans; namely, are the terms of the plan designed to provide an incentive for executives and/or employees to align their interests with those of the shareholders and thus work toward enhancing shareholder value. Plans which benefit participants only when the shareholders also benefit are those most likely to be supported.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Frequency

SSGA believes executive compensation plays a critical role in aligning executives interest with shareholder’s, attracting, retaining and incentivizing key talent, and ensuring positive correlation between the performance achieved by management and the benefits derived by shareholders. SSGA supports management proposals on executive compensation where there is a strong relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period. SSGA seeks adequate disclosure of different compensation 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. Further, shareholders should have the opportunity to assess whether pay structures and levels are aligned with business performance on an annual basis.

Employee Equity Award Plans

SSGA considers numerous criteria when examining equity award proposals. Generally, SSGA does not vote against plans for lack of performance or vesting criteria. Rather, the main criteria that will result in a vote against an equity award plan are:

Excessive voting power dilution To assess the dilutive effect, we divide the number of shares required to fully fund the proposed plan, the number of authorized but unissued shares and the issued but unexercised shares by the fully diluted share count. SSGA reviews that number in light of certain factors, including the industry of the issuer.

Historical option grants Excessive historical option grants over the past three years. Plans that provide for historical grant patterns of greater than five to eight percent are generally not supported.

Repricing SSGA will vote against any plan where repricing is expressly permitted. If a company has a history of repricing underwater options, the plan will not be supported.

Other criteria include the following:

 

    Number of participants or eligible employees;

 

    The variety of awards possible; and

 

    The period of time covered by the plan.

There are numerous factors that we view as negative, and together, may result in a vote against a proposal:

 

    Grants to individuals or very small groups of participants;

 

    “Gun-jumping” grants which anticipate shareholder approval of a plan or amendment;

 

    The power of the board to exchange “underwater” options without shareholder approval; this pertains to the ability of a company to reprice options, not the actual act of repricing described above;

 

    Below market rate loans to officers to exercise their options;

 

    The ability to grant options at less than fair market value;

 

    Acceleration of vesting automatically upon a change in control; and

 

    Excessive compensation (i.e. compensation plans which are deemed by SSGA to be overly dilutive).

 

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Share Repurchases If a company makes a clear connection between a share repurchase program and its intent to offset dilution created from option plans and the company fully discloses the amount of shares being repurchased, the voting dilution calculation may be adjusted to account for the impact of the buy back.

Companies who do not (i) clearly state the intentions of any proposed share buy-back plan or (ii) disclose a definitive number of the shares to be bought back, (iii) specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares and, (iv) disclose the time frame during which the shares will be bought back, will not have any such repurchase plan factored into the dilution calculation.

162(m) Plan Amendments If a plan would not normally meet the SSGA criteria described above, but is primarily being amended to add specific performance criteria to be used with awards designed to qualify for performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, then SSGA will support the proposal to amend the plan.

Employee Stock Option Plans

SSGA generally votes for stock purchase plans with an exercise price of not less than 85% of fair market value. However, SSGA takes market practice into consideration.

Compensation Related Items

SSGA will generally support the following proposals:

 

    Expansions to reporting of financial or compensation-related information, within reason; and

 

    Proposals requiring the disclosure of executive retirement benefits if the issuer does not have an independent compensation committee.

SSGA will generally vote against the following proposals:

 

    Retirement bonuses for non-executive directors and auditors.

Miscellaneous/Routine Items

SSGA generally supports the following miscellaneous/routine governance items:

 

    Reimbursement of all appropriate proxy solicitation expenses associated with the election when voting in conjunction with support of a dissident slate;

 

    Opting-out of business combination provision;

 

    Proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management;

 

    Liquidation of the company if the company will file for bankruptcy if the proposal is not approved;

 

    Shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote;

 

    General updating of, or corrective amendments to, charter and bylaws not otherwise specifically addressed herein, unless such amendments would reasonably be expected to diminish shareholder rights (e.g. extension of directors’ term limits, amending shareholder vote requirement to amend the charter documents, insufficient information provided as to the reason behind the amendment);

 

    Change in corporation name;

 

    Mandates that amendments to bylaws or charters have shareholder approval;

 

    Management proposals to change the date, time, and/or location of the annual meeting unless the proposed change is unreasonable;

 

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    Repeals, prohibitions or adoption of anti-greenmail provisions;

 

    Management proposals to implement a reverse stock split when the number of authorized shares will be proportionately reduced and proposals to implement a reverse stock split to avoid delisting; and

 

    Exclusive forum provisions.

SSGA generally does not support the following miscellaneous/ routine governance items:

 

    Proposals asking companies to adopt full tenure holding periods for their executives;

 

    Reincorporation to a location that we believe has more negative attributes than its current location of incorporation;

 

    Shareholder proposals to change the date, time, and/or location of the annual meeting unless the current scheduling or location is unreasonable;

 

    Proposals to approve other business when it appears as a voting item;

 

    Proposals giving the board exclusive authority to amend the bylaws; and

 

    Proposals to reduce quorum requirements for shareholder meetings below a majority of the shares outstanding unless there are compelling reasons to support the proposal.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, we consider the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business.

Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer-by-issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

 

1 Common for non-US issuers; request from the issuer to discharge from liability the directors or auditors with respect to actions taken by them during the previous year.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6419 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Europe

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) European Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines cover different corporate governance frameworks and practices in European markets excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies.

 

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SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines in European markets address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management and monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in European markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research in to corporate governance issues in European companies, SSGA also considers guidance issued by the European Commission. Companies should provide detailed explanations under diverse ‘comply or explain’ approaches, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and EMEA investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in European markets.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re–election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices.

A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in European companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related–party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders;

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees;

 

    Employee and government representatives; and

 

    Overall average board tenure and individual director tenure at issuers with classified and de-classified boards, respectively.

 

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While, overall board independence requirements and board structures differ from market to market, SSGA considers voting against directors it deems non–independent if overall board independence is below one third. SSGA also assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case–by–case basis, giving consideration to factors such as overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. SSGA may also not support a proposal to discharge the board, if a company fails to meet adequate governance standards or board level independence.

When considering the election or re-election of a non-executive director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive can undertake and attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA may vote against the election of a director whose biographical disclosures are insufficient to assess his or her role on the board and/or independence.

Although we generally are in favour of the annual election of directors, we recognise that director terms vary considerably in different European markets. SSGA may vote against article/bylaw changes that seek to extend director terms. In addition, in certain markets, SSGA may vote against directors if their director terms extend beyond four years.

SSGA believes companies should have relevant board level committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Similarly, executive pay is an important aspect of corporate governance, and it should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. SSGA may vote against nominees who are executive members of audit or remuneration committees.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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.

In certain European markets it is not uncommon for the election of directors to be presented in a single slate. In these cases, where executives serve on the audit or the remuneration committees, SSGA may vote against the entire slate.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

 

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Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

In some European markets, differential voting rights continue to exist. SSGA supports the “one share one vote” policy and favors a share structure where all shares have equal voting rights. SSGA believes pre-emption rights should be introduced for shareholders in order to provide adequate protection from being overly diluted from the issuance of new shares or convertible securities to third parties or a small number of select shareholders.

Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA generally opposes proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will generally oppose new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add classes of stock with undefined voting rights or classes that may dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders. SSGA supports proposals to abolish voting caps and capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Increase in Authorized Capital

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholder’s ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seek to issue new shares whilst dis-applying pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for a specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share re-purchase requests that allow share re-purchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long-term financial health.

Related Party Transactions

Certain companies in European markets have a controlled ownership structure and have 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, SSGA expects companies to provide details of the transaction, such as the nature, value and purpose of such a transaction. It also encourages independent directors to ratify such transactions. Further, SSGA encourages companies to 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.

 

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Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price

Anti–Takeover Measures

European markets have diverse regulations concerning the use of share issuances as takeover defenses with legal restrictions lacking in some markets. SSGA supports a one-share, one-vote policy, for example, given that dual-class capital structures entrench certain shareholders and management, insulating them from possible takeovers. SSGA opposes unlimited share issuance authorizations as they may be used as antitakeover devices, and they have the potential for substantial voting and earnings dilution. SSGA also monitors the duration of authorities to issue shares and whether there are restrictions and caps on multiple issuance authorities during the specified time periods. SSGA opposes antitakeover defenses such as authorities for the board, when subject to a hostile takeover, to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

Despite the differences among the types of plans and awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure to review its approach.

Equity Incentives Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

 

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Non–Executive Director Pay

In European markets, authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company-by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 0232066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6418 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

United Kingdom

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”), UK Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s UK Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in the UK and Ireland, SSGA expects all companies, regardless of domicile, that obtain a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange or the Irish Stock Exchange to comply with the UK Corporate Governance Code. Companies should provide detailed explanations under the Code’s ‘comply or explain’ approach, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and EMEA investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the UK and European markets.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound corporate governance policies and practices.

A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in UK companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Excessive tenure and a preponderance of long-tenured directors:

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders; and

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

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When considering the election or re-election of a director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive and an executive may undertake as well as attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA monitors other factors that may influence the independence of a non-executive director, such as performance related pay, cross-directorships, significant shareholdings and tenure. SSGA supports the annual election of directors.

While SSGA is generally supportive of having the roles of chairman and CEO separated in the UK market, SSGA assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to factors such as the company’s specific circumstances, overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. Similarly, SSGA will monitor for circumstances where a combined chairman/CEO is appointed or where a former CEO becomes chairman.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities when considering their suitability for reappointment. (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

SSGA believes companies should have committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Similarly, executive pay is an important aspect of corporate governance, and it should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. SSGA will vote against nominees who are executive members of audit or remuneration committees.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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. The nomination committee is responsible for evaluating and keeping under review the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the board and ensuring that adequate succession plans are in place for directors and the CEO. SSGA may vote against the re-election of members of the nomination committee if, over time, the board has failed to address concerns over board structure or succession.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if an adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

 

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Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

Share Issuances

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholders’ ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seek to issue new shares whilst dis-applying pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for a specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, specify the range of premium/discount to market price at which a company can repurchase shares, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share re-purchase requests that allow share re-purchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long term financial health.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize share-holder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti-Takeover Measures

SSGA opposes anti-takeover defenses such as authorities for the board when subject to a hostile takeover to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

Despite the differences among the types of plans and awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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 policies and reports, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where pay seems misaligned with shareholders’ interests. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

Equity Incentives Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

Non-Executive Director Pay

Authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company- by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

 

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In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6417 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Emerging Markets

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Emerging Market Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines cover different corporate governance frameworks and practices in emerging markets. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles which provides a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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At SSGA, we recognize that countries in emerging markets are disparate in their corporate governance frameworks and practices. Concurrent with developing a company specific voting and engagement program, SSGA also evaluates the various factors that play into the corporate governance framework of a country. These factors include: (i) the macroeconomic conditions and broader political system in a country; (ii) quality of regulatory oversight, enforcement of property and shareholder rights; and (iii) the independence of judiciary—to name a few. While emerging market countries tend to pose broad common governance issues across all markets, such as concentrated ownership, poor disclosure of financial and related-party transactions, and weak enforcement of rules and regulation, SSGA’s emerging market proxy voting policy is designed to identify and address specific governance concerns in each market.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy in Emerging Markets

SSGA’s approach to proxy voting and issuer engagement in emerging markets is designed to increase the value of our investments through the mitigation of governance risks. Since the overall quality of the corporate governance framework in an emerging market country drives the level of governance risks investors assign to a country, improving the macro governance framework in a country may help reduce governance risks, in turn, increasing the overall value of SSGA’s holdings over time. Therefore, in order to improve the overall governance framework and practices in a country, members of our proxy voting and engagement team endeavor to visit emerging market countries and meet with representatives from regulatory agencies and stock markets to highlight potential concerns with the macro governance framework of a country. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in emerging markets. To help mitigate company specific risk, the team works alongside members of the active fundamental and emerging market teams to engage with emerging market companies on governance issues and address any specific concerns or to get more information regarding shareholder items that are to be voted on at upcoming shareholder meetings. This integrated approach to engagement drives SSGA’s proxy voting and engagement philosophy in emerging markets.

SSGA’s proxy voting guidelines in emerging markets addresses six broad areas:

 

    Directors and Boards;

 

    Accounting and Audit Related Issues;

 

    Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues;

 

    Remuneration;

 

    Environmental and Social Issues; and

 

    General/Routine Issues.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. However, several factors such as low overall independence level requirements by market regulators, poor biographical disclosure of director profiles, prevalence of related-party transactions and the general resistance from controlling shareholders to increase board independence renders the election of directors as one of the most important fiduciary duties SSGA performs in emerging market companies.

SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. SSGA expects companies to meet minimum overall board independence standards as defined in a corporate governance code or market practice. Therefore, in several countries, SSGA will vote against select non-independent directors if overall board independence levels do not meet market standards.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in emerging market companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders and other employees; and

 

    Attendance levels.

 

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In some countries, market practice calls for the establishment of a board level audit committee. In such cases, SSGA believes companies should have an audit committee that is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well as their effectiveness and resource levels. Based on our desire to enhance the quality of financial and accounting oversight provided by independent directors, SSGA expects that listed companies have an audit committee that is constituted of a majority of independent directors.

Audit Related Issues

The disclosure and availability of reliable financial statements in a timely manner is imperative for the investment process. As a result, board oversight of internal controls and the independence of the audit process are essential if investors are to rely on financial statements. SSGA believes that audit committees provide the necessary oversight on the selection and appointment of auditors, a company’s internal controls and accounting policies, and the overall audit process. In emerging markets, SSGA encourages boards to appoint an audit committee composed of a majority of independent auditors.

Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or re-appointment at the annual meeting. SSGA believes that it is imperative for audit committees to select outside auditors who are independent from management.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

SSGA believes that changes to a company’s capital structure such as changes in authorized share capital, share repurchase and debt issuances are critical decisions made by the board. SSGA believes the company should have a well explained business rationale that is consistent with corporate strategy and should not overly dilute its shareholders.

Related Party Transactions

Most companies in emerging markets have a controlled ownership structure that often include complex cross-shareholdings between subsidiaries and parent companies (“related companies”). As a result, there is a high prevalence of related-party transactions between the company and its various stakeholders such as directors and management. In addition, inter-group loan and loan guarantees provided to related companies are some of the other related-party transactions that increase the risk profile of companies. In markets where shareholders are required to approve such transactions, SSGA expects companies to provide details of the transaction, such as the nature, value and purpose of such a transaction. It also encourages independent directors to ratify such transactions. Further, SSGA encourages companies to 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.

Share Repurchase Programs

With regard to share repurchase programs, SSGA expects companies to clearly state the business purpose for the program and a definitive number of shares to be repurchased.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA evaluates mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    Offer premium;

 

    Strategic rationale;

 

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    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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

SSGA will actively seek direct dialogue with the board and management of companies we have identified through our screening processes. Such engagements may lead to further monitoring to ensure the company improves its governance or sustainability practices. In these cases, the engagement process represents the most meaningful opportunity for SSGA to protect long-term shareholder value from excessive risk due to poor governance and sustainability practices.

Remuneration

SSGA considers it to be the board’s responsibility to set appropriate levels of executive compensation. Despite the differences among the types of plans and the awards possible, there is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive compensation; there should be a direct relationship between executive compensation and company performance over the long-term. In emerging markets we encourage companies to disclose information on senior executive remuneration.

With regard to director remuneration, SSGA supports director pay provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other issuers in the market or industry and are not overly dilutive to existing shareholders.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors can not only have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. Companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change. In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

In emerging markets, shareholders seldom vote on environmental and social issues. Therefore, SSGA addresses a company’s approach to identifying and managing environmental and social risks stemming for various aspects of its operations in its one-on-one engagement with companies.

General/Routine Issues

Some of the other issues that are routinely voted on in emerging markets include approving the allocation of income and accepting financial statements and statutory reports. For these voting items, SSGA’s policies consider several factors including historical dividend payouts, pending litigation, governmental investigations, charges of fraud or other indication of significant concerns.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’ express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6416 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Japan

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Japan Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines complement and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s overarching Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles, which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines in Japan address areas including: board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in Japan, SSGA takes into consideration the unique aspects of Japanese corporate governance structures. We recognize that under Japanese corporate law, companies may choose between two structures of corporate governance: the statutory auditor system or the committee structure. Most Japanese boards predominantly consist of executives and non-independent outsiders affiliated through commercial relationships or cross-shareholdings. Nonetheless, when evaluating companies, SSGA expects Japanese companies to address conflicts of interest, risk management and demonstrate an effective process for monitoring management. In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in Japanese companies, SSGA also considers guidance issued by the Corporate Law Subcommittee of the Legislative Council within the Ministry of Justice as well as private study groups.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, and environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in Japan.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practices, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice.

Japanese companies have the option of having a traditional board of directors with statutory auditors, a board with a committee structure, or a hybrid board with board level audit committee. SSGA will generally support companies that seek shareholder approval to adopt a committee or hybrid board structure.

Most Japanese issuers prefer the traditional statutory auditor structure. Statutory auditors act in a quasi-compliance role as they are not involved in strategic decision-making nor are they part of the formal management decision process. Statutory auditors attend board meetings but do not have voting rights at the board; however, they have the right to seek an injunction and conduct broad investigations of unlawful behavior in the company’s operations.

SSGA will support the election of statutory auditors, unless the outside statutory auditor nominee is regarded as non-independent based on SSGA criteria, the outside statutory auditor has attended less than 75 percent of meetings of the board of directors or board of statutory auditors during the year under review, or the statutory auditor has been remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities (fraud, criminal wrong doing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities).

 

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For companies with a statutory auditor structure there is no legal requirement that boards have outside directors, however, SSGA believes there should be a transparent process of independent and external monitoring of management on behalf of shareholders.

 

    SSGA believes that non-controlled Japanese companies should appoint at least two outside directors, otherwise, SSGA will oppose the top executive who is responsible for the director nomination process; and

 

    For controlled companies with a statutory auditor structure, SSGA will oppose the top executive, if the board does not have at least two independent directors.

For companies with a committee structure or a hybrid board structure, SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering general market practice, as well as the independence of the nominee. SSGA also takes into consideration the overall independence level of the committees. In determining director independence, SSGA considers the following factors:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Past employment with the company;

 

    Provides professional services to the company; and

 

    Family ties with the company.

Regardless of board structure, SSGA may oppose the election of a director for the following reasons:

 

    Failure to attend board meetings; or

 

    In instances of egregious actions related to a director’s service on the board.

Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ and statutory auditors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. SSGA believes limitations and indemnification are necessary to attract and retain qualified directors.

Audit Related Items

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should have the opportunity to vote on their appointment at the annual meeting.

Ratifying External Auditors

SSGA will generally support the appointment of external auditors unless the external auditor is perceived as being non-independent and there are concerns about the accounts presented and the audit procedures followed.

Limit Legal Liability of External Auditors

SSGA generally opposes limiting the legal liability of audit firms as we believe this could create a negative impact on the quality of the audit function.

Capital Structure, Reorganization and Mergers

SSGA supports the “one share one vote” policy and favors a share structure where all shares have equal voting rights. SSGA supports proposals to abolish voting caps or multiple voting rights and will oppose measures to introduce these types of restrictions on shareholder rights.

SSGA believes pre-emption rights should be introduced for shareholders in order to provide adequate protection from being overly diluted from the issuance of new shares or convertible securities to third parties or a small number of select shareholders.

 

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Unequal Voting Rights

SSGA generally opposes proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of common stock with superior voting rights and will generally oppose new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights. In addition, SSGA will not support capitalization changes that add classes of stock with undefined voting rights or classes that may dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.

However, SSGA will support capitalization changes that eliminate other classes of stock and/or unequal voting rights.

Increase in Authorized Capital

SSGA generally supports increases in authorized capital where the company provides an adequate explanation for the use of shares. In the absence of an adequate explanation, SSGA may oppose the request if the increase in authorized capital exceeds 100 percent of the currently authorized capital. Where share issuance requests exceed our standard threshold, SSGA will consider the nature of the specific need, such as mergers and acquisitions and stock splits.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long term financial health.

Share Repurchase Programs

Companies are allowed under Japan Corporate Law to amend their articles to authorize the repurchase of shares at the board’s discretion. SSGA will oppose an amendment to articles allowing the repurchase of shares at the board’s discretion. SSGA believes the company should seek shareholder approval for a share repurchase program at each year’s AGM, providing shareholders the right to evaluate the purpose of the repurchase.

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share repurchase requests that allow share repurchases during a takeover period.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, mergers, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported.

SSGA evaluates mergers and structural reorganizations on a case-by-case basis. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering 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; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

 

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Anti-Takeover Measures

In general, SSGA believes that adoption of poison pills that have been structured to protect management and to prevent takeover bids from succeeding is not in shareholders’ interest. A shareholder rights plan may lead to management entrenchment and discourage legitimate tender offers and acquisitions. Even if the premium paid to companies with a shareholder rights plan is higher than that offered to unprotected firms, a company’s chances of receiving a takeover offer in the first place may be reduced by the presence of a shareholder rights plan.

Proposals that reduce shareholders’ rights or have the effect of entrenching incumbent management will not be supported.

Proposals that enhance the right of shareholders to make their own choices as to the desirability of a merger or other proposal are supported.

Shareholder Rights Plans

In evaluating poison pills, the following conditions must be met before SSGA will recommend a vote in favor.

SSGA will support the adoption or renewal of a Japanese issuer’s shareholder rights plans (“poison pill”) if the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, and (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced.

SSGA will vote for an amendment to a shareholder rights plan (“poison pill”) where the terms of the new plans are more favorable to shareholders’ ability to accept unsolicited offers (i.e. if one of the following conditions are met: (i) minimum trigger, flip-in or flip-over of 20%, (ii) maximum term of three years, (iii) no “dead hand,” “slow hand,” “no hand” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill, or (iv) inclusion of a shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause), permitting ten percent of the shares to call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced).

Compensation

In Japan, excessive compensation is rarely an issue. Rather, the problem is the lack of connection between pay and performance. Fixed salaries and cash retirement bonuses tend to comprise a significant portion of the compensation structure while performance-based pay is generally a small portion of the total pay. SSGA, where possible, seeks to encourage the use of performance based compensation in Japan as an incentive for executives and as a way to align interests with shareholders.

Approve Adjustment to Aggregate Compensation Ceiling for Directors

Remuneration for directors is generally reasonable. Typically, each company sets the director compensation parameters as an aggregate thereby limiting the total pay to all directors. When requesting a change, a company must disclose the last time the ceiling was adjusted and management provides the rationale for the ceiling increase. SSGA will generally support proposed increases to the ceiling if the company discloses the rationale for the increase. SSGA may oppose proposals to increase the ceiling if there has been corporate malfeasance or sustained poor performance.

Approve Annual Bonuses for Directors/ Statutory Auditors

In Japan, since there are no legal requirements that mandate companies to seek shareholder approval before awarding a bonus, SSGA believes that existing shareholder approval of the bonus should be considered best practice. As a result, SSGA supports management proposals on executive compensation where there is a strong relationship between executive pay and performance over a five-year period.

Approve Retirement Bonuses for Directors/ Statutory Auditors

Retirement bonuses make up a sizeable portion of directors’ and auditors’ lifetime compensation and are based on board tenure. While many companies in Japan have abolished this practice, there remain many proposals seeking shareholder approval for the total amounts paid to directors and statutory auditors as a whole. In general, SSGA supports these payments unless the recipient is an outsider or in instances where the amount is not disclosed.

 

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Approve Stock Plan

Most option plans in Japan are conservative, particularly at large companies. Japan corporate law requires companies to disclose the monetary value of the stock options for directors and/or statutory auditors. Some companies do not disclose the maximum number of options that can be issued per year and shareholders are unable to evaluate the dilution impact. In this case, SSGA cannot calculate the dilution level and, therefore, SSGA may oppose such plans for poor disclosure. SSGA also opposes plans that allow for the repricing of the exercise price.

Deep Discount Options

As Japanese companies move away from the retirement bonus system, deep discount options plans have become more popular. Typically, the exercise price is set at JPY 1 per share. SSGA evaluates deep discount options using the same criteria used to evaluate stock options as well as considering the vesting period.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors can not only have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. Companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change.

In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint.

Miscellaneous/Routine Items

Expansion of Business Activities

Japanese companies’ articles of incorporation strictly define the types of businesses in which a company is permitted to engage. In general, SSGA views proposals to expand and diversify the company’s business activities as routine and non-contentious. SSGA will monitor instances where there has been an inappropriate acquisition and diversification away from the company’s main area of competence, which resulted in a decrease of shareholder value.

More Information

Any client who wishes to receive information on how its proxies were voted should contact its SSGA relationship manager.

 

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March 2016

Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines

Australia

State Street Global Advisors’ (“SSGA”) Australia Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines outline our expectations of companies listed on stock exchanges in Australia. This policy complements and should be read in conjunction with SSGA’s Global Proxy Voting and Engagement Principles which provide a detailed explanation of SSGA’s approach to voting and engaging with companies, and SSGA’s Conflict of Interest Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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SSGA’s Australia Proxy Voting and Engagement Guidelines address areas including board structure, audit related issues, capital structure, remuneration, environmental, social and other governance related issues. Principally, we believe the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to preserve and enhance shareholder value and protect shareholder interests. In order to carry out their primary responsibilities, directors have to undertake activities that range from setting strategy, overseeing executive management to monitoring the risks that arise from a company’s business, including risks related to sustainability issues. Further, good corporate governance necessitates the existence of effective internal controls and risk management systems, which should be governed by the board.

When voting and engaging with companies in global markets, SSGA considers market specific nuances in the manner that we believe will most likely protect and promote the long-term economic value of client investments. SSGA expects companies to observe the relevant laws and regulations of their respective markets as well as country specific best practice guidelines and corporate governance codes. When we feel that a country’s regulatory requirements do not address some of the key philosophical principles that SSGA believes are fundamental to its global voting guidelines, we may hold companies in such markets to our global standards.

In its analysis and research into corporate governance issues in Australia, SSGA expects all companies at a minimum to comply with the ASX Corporate Governance Principles. Companies should provide detailed explanations under the Principles’ ‘comply or explain’ approach, especially where they fail to meet requirements and why any such non-compliance would serve shareholders’ long-term interests. On some governance matters, such as composition of audit committees, we hold Australian companies to our global standards requiring all directors on the committee to be independent of management.

SSGA’s Proxy Voting and Engagement Philosophy

In our view, corporate governance and sustainability issues are an integral part of the investment process. The Corporate Governance Team consists of investment professionals with expertise in corporate governance and company law, remuneration, accounting as well as environmental and social issues. SSGA has established robust corporate governance principles and practices that are backed with extensive analytical expertise to understand the complexities of the corporate governance landscape. SSGA engages with companies to provide insight on the principles and practices that drive our voting decisions. We also conduct proactive engagement to address significant shareholder concerns and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues in a manner consistent with maximizing shareholder value.

The team works alongside members of SSGA’s active fundamental and the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) investment teams; collaborating on issuer engagement and providing input on company specific fundamentals. SSGA is also a member of various investor associations that seek to address broader corporate governance related policy issues in the region.

SSGA is a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”) and is compliant with the UK Stewardship Code. We are committed to sustainable investing and are working to further integrate ESG principles into investment and corporate governance practice, where applicable and consistent with our fiduciary duty.

Directors and Boards

SSGA believes that a well constituted board of directors, with a good balance of skills, expertise and independence, provides the foundations for a well governed company. SSGA votes for the election/re-election of directors on a case-by-case basis after considering various factors including general market practice and availability of information on director skills and expertise. In principle, SSGA believes independent directors are crucial to good corporate governance and help management establish sound ESG policies and practices. A sufficiently independent board will most effectively monitor management and perform oversight functions necessary to protect shareholder interests. SSGA expects boards of ASX-300 listed companies to be comprised of at least a majority of independent directors. At all other listed companies, SSGA expects boards to be comprised of at least one-third independent directors.

SSGA’s broad criteria for director independence in Australian companies include factors such as:

 

    Participation in related-party transactions and other business relations with the company;

 

    Employment history with company;

 

    Relations with controlling shareholders; and

 

    Family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

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When considering the election or re-election of a director, SSGA also considers the number of outside board directorships a non-executive and an executive may undertake as well as attendance at board meetings. In addition, SSGA monitors other factors that may influence the independence of a non-executive director, such as performance related pay, cross-directorships, significant shareholdings and tenure. SSGA supports the annual election of directors and encourages Australian companies to adopt this practice.

While SSGA is generally supportive of having the roles of chairman and CEO separated in the Australia market, SSGA assesses the division of responsibilities between chairman and CEO on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to factors such as the company’s specific circumstances, overall level of independence on the board and general corporate governance standards in the company. Similarly, SSGA will monitor for circumstances where a combined chairman/CEO is appointed or where a former CEO becomes chairman.

SSGA may also consider factors such as board performance and directors who appear to be remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities when considering their suitability for reappointment. (e.g. fraud, criminal wrongdoing and breach of fiduciary responsibilities)

SSGA believes companies should have committees for audit, remuneration and nomination oversight. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the company, appointing external auditors, monitoring their qualifications and independence as well their effectiveness and resource levels. Australian Corporate Governance Principles requires ASX listed companies to have an audit committee of at least three members all of whom are non-executive directors and a majority of whom are independent directors. It also requires that the committee be chaired by an independent director who is not the chair of the board. SSGA holds Australian companies to its global standards for developed financial markets, by requiring that all members of the audit committee be independent directors.

In its analysis of boards, SSGA considers whether board members have adequate skills to provide effective oversight of corporate strategy, operations and risks, including environmental and social 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. The nomination committee is responsible for evaluating and keeping under review the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the board and ensuring that adequate succession plans are in place for directors and the CEO. SSGA may vote against the re-election of members of the nomination committee if, over time, the board has failed to address concerns over board structure or succession.

Executive pay is another important aspect of corporate governance. SSGA believes that executive pay should be determined by the board of directors and SSGA expects companies to have in place remuneration committees to provide independent oversight over executive pay. Australian Corporate Governance Principles requires ASX listed companies to have a remuneration committee of at least three members all of whom are non-executive directors and a majority of whom are independent directors. Since Australia has a non-binding vote on pay with a two-strike rule requiring a board spill in the event of a second strike, SSGA believes that the vote provides investors a mechanism to address concerns it may have on the quality of oversight provided by the board on remuneration issues. Accordingly SSGA voting guidelines accommodate local market practice.

Indemnification and limitations on liability

Generally, SSGA supports proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or expand indemnification and liability protection up to the limit provided by law, if he or she has not acted in bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

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 as members independent non-executive directors.

 

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Appointment of External Auditors

SSGA believes that a company’s auditor is an essential feature of an effective and transparent system of external supervision and shareholders should be given the opportunity to vote on their appointment or to re-appoint at the annual meeting. When appointing external auditors and approving audit fees, SSGA will take into consideration the level of detail in company disclosures and will generally not support such resolutions if adequate breakdown is not provided and if non-audit fees are more than 50% of audit fees. In addition, SSGA may vote against members of the audit committee if we have concerns with audit related issues or if the level of non-audit fees to audit fees is significant. In certain circumstances, SSGA may consider auditor tenure when evaluating the audit process.

Shareholder Rights and Capital Related Issues

Share Issuances

The ability to raise capital is critical for companies to carry out strategy, grow, and achieve returns above their cost of capital. The approval of capital raising activities is fundamental to shareholders’ ability to monitor the amounts of proceeds and to ensure capital is deployed efficiently. SSGA supports capital increases that have sound business reasons and are not excessive relative to a company’s existing capital base.

Pre-emption rights are a fundamental right for shareholders to protect their investment in a company. Where companies seeks to issue new shares without pre-emption rights, SSGA may vote against if such authorities are greater than 20% of the issued share capital. SSGA may also vote against resolutions seeking authority to issue capital with preemption rights if the aggregate amount allowed seems excessive and is not justified by the board. Generally, we are against capital issuance proposals greater than 100% of the issued share capital when the proceeds are not intended for specific purpose.

Share Repurchase Programs

SSGA generally supports a proposal to repurchase shares, other than if the issuer does not clearly state the business purpose for the program, a definitive number of shares to be repurchased, and the time frame for the repurchase. SSGA may vote against share repurchase requests that allow share repurchases during a takeover period.

Dividends

SSGA generally supports dividend payouts that constitute 30% or more of net income. SSGA may vote against the dividend payouts if the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30% without adequate explanation; or, the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position. Particular attention will be paid where the payment may damage the company’s long-term financial health.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers or reorganizing the structure of a company often involve proposals relating to reincorporation, restructurings, liquidations, and other major changes to the corporation. Proposals that are in the best interests of the shareholders, demonstrated by enhancing share value or improving the effectiveness of the company’s operations, will be supported. In general, provisions that are not viewed as economically sound or are thought to be destructive to shareholders’ rights are not supported. SSGA will generally support transactions that maximize shareholder value. Some of the considerations include, but are not limited to 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; and

 

    Offers in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value.

SSGA may vote against a transaction considering the following:

 

    Offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock;

 

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    Offers where we believe there is a reasonable prospect for an enhanced bid or other bidders; and

 

    At the time of voting, the current market price of the security exceeds the bid price.

Anti-Takeover Measures

SSGA opposes anti-takeover defenses, such as authorities for the board, when subject to a hostile takeover, to issue warrants convertible into shares to existing shareholders.

Remuneration

Executive Pay

There is a simple underlying philosophy that guides SSGA’s analysis of executive pay—there should be a direct relationship between remuneration 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, SSGA considers factors such as adequate disclosure of different 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. SSGA may oppose remuneration reports where there seems to be a misalignment between pay and shareholders’ interests and where incentive policies and schemes have a re-test option or feature. SSGA may also vote against the re-election of members of the remuneration committee if we have serious concerns over remuneration practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure to review its approach.

Equity Incentive Plans

SSGA may not support proposals on equity-based incentive plans where insufficient information is provided on matters such as grant limits, performance metrics, performance and vesting periods and overall dilution. SSGA does not generally support options under such plans being issued at a discount to market price or plans that allow for re-testing of performance metrics.

Non-Executive Director Pay

Authorities seeking shareholder approval for non-executive directors’ fees are generally not controversial. SSGA generally supports resolutions regarding directors’ fees unless disclosure is poor and we are unable to determine whether they are excessive relative to fees paid by other companies in the same country or industry. SSGA will evaluate on a company-by-company basis any non-cash or performance related pay to non-executive directors.

Risk Management

SSGA believes 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. SSGA allows boards discretion over how they provide oversight in this area. However, SSGA expects companies to disclose how the board provides oversight on its risk management system and to identify key risks facing the company. Boards should also review existing and emerging risks as they can change with a changing political and economic landscape, or as companies diversify or expand their operations into new areas.

Environmental and Social Issues

As a fiduciary, SSGA considers the financial and economic implications of environmental and social issues first and foremost. In this regard, SSGA supports environmental and social related items that we believe would protect or enhance shareholder value. Environmental and social factors not only can have an impact on the reputation of companies; they may also represent significant operational risks and costs to business. Well-developed environmental and social management systems can also generate efficiencies and enhance productivity, both of which impact shareholder value in the long-term.

SSGA encourages companies to be transparent about the environmental and social risks and opportunities they face and adopt robust policies and processes to manage such issues. In our view, companies that manage all risks and consider opportunities related to environmental and social issues are able to adapt faster to changes and appear to be better placed to achieve sustainable competitive

 

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advantage in the long-term. Similarly, companies with good risk management systems, which include environmental and social policies, have a stronger position relative to their peers to manage risk and change, which could result in anything from regulation and litigation, physical threats (severe weather, climate change), economic trends as well as shifts in consumer behavior.

 

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In their public reporting, we expect companies to disclose information on relevant management tools and material environmental and social performance metrics. We support efforts by companies to try to demonstrate how sustainability fits into operations and business activities. SSGA’s team of analysts evaluates these risks and shareholder proposals relating to them on an issuer by issuer basis; understanding that environmental and social risks can vary widely depending on company industry, its operations, and geographic footprint. SSGA may also take action against the re-election of members of the board if we have serious concerns over ESG practices and the company has not been responsive to shareholder pressure.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6423 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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March 2016

Managing Conflicts of Interest Arising From SSGA’S Proxy Voting and Engagement Activity

State Street Corporation has a comprehensive standalone Conflicts of Interest Policy and other policies that address a range of conflicts of interests identified by our parent company. In addition, SSGA maintains a conflicts register that identifies key conflicts and describes systems in place to mitigate the conflicts. This policy is designed to act in conjunction with related policies and practices employed by other groups within the organization. Further, they complement those policies and practices by providing specific guidance on managing the conflicts of interests that may arise through SSGA’s proxy voting activities.

 

LOGO

 

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Managing Conflicts of Interest Related to Proxy Voting

SSGA has policies and procedures designed to prevent undue influence on SSGA’s voting activities that may arise from relationships between proxy issuers or companies and State Street Corporation (“STT”) SSGA, SSGA affiliates, SSGA Funds or SSGA Fund affiliates.

Protocols designed to help mitigate potential conflicts of interest include:

 

    Providing sole voting discretion to members of SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team. Members of the corporate governance team may from time to time discuss views on proxy voting matters, company performance, strategy etc. with other STT or SSGA employees including portfolio managers, senior executives and relationship managers. However, final voting decisions are made solely by the corporate governance team, in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of all clients, taking into account various perspectives on risks and opportunities with a view of maximizing the value of client assets;

 

    Exercising a singular vote decision for each ballot item regardless of SSGA’s investment strategy;

 

    Prohibiting members of SSGA’s corporate governance team from disclosing SSGA’s voting decision to any individual not affiliated with the proxy voting process prior to the meeting or date of written consent, as the case may be;

 

    Mandatory disclosure by members of the SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team, Global Proxy Review Committee (“PRC”) and Investment Committee (“IC”) of any personal conflict of interest (e.g., familial relationship with company management, serves as a director on the board of a listed company) to the Head of the Corporate Governance Team. Members are required to recuse themselves from any engagement or proxy voting activities related to the conflict;

 

    In certain instances, client accounts and/or SSGA pooled funds, where SSGA acts as trustee, may hold shares in STT or other SSGA affiliated entities, such as mutual funds affiliated with SSGA Funds Management, Inc. In general, SSGA will outsource any voting decision relating to a shareholder meeting of STT or other SSGA affiliated entities to independent outside third parties. Delegated third parties exercise vote decisions based upon SSGA’s in-house policies; and

 

    Reporting of voting policy overrides, if any, to the PRC on a quarterly basis.

In general, we do not believe matters that fall within the Guidelines and are voted consistently with the Guidelines present any potential conflicts, since the vote on the matter has effectively been determined without reference to the soliciting entity. However, where matters do not fall within the Guidelines or where we believe that voting in accordance with the Guidelines is unwarranted, we conduct an additional review to determine whether there is a conflict of interest. In circumstances where a conflict has been identified and either: (i) the matter does not fall clearly within the Guidelines; or (ii) SSGA determines that voting in accordance with such policies or guidance is not in the best interests of its clients, the Head of SSGA’s Corporate Governance Team will determine whether a Material Relationship exists. If so, the matter is referred to the SSGA PRC. The SSGA PRC then reviews the matter and determines whether a conflict of interest exists, and if so, how to best resolve such conflict. For example, the SSGA PRC may (i) determine that the proxy vote does not give rise to a conflict due to the issues presented, (ii) refer the matter to the SSGA Investment Committee for further evaluation or (iii) retain an independent fiduciary to determine the appropriate vote.

 

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ssga.com

For Public Use

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

Australia: State Street Global Advisors, Australia, Limited (ABN 42 003 914 225) is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL Number 238276). Registered Office: Level 17, 420 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. T: +612 9240 7600. F: +612 9240 7611. Belgium: State Street Global Advisors Belgium, Chausse de La Hulpe 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. T: +32 2 663 2036, F: +32 2 672 2077. SSGA Belgium is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Canada: State Street Global Advisors, Ltd., 770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1200 Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, T: +514 282 2400 and 30 Adelaide Street East Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3G6. T: +647 775 5900. Dubai: State Street Bank and Trust Company (Representative Office), Boulevard Plaza 1, 17th Floor, Office 1703 Near Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa, P.O Box 26838, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. T: +971 (0)4 4372800. F: +971 (0)4 4372818. France: State Street Global Advisors France. Authorised and regulated by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Registered with the Register of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre under the number: 412 052 680. Registered Office: Immeuble Défense Plaza, 23-25 rue Delarivière-Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. T: +33 1 44 45 40 00. F: +33 1 44 45 41 92. Germany: State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89 55878 100. F: +49 (0)89 55878 440. Hong Kong: State Street Global Advisors Asia Limited, 68/F, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong. T: +852 2103 0288. F: +852 2103 0200. Ireland: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Incorporated and registered in Ireland at Two Park Place, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2. Registered Number: 145221. Member of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. T: +353 (0)1 776 3000. F: +353 (0)1 776 3300. Italy: State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Limited, a company registered in the UK, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ), with a capital of GBP 71’650’000.00, and whose registered office is at 20 Churchill Place, London E14 5HJ. State Street Global Advisors Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 06353340968 - R.E.A. 1887090 and VAT number 06353340968 and whose office is at Via dei Bossi, 4 - 20121 Milano, Italy • Telephone: 39 02 32066 100 • Facsimile: 39 02 32066 155. Japan: State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd., 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6239. T: +813 4530 7380. Financial Instruments Business Operator, Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Kinsho #345). Japan Investment Advisers Association, Investment Trusts Association Japan, Japan Securities Dealers Association. Netherlands: State Street Global Advisors Netherlands, Adam Smith Building, Thomas Malthusstraat 1-3, 1066 JR Amsterdam, Netherlands. T: +31 (0)20 7181701. State Street Global Advisors Netherlands is a branch office of State Street Global Advisors Limited. State Street Global Advisors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Singapore: State Street Global Advisors Singapore Limited, 168, Robinson Road, #33-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 (Company Registered Number: 200002719D). T: +65 6826 7500. F: +65 6826 7501. Switzerland: State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstr. 19, CH-8027 Zurich. T: +41 (0)44 245 70 00. F: +41 (0)44 245 70 16. United Kingdom: State Street Global Advisors Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England. Registered Number: 2509928. VAT Number: 5776591 81. Registered Office: 20 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HJ. T: +020 3395 6000. F: +020 3395 6350. United States: State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111-2900. T: +617 664 7727.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

© 2016 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

INST-6331 0316 Exp. Date: 03/31/2017

 

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PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a)(i)

   First Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of StreetTracks(SM) Series Trust (now, SPDR® Series Trust) (the “Trust” or the “Registrant”) dated June 9, 1998, as amended September 6, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(ii) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 25, 2000.

(a)(ii)

   Amendment No. 1, dated August 1, 2007, to the Registrant’s First Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated June 9, 1998, as amended September 6, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on August 10, 2007.

(b)

   Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws dated November 12, 2015 are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 152 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on November 23, 2015.

(c)

   Global Certificates of Beneficial Interest, evidencing shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 par value, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (c) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on September 25, 2000.

(d)(i)(1)

   Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement dated September 1, 2003 between the Trust and SSGA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSGA FM”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 28, 2003.

(d)(i)(2)

   Revised Exhibit A (Schedule of Series) to the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement dated September 1, 2003 between the Trust and SSGA FM, to be filed by amendment.

(d)(ii)

   Fee Waiver Letter Agreement dated June 18, 2012 between the Trust and SSGA FM, with respect to the SPDR BofA Merrill Lynch Crossover Corporate Bond ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on June 18, 2012.

(d)(iii)

   Fee Waiver Letter Agreement dated October 14, 2011 between the Trust and SSGA FM, with respect to the SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 28, 2011.

(d)(iv)

   Fee Waiver Letter Agreement dated October 23, 2007 between the Trust and SSGA FM, with respect to the SPDR Barclays Aggregate Bond ETF (formerly, the SPDR Lehman Aggregate Bond ETF), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 26, 2007.

 

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(d)(v)

   Fee Waiver Letter Agreement dated October 27, 2010 between the Trust and SSGA FM, with respect to the SPDR Nuveen Barclays Municipal Bond ETF (formerly, the SPDR Lehman Municipal Bond ETF), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 28, 2010.

(d)(vi)

   Fee Waiver Letter Agreement dated November 24, 2015 between the Trust and SSGA FM, with respect to the SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (formerly, the SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free ETF), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 153 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on November 25, 2015.

(d)(vii)

   Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 1, 2010 between SSGA FM and Nuveen Asset Management (“NAM”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on May 12, 2010.

(d)(viii)

   Amended Appendix A to the Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 1, 2010 between SSGA FM and NAM, to be filed by amendment.

(d)(ix)

   Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 19, 2010 between SSGA FM and State Street Global Advisors LTD (“SSGA LTD”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(x) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on May 19, 2010.

(d)(x)

   Amended Appendix A to the Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 19, 2010 between SSGA FM and SSGA LTD, to be filed by amendment.

(e)(i)(1)

   Distribution Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Global Markets, LLC (formerly, State Street Capital Markets, LLC) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on September 25, 2000.

(e)(i)(2)

   Amended Annex I (Schedule of Series) to the Distribution Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Global Markets, LLC, to be filed by amendment.

(f)

   Not applicable.

(g)(i)

   Custodian Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on September 25, 2000.

(g)(ii)

   Amendment, dated October 14, 2005, to the Custodian Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 28, 2005.

(g)(iii)

   Amended Schedule of Series to the Custodian Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company, to be filed by amendment.

 

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(h)(i)(1)

   Administration Agreement dated June 1, 2015 between the Trust and SSGA FM is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(i)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 28, 2015.

(h)(i)(2)

   Amended Schedule A (Schedule of Series) to the Administration Agreement dated June 1, 2015 between the Trust and SSGA FM, to be filed by amendment.

(h)(ii)(1)

   Sub-Administration Agreement dated June 1, 2015 between SSGA FM and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(ii)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 28, 2015.

(h)(ii)(2)

   Amended Schedule A (Schedule of Series) to the Sub-Administration Agreement dated June 1, 2015 between SSGA FM and State Street Bank and Trust Company, to be filed by amendment.

(h)(iii)

   Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(ii) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on September 25, 2000.

(h)(iv)

   Addendum, dated April 5, 2004, to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 28, 2005.

(h)(v)

   Amended Annex A (Schedule of Series) to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company, to be filed by amendment.

(h)(vi)

   Form of Participant Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on August 26, 2009.

(h)(vii)

   Form of Investor Services Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(iv) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on September 25, 2000.

(h)(viii)

   Amended and Restated Securities Lending Authorization Agreement, to be filed by amendment.

(i)(i)

   Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on October 28, 2015 (Accession Number: 0001193125-15-356460).

(i)(ii)

   Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 152 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on November 23, 2015 (Accession Number: 0001193125-15-385427).

 

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(i)(iii)

   Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 153 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on November 25, 2015 (Accession Number: 0001193125-15-387394).

(i)(iv)

   Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 164 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on January 12, 2016 (Accession Number: 0001193125-16-428032).

(i)(v)

   Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on March 4, 2016 (Accession Number: 0001193125-16-492935).

(i)(vi)

   Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 183 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on May 31, 2016 (Accession Number: 0001193125-16-608807).

(i)(vii)

   Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 187 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on June 24, 2016 (Accession Number: 0001193125-16-631639).

(j)

   Consent of independent registered public accountants is filed herewith.

(k)

   Not applicable.

(l)

   Subscription Agreement dated September 22, 2000 between the Trust and State Street Capital Markets, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (l) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on September 25, 2000.

(m)(i)(1)

   Distribution and Service Plan, as adopted on September 11, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on August 30, 2004.

(m)(i)(2)

   Amended Exhibit A to the Distribution and Service Plan, as adopted September 11, 2000, to be filed by amendment.

(n)

   Not applicable.

(p)(i)

   Registrant’s Revised Code of Ethics, as adopted November 15, 2004 and revised February 23, 2010, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on March 5, 2010.

(p)(ii)

   Code of Ethics of SSGA FM dated November 10, 2015 (which also applies to applicable reporting personnel of the Distributor) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 152 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on November 23, 2015.

 

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(p)(iii)

   Code of Ethics of Nuveen Asset Management is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on May 29, 2013.

(p)(iv)

   Code of Ethics of State Street Global Advisors Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on May 19, 2010.

(p)(v)

   Code of Ethics for the Independent Trustees dated November 12, 2015 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on December 17, 2015.

(q)

   Power of Attorney for Mses. Boatman and Needham and Messrs. Churchill, Kelly, Nesvet, Ross, Verboncoeur and Rosenberg, dated February 25, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the SEC on March 4, 2016.

 

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 Index Shares Funds, SSGA Master Trust and SSGA Active Trust. In addition, the officers of the Trust are substantially identical to the officers of SPDR Index Shares Funds, SSGA Master Trust and SSGA Active Trust. Additionally, the Trust’s investment adviser, SSGA FM, also serves as investment adviser to each series of SPDR Index Shares Funds, SSGA Master Trust and SSGA Active Trust. 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 5.3 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and under Section 4.9 of the Registrant’s By-Laws, 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 5.2 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 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.

 

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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.

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, 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

SSGA FM serves as the investment adviser for each series of the Trust. Nuveen Asset Management serves as investment adviser or manager to the SPDR Nuveen Barclays Municipal Bond ETF, SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF and SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF. SSGA LTD serves as the sub-investment manager for the SPDR Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF and SPDR Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF.

See “Management” in the Prospectus and “Management of the Trust” in the Statement of Additional Information for information regarding the business of SSGA FM, NAM and SSGA LTD. Information as to the directors and officers of SSGA FM, NAM and SSGA LTD is included in their applicable Form ADV filed with the SEC and incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriters

 

(a) State Street Global Markets, LLC, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, serves as the Trust’s principal underwriter and also serves as the principal underwriter for the following investment companies: SPDR Index Shares Funds, SSGA Active Trust, State Street Institutional Investment Trust and SSGA Funds.

 

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(b) The following is a list of the executive officers, directors and partners of State Street Global Markets, LLC (except as noted, none of the persons set forth below holds a position or office with the Trust):

 

Nicholas J. Bonn    Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer and Chairman
Howard Fairweather    Director
Stefan Gavell    Director
Christopher P. Jensen    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
James Ross    Director
Peter Williams    Director
R. Bryan Woodard    Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Counsel and Director
Mark Trabucco    Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
Melissa McKay    Senior Vice President and Secretary
David MacInnis    Vice President and Compliance Officer
John Conway    Vice President, FINOP

 

(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 Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of SSGA FM and/or State Street Bank and Trust Company, each with offices located at One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

 

Item 34. Management Services

Not applicable.

 

Item 35. Undertakings

Not applicable.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, SPDR® Series Trust, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunder duly authorized, in the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 28th day of October, 2016.

 

  SPDR SERIES TRUST
By:  

/s/ Ellen M. Needham

  Ellen M. Needham
  President

SIGNATURES

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:

 

SIGNATURES   TITLE   DATE

/s/ Bonny E. Boatman*

  Trustee   October 28, 2016
Bonny E. Boatman    

/s/ Dwight D. Churchill*

  Trustee   October 28, 2016
Dwight D. Churchill    

/s/ David M. Kelly*

  Trustee   October 28, 2016
David M. Kelly    

/s/ Frank Nesvet*

  Trustee   October 28, 2016
Frank Nesvet    

/s/ Carl G. Verboncoeur*

  Trustee   October 28, 2016
Carl G. Verboncoeur    

/s/ James E. Ross*

  Trustee   October 28, 2016
James E. Ross    

/s/ Ellen M. Needham

Ellen M. Needham

  President and Principal Executive Officer   October 28, 2016

/s/ Bruce S. Rosenberg

Bruce S. Rosenberg

  Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer   October 28, 2016
*By:  

/s/ Christopher A. Madden

 
  Christopher A. Madden  
  As Attorney-in-Fact  
  Pursuant to Power of Attorney  


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EXHIBIT LIST

Item 28

 

(j)    Consent of independent registered public accountants